Review: Skipping A Beat by Jordin Sparks

Genres: R&B, Pop, Dance-Pop
Released: 1 August 2013
RCA

It's been a really long time since Jordin Sparks has released anything new. I remember when I used to blast Battlefield all the time. That was all that way back in '09. Now, years later Jordin Sparks is back! I'm so excited. It's adorable because it's said that this song is dedicated to her man, Jason Derulo. Even better, his song The Other Side was dedicated to her as well. Come on? You have to admit that it's super sweet. This is my review for her latest single, Skipping A Beat.
Song:
This song has a really cool vibe. I love the R&B style that she's chosen. The snares at the beginning sound amazing. Afterwards, it starts to disappear and then a lovely piano beat comes in until they start to work together. It sounds absolutely amazing. The producing of the song is also flawless because even though Jordin's voice is beautiful, it needs that extra push.
Lyrics:
Of course, like I said before, the song is a love ballad for Jason Derulo so of course the lyrics are awesome. They left me swooning. The best lines in my opinion are:
"Boy I think I'm gonna need an ambulance
Cause you been doing my heart some damage"

Cheesy, I know but I just love those lines so much. The rest of the lyrics are pretty repetitive but as I said before, the good producing makes it okay.
Summary:
Give it a go guys. I'm waiting for her album to come out and I'm super excited. I have a feeling this song isn't the one she's trying to make super popular. I think there's going to be another release that is made to hit the charts.

 Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Banish by Nicola Marsh

Alyssa has one week to destroy her enemy, save her spirit... and save her soul.
After her ex-boyfriend commits suicide and her mum’s alcoholism sparks yet another psychotic episode, seventeen-year-old Alyssa Wood flees her small hometown of Broadwater and heads to New York City to stay with her bohemian aunt — a Wicca High Priestess.
Alyssa revels in the anonymity of a big city and her new life. Her grades climb, she has a new best friend, and a new guy: the sexy geek Ronan — a saxophone player who prefers jazz to pop.
But her newfound peace is soon shattered when she sees a dead body in one of Ronan’s music clips — and she’s the only one who can see it. Worse still, Alyssa recognises the body that has been murdered a week forward!
Alyssa doesn’t believe in the supernatural...despite her family’s Wicca background. So how will she overcome evil when it’s closer than she thinks?

Banish is a Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy. Right up my alley! Nicola Marsh is an Aussie writer from Melbourne which is super cool. I always feel like Australian authors never get the spotlight. I received an ARC from Harlequin (thank you) and so I read it before it came out. Banish comes out today! YAY! I read this after reading a pretty bad book. I was on the verge of a reading slump and this book saved me. I gave Banish 5 STARS and added it to my Goodreads Favourites list immediately. Read more to see why I absolutely adored this amazing read. Alliteration intended.
Characters:
The protagonist, Alyssa, was super easy to like and enjoy. Even though she's not as relatable as some other characters can be, I really like her. It's really hard to talk about characters without ruining the story because I don't want to ruin the mystery aspect of the book. Alyssa is living with her Aunt, who is a really cool person, because her mother was going crazy. Her love interest, Ronan, seemed super sweet as well. Then there's her 'best friend' Seth who has helped her after she moved towns. All the characters are really unique with heaps of mysteries to uncover.
Pros:
Banish will fill you with swoons,wonder and fright as the romance and the suspense builds. The romance was so extremely cute that I just couldn't help but love the characters. The mystery and suspense that surrounds this story really adds a lovely element to the book. What I really loved though was the slight horror element. It was the perfect balance for me to be scared but not scared to death. Nicola Marsh's writing was really easy to read and enjoy. Extremely fast-paced and adorable but scary.
Cons:
The only part of this book that I didn't like was how much Alyssa didn't like her mum. I felt like she was a bit too harsh but then again, teenagers are like that.
Summary:
Banish is a underhyped book that deserves the rave. I would 100% recommend this to everyone. I promise that you'll love it if you enjoy Paranormal YA. I hope you'll check it out! Go run and buy it or at least add it to your to-read list.

