Follow My Book Blog Friday (90)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Have you ever broken up with a series? If so, which one and why? 

Answer:

I read both of these series in high school, but they're never ending! So by the time I caught up with the end of the series and had to wait around for a new one to come out (because there was always a new book to come out...), I would simply forget about it. Don't get me wrong, these both are really really great reads, but it's hard to keep up with all of the new releases! I eventually stopped picking them up when the new one came out, then I got a couple behind, so I ended up stopping all together. Maybe I'll pick up the end of the Private series sometime so that I can figure out how everything ended. I know that the Morganville Vampires is still going strong, but I'm so far behind on that one, I'd need a good chunk of time to dedicate to that series. Who knows, maybe I'll finish them eventually!

Southbank Book Market

This past Friday, some friends and I decided to go out to a bunch of markets around London. On that list just so happened to be the Southbank Book Market, an outdoor book market underneath Waterloo bridge. We had tried visitng last week when it was raining, but little did we know that the book market is closed when it rains or else the books get ruined. Why didn't we think of that? But I'm happy to report that Friday was a beautiful day and we were finally able to see the books!

The market ended up being a bunch of tables set up with books divided by genre. My favorite section was definitely the penguin books because they were arranged by color, which ended up looking so cool. I didn't find anything that I just had to have, but it was still fun looking around at all of the books. The books were still around 3 pounds each, which is about $4.50, so there wasn't anything I needed for that price. I definitely miss the dollar sale wall from Half Price Books! Haha, I guess I'm just used to being spoiled from my favorite store back home :)

And that's the book market! Hopefully I can find some other fun bookstores around the city that have some cheaper books that I can buy and bring home. It would be so fun to have some books from England on my bookshelf! 

Waiting On Wednesday (94)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

All Our Pretty Songs

By Sarah McCarry

Release Date: July 30, 2013

Summary: The first book in an exciting YA trilogy, this is the story of two best friends on the verge of a terrifying divide when they begin to encounter a cast of strange and mythical characters.

Set against the lush, magical backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, two inseparable best friends who have grown up like sisters—the charismatic, mercurial, and beautiful Aurora and the devoted, soulful, watchful narrator—find their bond challenged for the first time ever when a mysterious and gifted musician named Jack comes between them. Suddenly, each girl must decide what matters most: friendship, or love. What both girls don’t know is that the stakes are even higher than either of them could have imagined. They’re not the only ones who have noticed Jack’s gift; his music has awakened an ancient evil—and a world both above and below which may not be mythical at all. The real and the mystical; the romantic and the heartbreaking all begin to swirl together, carrying the two on journey that is both enthralling and terrifying.

And it’s up to the narrator to protect the people she loves—if she can.

Doesn't this one sound so intriguing? I'm really excited for the cast of strange and mythical characters, and how it affects the two best friends. And who is this Jack that threatens their friendship because both love him? What's most interesting, though, is the fact that the narrator isn't named. Who is she? I guess I'll have to wait to read this one to find out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Feature Traveling In Some Way

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books That Feature Traveling In Some way

I love books that have to do with travel, so I was super excited when I saw this topic. So in no particular order, here are my top ten picks!

1. Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

2. The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

3. In Honor by Jessi Kirby

4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

5. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

6. Reunited by Hilary Graham

7. In the Bag by Kate Klise

8. Meant to Be by Lauren Morill

9. Caribbean Cruising by Rachel Hawthorne

10. The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Weekly Roundup [5/28-6/3]

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a lovely week! I had an amazing time spending the day in Dover yesterday, walking along the cliffs for hours then enjoying a nice Cod and Fish basket for lunch. It was the absolute perfect day! I got to see Dover Castle and I could even see France across the water! I could just imagine bringing a book and spending all day up on the beautiful, grassy area above the cliffs. I'm so happy I was able to visit! Anyways...that was my weekend :) Here's everything that's been going on the past week...

Book Reviews

Faking It by Cora Carmack

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Memes

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Reads of 2013 So Far

Waiting On Wednesday (93)

Stacking the Shelves (52)

Miscellaneous

London Snapshots

Book Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

On Dublin Street

By Samantha Young

Release Date: August 31, 2013

Source: Own Copy

Summary: Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

Review: I have heard nothing but fantastic things about this book ever since it came out, so you could say that I was more than eager to get my hands on it. I loved that it was new adult and took place in Scotland (despite the fact that they're on Dublin Street...she actually lives in Edinburgh) and I could't wait to get into the juicy romance the summary hinted at. 

Joss is used to being on her own ever since her family died and she moved her life to Scotland four years later. When she moves into the apartment on Dublin Street, though, she's not expecting the hot, stubborn Scotsman named Braden to come with it. But he just so happens to be the brother of her new, bubbly roommate Ellie and Joss can't seem to escape him. So when Joss finally decides to play Braden's game, she finds herself forming relationships she's been scared to death of ever since she lost her family. When difficulties arise, can Joss be there for those who need her, or will she close them out like she's used to? 

Mmmm ever since Braden came into the book, I could not get him out of my head! He seemed gorgeous, caring, and knew how to make a girl feel special. And Joss definitely needed someone like that in her life. I loved how relationships, even simple friendships, were so hard for Joss to form, so she really had no idea how to act once she was actually in them. That made her relationship with Braden that much more intriguing because he knew how to play her to get exactly what he wanted out of the relationship, despite her fears and doubts. Not to mention their flirting was beyond adorable, especially when Braden pushed Joss's buttons to the point where he knew she wouldn't be able to resist him. 

As the book went on, though, I wasn't a huge fan of how Braden got more demanding. I was perfectly fine with how he was at the beginning instead of seeming almost overbearing at points when it was just him and Joss. And Joss's attitude about her body kind of got annoying. Okay, we get you're hot. Get over yourself. But other than that, I enjoyed the characters a lot. Ellie was such a sweetheart and the added side story of her and Adam was a great bonus to this story. 

In the end, I really liked reading this book. I think the constant emotional talk and the physical relationship were put on a little thick and the author could have toned those aspects down a little. But overall it was a great read for any new adult fan. Especially if you love books that take place in a different country! The Scottish vibe was awesome and I loved getting lost in Joss's world. I can't wait to pick up Down London Road to see what Samantha Young has in store for us next!

Stacking the Shelves (52)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week!

From Netgalley

I just finished reading On Dublin Street (the first book in this series) this morning and I really enjoyed it! I was expecting a lot more considering the rave reviews it was getting on Goodreads, but it was still a great read. I remembered seeing I had gotten an email about the second book a while back and I went and found it. So now I have an egalley of the second book! Yay! I love reading new adult books now, and add in the fact that these are in the UK, which is where I currently am and will be for the next four weeks, and I just can't get enough of them. Hopefully this one turns out as good as I expect it to! 

That's all for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week?