Admitting Defeat : goodreads goal

I am officially giving up trying to read my goal of 100 books this year, think I made 81, so not terrible but not great. It was just stressing me out and was not managing to much else other than reading. I was also finding that I was snot enjoying the books as much as I maybe should.

So I decided that I am not going to force it. I am going to read if and when I feel like and not when I feel I need to. As a result of this and being crazy busy with Christmas preparation i will not be posting very much until after the new year. When I will try and do regular posts, reviews and hopefully new exciting posts that I have been thinking up.

Until the Happy Holidays 🙂

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Review: Princess in Love (Princess Dairies #3)

Mia discovers yet another branch on the royal side of her family tree when she meets her cousin, Sebastiano, an up-and-coming fashion designer. Mia worries that Sebastiano might want her dead, since he’s next in line to inherit the throne, she’s not yet willing to toss him aside — his dress creations are not only exquisite, they are perfectly tailored to bring out the best in Mia’s flat-chested, big-footed physique. Life is looking better on other fronts as well, for Mia finally has a boyfriend. Unfortunately, it’s Kenny, her study partner, good friend, and fellow classmate, whereas the real love of her life is Michael, the brother of Mia’s best friend, Lilly. But not only does Michael seem clueless about Mia’s affections; it looks like he has a girlfriend.
While bemoaning her inability to compete for Michael’s affections, Mia spends her time trying to avoid Kenny’s kisses, pondering the best way to break up with him even as she wonders why he hasn’t asked her to the big Christmas dance. Adding to Mia’s stresses are her upcoming final exams, her mother’s incessant morning sickness, the usual unwanted media attention, and the ongoing torments of her fellow classmate and nemesis, Lana.
While Mia’s sometimes simplistic view of life remains intact and her adolescent shallowness is often apparent, she also shows an evolving maturity as she prepares for her royal role under Grandmere’s overbearing guidance. But never fear, the seriousness is kept in balance with plenty of fun, tons of laughs, and several amusing disasters. And, if Mia isn’t careful, she might even get that fairy-tale ending.

 

As usual I loved this book but still really dislike Lilly, although she grew on me a little at the end. As always this book was full of drama and exciting. Mia is starting to grow, and not just mindlessly do what Lilly says. I do sometimes think they are acting too mature for fourteen years old, I never used to word ‘digress’ at the age of fourteen and especially not in my diary. But they Mia handled her relationship with Kenny was not very mature at all.
Yay she finally got the guy she wants, let’s just hope it stays that way.

Four out of five stars.

 

Review: Never Bite a Boy on the First Date

I’ve got a few issues. I’m a vampire now. One of my classmates was found dead, with telltale fang marks. I didn’t do it! (really!) Nobody believes me, so … I’m going to have to find the real killer. I’ve already got three suspects. (three very cute suspects.) One more problem: I am seriously falling for one of them … but what if he’s the killer?

I liked the fun, light style and tone of this book. It was entertaining to read and the identity of the murderer kept me on my toes. I was not a fan of the main character juggling three/ four guys, depends on how you look at it. It was an interesting story and although I had worked out who the murderer was half way through the book, there was lots of other mysteries for me to uncover.

Milo – aww he sounds so cute, def the boy you want to be dating. Funny too always a bonus.

Daniel – Hmm he was not my fave character, a little too mysterious for my liking.

Zach – a little bit of a physco from the start.

I would read more books if this was a series, not sure what else could happen though.

It was a good teenage vampire story, unlike any I have ever read which is a great thing.

All in all an original story full of mysteries and cute boys.

Four out of five stars.

Review: The Luxe (Luxe #1)

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.

Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.

White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.

This is Manhattan, 1899.

Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear…

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

Not sure where to start with this one. I struggled to carry on for most of it, but it did have it’s moments that had me completely enthralled. But unfortunately most of the time i would have happily not picked it again.

The story was good, maybe not the most exciting tale in the world but it had it’s draw. The pretty dresses, the tales of the 1900’s it was all very different from what we are used to. In that respect it was very interesting, but somehow there was not just enough grab to make me want to read it from cover to cover without interruption.

It’s a curious notion that the whole of New York would care who the elite rich people married, maybe it was that way in real life I do not know, but it seems strange.

Elizabeth, who seemed to be the main character, was nice at first but then she got boring and extremely naive. Reminded me of Serena from Gossip Girl.

Diana was much more of a fun character, she was the rebel of the book to begin with but then mellowed slightly.

Penelope, wicked girl, reminds me of Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.

If you like historical fiction based on society and gossip girl this is a book for you. Not sure if I will read the next one in the series.

3 out of 5 stars

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