Buy Banish on the Book Depository
Buy Banish on Amazon
Pleave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Kill Bill by Brown Eyed Girls

Genres: K-Pop, Pop, R&B, Dance-Pop
Released: 29 July 2013
Members: JeA, Miryo, Narsha, Ga-In
Nega Network

My blog has been crazy busy with a crapload of posts this month. I'm sorry but here's another one! I'll try to calm down a bit in the future but I just had to get this review up. Brown Eyed Girls is a much respected band that I love too. Even though I'm not a major fan, I do really appreciate their work. If you've never heard of them, Brown Eyed Girls is the band that Ga-In is apart of. Ga-In was the chick in Gentleman by PSY. The other day, one of my most awesome friends asked me if I'd heard their new song. That day, I went home, listened to it and loved it!
Song:
The beginning is like WOW! I swear, you have to listen to it for yourself because I don't even know what to call it. It's like a whistle mixed with synths. The same friend I mentioned above also said that she liked Brown Eyed Girls because they can actually sing. I completely agree. Even though they all look super good and can dance well, they don't rely on it because they can already sing amazingly. One of my favourite elements in the song is the rapping near the end. I could replay that part a million times.
Lyrics:
I've seen people say that the lyrics correspond to the actual movie! I can't be sure because I haven't watched it but I can be sure that it's not your usual pop song. Lyrics can be found here. My favourite part would translate to:
"Run, run away till you run out of breath
Everything is the price of what you did to me
Look at yourself,
you feel like going crazy, right?"Summary:
This song is addictive. I could listen to this non-stop because that's how much I loved it. I definitely recommend it. Check out the music video as well because it has a really cool story line. It'll only take 7 minutes. If that's too much just listen to the song! It's spectacularly fabulous.

Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

I read Unearthly for the Radical Read-Along that I hosted with Kyrstianna and Jenna. It’s a Young Adult novel about angels. I haven’t read many books like this one. In fact, I think it might be the first real angel book I've read. I could be wrong but I’m too lazy to check. Unearthly is Cynthia Hand’s debut novel that came out quite a while ago. I don’t know why I didn't read it sooner but I’m definitely glad I did. I loved this book and gave it straight up 5 STARS.  Maybe it was the fun of reading it with others but I really couldn't find any real problems with the book.
Characters:
The characters are definitely one of my favourite things about this book. The protagonist, Clara was a pretty cool character. Even though she was part angel, she still had all those classic but relatable teenage attributes. The book is also composed of a love Triangle between Tucker and Christian. Tucker is awesome! He’s fun and super likable whereas even though Christian is really hot, he’s really plain. Clara’s mum and brother as well as her two friends Wendy and Angela are all nice additions to the story.
Pros:
Continuing on about the characters, they all had very realistic personalities. They were all mysterious with heaps of layers to unfold. Even now, there’s so much more I need to learn about them. The book was written in a super fast pace that was easy to follow and easy to enjoy. Even though some might say the story isn't original, I think otherwise. So many bombshells were dropped that I didn't even see coming. I love it when books have the element of surprise because not many can do that for me anymore. Without spoilers, the ending was spectacular. It’s one of those perfect ones where everything works out but there are still mysteries left to be solved in the next book.
Cons:
Hm, cons. I don’t think I really have any. Sometimes the characters got annoying but they never got SUPER annoying and in the end, it all worked out.
Summary:
Finally, it's clear that I love this book. I'm about to go to add this to my favourites list on Goodreads now. I recommend this to all Young Adult lovers even if you think you might now like angel novels. I'm super pumped to read the second book.

Buy Unearthly on Amazon
Buy Unearthly on the Book Depository
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: The Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey

An unforgettable story of two courageous women brought together by one extraordinary little girl.
Betty Jewel Hughes was once the hottest black jazz singer in Memphis. But when she finds herself pregnant and alone, she gives up her dream of being a star to raise her beautiful daughter, Billie, in Shakerag, Mississippi. Now, ten years later, in 1955, Betty Jewel is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for Billie when she's gone. With no one she can count on, Betty Jewel does the unthinkable: she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, recently widowed Cassie Malone is an outspoken housewife insulated by her wealth and privileged white society. Working part-time at a newspaper, she is drawn to Betty Jewel through her mysterious ad. With racial tension in the South brewing, the women forge a bond as deep as it is forbidden. But neither woman could have imagined the gifts they would find in each other, and in the sweet young girl they both love with all their hearts. Deeply moving and richly evocative, The Sweetest Hallelujah is a remarkable tale about finding hope in a time of turmoil, and about the transcendent and transformative power of friendship.

