AGES ago, it honestly seems like forever ago... I signed up to be part of the Bloggers Book Swap that was hosted by the lovely
Beth, who I have actually managed to meet in real life!
I was paired with the lovely Vicky of
The Randomness of Twee, who actually has fairly similar tastes in books as I do! Which made getting stuff for her pretty easy. Basically we had to get to know each other's reading tastes, and then send each other some books, within a £10 budget, that we thought the other would like. We even had the chance to include some of our personal favourites for our partner to try! I'm ashamed to say I actually received my books WEEKS ago, but what with moving into the flat, I haven't had time to read them, or even blog about them, until now...
I don't often talk about what I like to read on my blog, but here is the information that I gave to Vicky:
'
I normally do the one thing we were always told not to do in school, and I always judge a book by it's cover. If the cover compels me, then I'm sure the story will...
As for styles of books... My favourites are fantasy books, so anything about the supernatural... Werewolves, Vampires, Zombies, witches. I've recently read and enjoyed the Shade of Vampire series by Bella Forrest. Obviously I've read the Twilight series :D It's one of my favourites. I've also read the trueblood series and the Vampire Academy series... As for werewolves the only series I've ever read of those is the Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater.
I also love Crime books, and especially crime books that combine with the fantasy/supernatural! I read a book once about a detective who could sense the dead, and that was pretty cool, but for the life of me I can't remember the author... that is so going to bug me now...
Like you, I also enjoy books for Young Adults! So I guess any of those that you have read, I would probably love.
The final kind of book I've been getting into recently is books that combine baking/a bakery with narrative. i.e. Cupcakes at Carringtons by Alexandra Brown'
When my package finally arrived I was dying to see what Vicky had picked out for me, and I can certainly say that I was not disappointed...
'They say that the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them. Until now.
Now everything has changed. Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years suffocated by a lie'
This is the only one I have actually managed to read so far, and I will be writing a review on it shortly, it was a very compelling story, and just the kind of book that I like.
'The shocking thing about the girls was how nearly normal they seemed when their mother let them out for the one and only day of their lives. Twenty years on, their enigmatic personalities are embalmed in the memories of the boys who worshipped them and who now recall their shared adolescence: the brassiere draped over a crucifix belonging to the promiscuous Lux; the sisters' breathtaking appearance of the night of the dance; and the sultry, sleepy street across which they watched a family disintegrate and fragile lives disappear'
This is a book I've heard about a lot, but don't actually know a lot about. This is actually one of Vicky's favourite books of all time, so I was glad to see it in my package, and I can't wait to read it.
' 'You're going to hell, Jack Nightingale': They are words that ended his career as a police negotiator. Now Jack's a struggling private detective - and the chilling words come back to haunt him.
Nightingales life is turned upside down the day that he inherits a mansion with a priceless library; it comes from a man who claims to be his father, and it comes with a warning. That Nightingale's soul was sold at birth and the devil will come to claim it on his thirty-third birthday - just three weeks away.
Jack doesn't believe in Hell, probably doesn't believe in Heaven either. But when people close to him start to die horribly, he is led to the inescapable conclusion that real evil may be at work. And that if he doesn't find a way out he'll be damned in hell for eternity.'
This is the perfect mixture of Crime and supernatural, which are two of my favourite genres, and they are even more interesting when they come together. Can't wait to get onto this one.
'Jeane Smith's a blogger, a dreamer, a dare-to-dreamer, a jumble sale queen, CEO of her own lifestyle brand and has half a million followers on twitter.
Michael Lee's a star of school, stage and playing field. A golden boy in a Jack Wills hoodie.
They have nothing in common but a pair of cheating exes. So why can't they stop snogging?'
A book, about a blogger. I literally couldn't be more excited to read this one. It's a the top of my list, this kind of thing is right up my street!
'When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he's sent to be fostered in Yorkshire. It's not long before he senses there's something wrong with his guardian, and the entire village.
Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how he is different. But no one will believe him, and no one can help'
I absolutely love the cover on this one. I am a sucker for black background with a bright colour though... This is another one that sounds right up my street, it has just enough information to peak my interest, whilst at the same time is vague enough to make me wonder what the story is really about. I'm hoping it's going to be supernatural.
Vicky also picked me up a copy of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, but I've actually already begun to read that series, although she did remind me that I am currently only two books in, so thanks Vicky!
All in all I was seriously happy with my books, and I will be reviewing each one as I get around to reading them, and that may take me a while, what with still unpacking, house work, and trying to keep this blog going, but I'll manage somehow. So watch this space!
Finally, thanks again to Beth for organising the whole thing, and to Vicky for picking me up some seriously awesome books, that I probably never would have found on my own.