The Sweetest Hallelujah is meant to be similar to The Help. Because I'm a really bad person, I haven't read the book or even watched the movie. I really want to one day though! I know the basic premise and I agree that fans of The Help would definitely enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I can't say that I liked it. It's not that I found a million things wrong with this book, it's just that one of the defining factors was lacking. I'd give this book a 3 STAR or 3.5 STAR rating. What else? This book comes out today! YAY!
Characters:
I feel really bad dissing the characters but there was nothing to relate to. I mean obviously I'm not like most girls in YA books either but I actually understand how they feel. This is not the writer's fault and it's just because it's aimed at a higher age group but I just couldn't. Overall though, I did like the characters. The book is set a long ago, most likely during the Civil Rights movement, which means that of course there's the separation between the 'black' and 'white' people. Billie is the little girl in the story and I liked seeing the story from her point of view. I also liked Cassie, Betty Jewel and Queen who were the main adults in the story.
Pros:
Without spoiling too much, the novel itself is very heartfelt. The third person writing really exemplifies the characters. I've read too many books that have shifting points of views that are in first person. Though I do enjoy those, I think the third person sounds a lot more professional. The story is quite unique but again, it has a similar premise to The Help. I did like the ending a lot though. It's predictable but still just as beautiful.
Cons:
Here comes that bad things. Okay well, I found this book extremely, uncaptivating. I know that's no a word but I don't want to use the word boring. For the first half, I had to read each page like twice because I had trouble comprehending it. Afterwards, I kind of just skim read the whole thing because it wasn't intriguing. It was interesting but not intriguing. That's the major fault for me.
Summary:
In the end, I think that one of the only reasons why I didn't like this book is because of my age. I definitely recommend this to the older readers out there because you'd like it better. Also, if you liked The Help,  I can see you enjoying The Sweetest Hallelujah as well.
Favourite Quote:
"Betty Jewel wondered if miracles are not prayers answered but the answer to prayers you didn't even know you should pray."

Buy The Sweetest Hallelujah on Amazon
Buy The Sweetest Hallelujah on the Book Depository
Buy The Sweetest Hallelujah Audiobook on the Book Depository
Buy The Sweetest Hallelujah Audiobook on Audible
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Music Of July 2013!

This month in music, I've found quite a few songs that I like. It's easy to say that some songs definitely stand out more than others. Some of my absolute favourite this month include Burn and Hurricane. As always, I definitely recommend checking out all of these songs. I'm really disappointed by the amount of reviews I've done though. I hope to improve next month. If there are any songs that I should listen too, drop them in the comments. Today, because I'm super lazy, I'm ordering songs randomly because I can't be bothered to make them alphabetical.

Xiah Junsu - Incredible

New To My Playlist:
Ooh La La - Britney Spears
Falling In Love - 2NE1
11am - Xiah Junsu
Incredible - Xiah Junsu
Burn - Ellie Goulding
Made In The USA - Demi Lovato
Shadow - BEAST
Take Back The Night - Justin Timberlake
Me & My Girls - Fifth Harmony
I Like 2 Party - Jay Park
Hurricane - B.A.P
Acapella - Karmin
NoNoNo - Ailee
Counting Stars - One Republic
Baby I - Ariana Grande
Best Song Ever - One Direction
Go To War For Ya - Chris Brown
Rum Pum Pum Pum - f(x)
Unbreakable - Kim Hyun Joong
Kill Bill - Brown Eyed Girls

Songs I've Done Reviews Of:
Kill Bill
Baby I
Me & My Girls
Burn

Sit Tight Sundays:
City of Bones Soundtrack
Shadow by BEAST
Baby I by Ariana Grande
Illusion by ZE:A

Buy K-Pop at Yesasia!
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Movie Times!

Today, I'm introducing MOVIETIMES.COM.AU! Movie Times is a new site that is perfect for all the movie lovers out there. Basically, it combines all the cinemas in Australia so that you know what movies are available at what times and where. There are so many different book to movie adaptations that I really need to watch. Even though I haven't read The Host, World War Z or The Great Gatsby, they are all movies that I really want to watch. And then there are the movies that are coming soon. City of Bones and CATCHING FIRE! Both books I've read and have been waiting for. By the way, the trailers for both are amazing. I watched new the theatrical trailer for Catching Fire and now I'm even more pumped than I was before.

So now, with the introduction of Movie Times, I can make my pre movie watching experiences the easiest they can be. The website also works super well on mobile devices since it can detect your location as well. Basically, there are three ways to use this site.

When you click on 'Movies', you can scroll over one, you can view the details and the trailer. You can also click on 'Find Sessions' to of course find the perfect 'Date & Time' as well as 'Cinema & Location'. The other two options basically work the other way around. If you choose 'Date & Time', you can select one and it will show you the movies that will be airing at that time. The same goes for 'Cinema & Location'. Once this is all done and you've selected you time, it will take you the that cinema's site. Normally, you'd have to select all the details but in this case, it's all done for you. All you have to do is select which ticket you want, eg. Child, Adult etc. as well as things like your seat and how you want to pay.

Overall, I think Movie Times is a really easy to use and useful site. It's perfect for all you movie addicts out there. Also for all the people like me who need to watch the book to movie adaptations.

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Baby I by Ariana Grande

Genres: Pop, Dance, R&B
Released: 22 July 2013
℗ 2013 Universal Republic Records

Okay so today, I was so tempted to do a review on One Direction's Best Song Ever since the music video came out like 14 hours ago and is absolutely the funniest thing ever but I thought again. Instead, I decided to do a review on Ariana Grande's Baby I  which I felt as though would appeal to a bigger audience. Baby I definitely has a nice feel that I know would be enjoyed by people of all ages. Baby I will be apart of her debut album, Daydreamin', which I swear wasn't what it was going to be called a few days ago. The name's been changed quite a bit. Of course, I absolutely love this song but I love Ariana Grande over all.
Song:
Baby I has a very 90's feel. The first time I listened to the beginning, that was the first thing I thought of. I completely understand why people are saying Ariana is kind of like Mariah because her style of music is definitely similar. Her spectacular voice and the R&B emphasise the similarity even more. The song has a different vibe compared to her previous single The Way but I think the matureness suits her.
Lyrics:
Okay so the lyrics are super super repetitive but I can't expect any better anymore. Songs are like that these days and I think as long as the lyrics are nice, it's okay. The lyrics of this song definitely portray love in a lighter way. They express the feelings you feel when you first fall in love. I think it's really sweet. My favourite lines:
"When I try to explain it I be sounding insane
The words don’t ever come out right."
Summary:
Give it a try because Ariana Grande's voice is absolutely beautiful! I think a lot of you will like it. If you've already listened to it, you're awesome!


  Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

Infinite possibilities….
Infinite passion…..
Infinite danger….
His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn't trust him. I shouldn't tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.
At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loves to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten–even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets down her guard, the ghost’s of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.
On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?

Escaping Reality is Lisa Renee Jones' new experiment with the New Adult genre. It is the first in The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series. It's basically a normal New Adult Contemporary Romance except it is a lot more than that. It explores the Erotica genre as well and incorporating it with a spy-esque feel. Guess what? Escaping Reality comes out today! For once, I'm doing a review at a somewhat normal time. I really loved this book. I haven't read much Erotica but I do know that this is different to the normal stuff. I gave this book a 4.5 STARS. It was pretty much perfect just not quite. Continue reading!

Characters:

I liked majority of the characters. Though in the story, not much information is given, I have a feeling that a lot more will be unleashed in the second book. The protagonist Amy was a pretty normal character. Sometimes, she was a bit annoying but I'll expand on that later. Liam was the classic super hot billionaire with a bunch of secrets and mysteries. What I really liked was the third character, Jared. I was glad that Liam and Jared didn't have a fight scene. I hope it stays that way because it'd good to know that not all male characters are violent. Another character was Meg and there's definitely something fishy about her. 

Pros:

The first page was confusing but after I read it twice it completely sucked me in. The writing wasn't extremely unique or different but that was okay because the concept made up for it. Super fast paced and jam packed with mystery, suspense and steamy hot scenes that had me glued to the book. Even though a lot of the book was revolved around sex, what I really enjoyed what the back story. Amy is running away from something she's not quite sure exists. I love that. The ending was alright too. Of course I won't spoil it but even though it kind of just ended, it was okay. It's nice to know that I'll get more of the story in the second book.

Cons:

Okay my only con is this. I know it happens all the time in Romances but I really get super annoyed when the girl thinks that the guy is the one being an ass. I understand that sometimes, guys can be over possessive but the girl really has to realise that she did something wrong too. I don't know, I'm just getting sick of these oblivious girls. I'm just glad this only occurred in a small part of the book which is why I only deducted half a star.

Summary:

Amazing read that has left me eagerly waiting for the next book. I really can't wait until it comes out because I need more. Thank you to the publisher for sending me an e-arc via Netgalley because I definitely needed this book in my life. As long as you don't get super annoyed, read this!

Buy Escaping Reality on Amazon
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Ink by Amanda Sun

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

 
 Ink is Amanda Sun's debut YA, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance novel. I read this for the Debut-A-Thon ages ago and am finally getting to doing a review. I'm pretty sure that I'm the one blogger that is most behind on book reviews. Oh well. I loved Ink! Okay well I didn't love love it but I did enjoy it a lot. I personally had a few problems with it which is why I ended up giving it a 3.5 STARS or 4 STARS on Goodreads. It's quite a different novel. American girl in Japanese world. Read more to see the full review.
Characters:
The characters to me seemed a bit fake. They're personalities weren't delved into. I feel as though to really bring a character to life, you have to have more character development. The main character, Katie, was nice but then again, that's the problem. She wasn't a strong protagonist. Tomo was meant to be the main love interest but you find out almost nothing about his personality. Then there's Jun which I think is the coolest character. As expected, he's the other love interest and he's the only one that has any layers in his personality. At first, Jun and Tomo kind of reminded me of Will and Jem with the bad guy and good guy thing. Even though it's still true, the good guy and the bad guy aren't so black and white.
Pros:
The storyline hooked me in at the beginning. I was quite interested to see what would happen. Then when I found out there were amazing illustrations, I got even more excited. There were lots of funny parts that were relatable and fun. I also really loved the paranormal aspect. If I didn't know that the book was in that genre, it would've been a complete surprise to me. The uniqueness of the concept is really fascinating.The story can totally be an anime or a manga.
Cons:
From there, it kind of goes downhill. Well some may totally hate me for this but I've never really read any manga. The idea of it isn't super appealing to me. After awhile, the book got more and more boring. I had to really force myself to read it which is a bad sign. I was lucky I was reading this during a read-a-thon or I might've taken forever to read it. The romantic factor was probably the worst part. It was what felt the most unrealistic which may be a reason why I feel as though the characters are fake.
Summary:
I think most people would love the setting. If you love anime, mangas or J-dramas, I think you'd really like this story. Though there are a few cliche aspects, the uniqueness of the setting and themes probably outweighs them. I'm not telling you to run out and grab a copy but I do definitely recommend this.

Buy Ink on the Book Depository
Buy Ink on Amazon
Buy Ink on Audible
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Me & My Girls by Fifth Harmony

Genres: Pop, Electronic Dance Music, R&B
Released: 16th July 2013
Members: Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Normani Hamilton, Ally Brooke Hernandez Epic Records

Fifth Harmony were the second runners up in the US version of X Factor. Their more popular song, released awhile ago is called Miss Movin' On. However, I really like this song too. Both songs are really fun and happy. I'm glad different X Factors all over the world have brought out so many good singers and artists. Sometimes I do still feel as though these winners don't have to work as hard to get famous, but I do admit they are talented.
Song:
I love all five of the girl's voices. Though they aren't extremely unique, at least they aren't bad. This song has an almost Hannah-Montana-esque beat to it. It's super crazy uplifting and fun. After all, the song is about being at a party so I couldn't expect any less. I really loved it every time the song broke into a Electronic Dance Music instrumental. It added another layer to the boring parts.
Lyrics:
Normally, I'd hate lyrics like these but for some reason, I don't mind them. I mean they are kind of stupid and cheesy but I have to say, they're realistic. They target younger, teen listeners but they've definitely done a good job of it. Can totally relate:
"My voice is gone, got my favorite PJ's on

Times like this don't always come along"
Summary:
Not the best song, not even mind-blowing but it was good. Definitely a song that I will listen to often. I just don't love it as much as everything else. Do check it out though, you never know until you try it.

Listen on SoundCloud

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Who loved the Vampire Academy series? I of course did and so when I saw that Richelle Mead wrote another book, I jumped on it immediately. Gameboard of the Gods is a new Adult Fiction novel, the first one in the Age of X series. I'd give this book a 4.5 STARS. The problems are minor and I feel as though they wouldn't be problems for most people. Continue reading for more details about the characters, what I loved and what I didn't.
Characters:
Gameboard of the Gods is written in three point of views. Justin, Mae and Tessa. Justin had the classic 'douche' personality but I still loved him. Mae is a praetorian, a job where she has to murder. Hence, she is a very cold character. At times, I got pretty annoyed at her because she was always so stubborn. In this book, I felt as though Tessa was left out a lot. I have a feeling that she'll be a lot more involved in the sequels though. The characters were all very interesting.
Pros:
I absolutely adored the intense mystery, built up suspense and intriguing premises. The world-building was slow and understandable even though the story it self was face paced. The story's three perspective writing allowed heaps and heaps of dramatic irony. Sometimes it was unbearable but it made the story that much better. The story was scary, haunting and almost Gothic at times with all the religious themes. I also loved the chapter names because they really foreshadowed what the chapter would be about. The flashbacks were also a nice addition. Most importantly, I was happy with the ending. It left me satisfied but wanting to read the next book.
Cons:
Sometimes the story got a little bit confusing but in the end, I connected all the dots. Like I said before, I really hated Mae's character at times. The only other con is that for me, sometimes the writing got really boring. Most of it was fast but at times it really slowed down.
Summary:
This book is titled perfectly. I definitely recommend it. I think that not everyone who enjoyed Vampire Academy will enjoy Gameboard of the Gods but I still think it's a good book. Also, I'm just noting that there is sex which is why it's an Adult book and not Young Adult. It's not excessive though so don't worry. Thank you to Penguin for sending me a review copy of this book.

Buy Gameboard of the Gods on the Book Depository

Buy Gameboard of the Gods on Audible

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Burn by Ellie Goulding

Genres: Pop, Indie Pop, Synth-Pop
Released: 4th July 2013
℗ 2013 Polydor Ltd. (UK)

Burn was released on the 4th and three days after, the music video came out on the 7th, I love Ellie Goulding's voice. She's come out with a bunch of amazing stuff that I've loved. Lights, Anything Could Happen and I Need Your Love are only a few of my favourite songs that really demonstrate her powerful soprano voice. Burn is a new single that will be a part of her repacked album Halcyon Days coming out in August. The album will also be featuring a few other songs. Burn is an absolutely wonderful song.
Song:
The song starts off with dull beats before the build up and then completely soften when Ellie's voice takes the show. I really think that her voice fits the song perfectly. Apparently, this song was meant to be for Leona Lewis but I'm glad Ellie got it instead. The upbeat dance synths make the song perfect for many situations. I mean, it could hit the clubs but when the tempo slows, it shows that it you could listen to this whenever. This is another one of those songs that I'll sing to super loudly and give a damn if I kill my neighbour's ears.
Lyrics:
The lyrics play a big factor in how much I love this song. I know that she didn't write them herself but I still love them. I'm glad that this pop song has got some proper lyrics. When you hear Burn I bet you expect a sappy breakup song but it's actually a powerful inspiring song. The lyrics are super repetitive but the producing by Ryan Tedder makes sure it never gets boring. My fave lines:
"Strike the smash, play it loud, giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky
Cause we got the fire, fire, fire, yeah we got the fire fire fire."
Summary:
Obviously I love this song and it's lyrics and I'm definitely recommending this song to you. The music video is also amazing.


Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Music Of June 2013!

This month, I haven't found and awful lot of music. I'm pretty happy with my selection though. These are all songs that I've discovered, loved and listened to this month. I would recommend them all and will continue listening too them. I've had a hectic month with books and haven't had much time to focus on music but I'm happy with all the reviews I've managed to do. As always, I have links to a playlist so that you can listen to all these songs. And of course, leave me your recommendations because I'm always up for more music.

MBLAQ - Sexy Beat

New To My Playlist:
First Love - After School
Wake Me Up - Avicii
Coffee Shop - B.A.P
Heart Hypnotic - Delta Goodrem
Female President - Girl's Day
Trap - Henry
Smoky Girl - MBLAQ
We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus
Come With Me - Ricky Martin
Firestarter - Samantha Jade
Slow Down - Selena Gomez
Give It To Me - SISTAR
Parachute - Timomatic
Is It Poppin? - 4MINUTE

Songs I've Done Reviews Of:
Firestarter
Female President 여자대통령
Heart Hypnotic
Come With Me
Slow Down
Trap
We Can't Stop

SoundCloud
Buy K-Pop at Yesasia!
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review: Firestarter by Samantha Jade

Genres: Pop, Electro-Pop, Dance-Pop, R&B
Released: 28 June 2013
℗ 2013 Sony Music Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd.

It's pretty much the end of the month and I should probably be doing my end of the month posts or reading for the Debut-A-Thon but instead, I'm going to review Firestarter by Samantha Jade. It was released yesterday and is already climbing up Australia's Top 10 on iTunes. Samantha Jade was the winner of X Factor for 2012. I was super excited for her new single and of course, I love it. A wonderful Electronic-Pop, Dance song that makes sure the party's in the house.
Song:
This song was produced by the same people who produced her previous single What You've Done To Me. I think it's a wonderful choice. If your first single reached #1 why not do the same for the second? I absolutely love the feel this song gives. It starts of with a catchy vibe that stays around in the background for the whole song. It may seem a bit repetitive but it sounds really cool. I love how extra beats are added for the lead up to the chorus. Closer to the end of the song, the tempo slows down and this really added a nice ballady touch to the song before it went electro-pop again.
Lyrics:
Of course any song about fire is going to have a whole heap of symbolism. I really like the lyrics for this song. I can't be 100% but I pretty sure Samantha wrote them herself as well. My favourite lyrics in this song have to be:
"There you are like a flame thrown to my heart, yeah, yeah
Got the things that I need to make it start, oh, oh!
You're the flame thrower
You're the firestarter!"
Summary:
Australia being the silly country it is, means that this song probably won't get far in the US. However, you never know what might happen. Aussie Guy Sebastion managed to get into the US charts. Either way, I'm quite sure this song will reach #1 here in Australia. It deserves it too because it really is a wonderful song. Check it out and have a listen!


Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review-A-Thon: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....
"I dare you..."
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Who else loved Pushing The Limits? After finishing it and declaring it was one of my favourite books ever, I was so excited for the next book. When Dare You To came out I had to jump on it as soon as I could. This series is similar to the Perfect Chemistry series in the sense that each book has different protagonists but the stories are still related. It's also similar to the Stephanie Perkins books. This Young Adult Contemporary Romance is definitely my kind of book. I gave Dare You To a straight up 5 STARS because it was just that amazing. Continue to see why you should read this.
Characters:
Beth and Ryan are the main protagonists in this story. Beth is seen as the general bad ass. Ryan is seen as the classic jock. But of course, there's a lot more to both of them than that. I loved seeing the roles swapped. For once, the girl's the gangster. Though I loved them, there are characters I hated too. I hated Ryan's controlling dad and I hated the bitch Gwen.
Pros:
I got hooked into the story right from the start. This is always a good sign and I'm glad the book didn't disappoint. I loved the cliche storyline as well. One of my favourite things aside from the beautiful storyline is the writing. The language made me feel very included. I enjoyed how the writing mimicked the particular feelings. For example, if the characters were drunk, the first person writing reflected that. I also liked the the fact that the swearing wasn't censored, it made the story come to life. I also enjoyed the nicknames the protagonists gave to each other and how they stayed throughout the story. Dare You To also left me giggling. The humour was so cute!
Cons:
My only con isn't big enough to take away any stars. I hated Gwen. I always hate it when there's that one asshole that is trying to ruin everything. Most of the time they're unnecessary but Gwen played a part in the story which is the only reason I tolerated her.
Summary:
I love this series so far and can't wait until the next book comes out. I definitely recommend this to everyone and anyone. Also, thank you to Harlequin Teen for sending me a copy of this fantastic book.

Try Audible now and get the Dare You To audiobook FREE
Buy Dare You To on the Book Depository
Buy Dare You To on Amazon
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review-A-Thon: Female President 여자대통령 by Girl's Day

Genres: K-Pop, Dance, Pop
Released: 24 June 2013
Members: Sojin, Minah, Hyeri, Yura
Dream Tea Entertainment

Girl's Day have come back again! I didn't expect a new release so soon after their last release Expectation. Either way, I'm not going to complain because I absolutely love their new single. Female President. It's a part of the repacked Expectation album. The music video is really racy with strip teases and the lot but there isn't actually anything explicit. Despite the super sexual video, the song is actually really catchy.
Song:
The song begins with a nice array of synths. It's the perfect beginning. Though some say it's really similar to Little Mix's Wings, I really don't care because I like the way it sounds. The drums and guitar strums in the background are the perfect base the the beautiful vocals. My absolute favourite in this particular song is Minah's extremely powerful voice. In some of Girl's Day's past songs, Minah's voice seemed to forced and strained. Sojin's voice which I can't describe as anything other than 'whispery' was wonderful as well. Lots of the song was 'chant-like' which made Hyeri and Yura's rapping fit in effortlessly.
Lyrics:
I don't know if I like the song or the lyrics more. They were both so good. The lyrics express the fact that sometimes the girl has got to make the first move. I think this is a really great message to be sending. My favourite lines translate to:
"You go first and say you love him,
Now is the time, you can start first."
Summary:
Definitely worth the time. Again, the music video is really hot but if you get offended by anything sexual, maybe just listen to the song without the video. I really love this song though. One of my favourite in a long time. Super powerful vocals, super catchy tune, super meaningful lyrics, super super super! Give it a go!


Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review-A-Thon: Entwined with You by Sylvia Day

The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires…
From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…

Before anyone judges me, yes this is an 18+ book, yes it's Erotic but no, it's nothing like Fifty Shades of Grey. Okay so, I'll be honest, it's pretty similar to Fifty Shades but there are a lot of differences. I don't want to make this a comparison review so I'll make it clear from the start, Fifty Shades of Grey is nothing compared to the Crossfire series. I thought this was going to be a trilogy but I guess I was wrong because apparently the story hasn't ended just yet. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book. I gave Entwined with You  a 4.4 STARS. As always, don't stop reading just yet. Continue to see my thoughts on the this book and the series as a whole.
Characters:
Now I love Eva and Gideon. Of course I do. They are seriously super intriguing characters. If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know I love stories where the guy and the girl work out all the messed up lives together. This book is definitely a perfect example. They work out their past and present together. Though of course there are setbacks, it all works out in the end. I also loved Cary, Megumi and Eva's dad. I kind of hated all the other characters but you have to have some evil characters in there somewhere. The only character that really pissed me off was Brett. More on what I think about him later.
Pros:
This book was really entertaining. I know what you're thinking, but not that entertaining. I loved how even under all the drama, there were still parts where I could giggle. I also enjoyed the minor story lines that went along with the major story lines. This book hooked me in with drama and mystery right from the start. There is so much suspense that builds up throughout the story. Sylvia Day definitely has experienced writing. It fit Eva's point of view and character effortlessly.
Cons:
So there aren't that many bad parts to this. The only things I hated are things that are completely personal. Firstly, I hated Brett. I hated him so much. His annoying ass character was completely unnecessary. I get that the author was trying to create some kind of love triangle but it doesn't work when Brett is down right annoying. I also hated the ending. Endings need to be perfect for me and Entwined with You had a pretty bad ending. It wasn't a major cliffhanger and it didn't really end.
Summary:
All in all, it was definitely an enjoyable read. Good writing, good stories, good humor. I can't wait until the next book comes out. This series as a whole is spectacular. It doesn't matter how you felt about Fifty Shades of Grey, it doesn't matter if you haven't even read it, I recommend this series over it.

Try Audible now and get the Entwined with You audiobook FREE
Buy Entwined With You on the Book Depository
Buy Entwined with You on Amazon
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review-A-Thon: Heart Hypnotic by Delta Goodrem

 
 
Genres: Dance-Pop, Pop, Music
Released: 17 June 2013
℗ 2013 Sony Music Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd.

Delta Goodrem never fails to amaze me. Heart Hypnotic is a new pop song with lots of EDM elements. It's a fresh new dance song that's ready to hit the radios and clubs all over Australia and possible internationally. As a judge/coach on The Voice Australia, Delta Goodrem has released this new single at the perfect time. Fellow judge Ricky Martin also released a new song. My review of his song can be found here. But back to Heart Hypnotic, it is an amazing song with an amazing title.
Song:
I love how this song starts slow and then builds up. The piano at the beginning of the song creates a very peaceful atmosphere. Then it becomes a really upbeat dance song. Once the chorus comes around, the song has a really strong bass. The instrumentals are super fun as well. Closer to the end of the song, the tempo slows again. It really accentuates Delta Goodrem's amazing vocals.
Lyrics:
Heart Hypnotic was co-written by Ryan Tedder. He's worked with people like Zedd, Far East Movement and Gym Class Heroes which you can see is where some of Electronic Dance Pop has come from. I absolutely love the lyrics in this song. All the fancy symbolism really fits the mood of the song. My favourite lines:
"Dark nights under the setting sun,
Bright lights, come we're the only one."
Summary:
I'm so glad that after a decade, Delta Goodrem is still making music. Heart Hypnotic definitely beats Sitting on Top of the World and I'll listen to it for a long time. I hope you'll check it out. It only takes a few minutes.

 
Buy on iTunes

Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Review-A-Thon: Vain by Fisher Amelie

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.
Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.
I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

 
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I completely fell in love. I had to read it and I knew I'd enjoy it. For once, the synopsis was the thing that sucked me in. It wasn't the cover and it wasn't because someone else told me that it was good. This is what you call a spectacular synopsis. I gave this book a straight up 5 STARS and it easily went straight into my favourites. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out. See why I loved Vain.
Characters:
If you start reading it, you'd think the main character is a complete bitch. I thought that too but for some reason I just couldn't hate her. I loved the character development as she and Dingane worked their problems out together. All the characters had so many different layers that were slowly unveiled. I love how there wasn't that one stupid and annoying character trying to screw up everything. Sometimes I get why the author would put in an annoying character but all it does is pisses me off. They're completely unnecessary and I'm so glad Fisher Amelie didn't put one in.
Pros:
I always enjoy love stories with a moral and Vain definitely fits that category. It wasn't just love at first sight, it was way more deep. It was so extremely cute at some points and I just couldn't stop giggling. It also left me crying which is always good. I also loved her writing and how she incorporated so many different metaphors to enhance the meaning.
Cons:
Well the only con is that I don't have anything to write in this section.
Summary:
Hurry up and read this! Or at least go add it to your to-read list. This book blew my mind away just like I knew it would after I read the synopsis. It received a well-earned 5 STARS in my books.

Try Audible now and get the Vain audiobook FREE
Buy Vain on the Book Depository
Buy Vain on Amazon
Please leave a comment, follow, and +1. Thank you for supporting my blog.