March Book Haul.

Hi guys,
Today I thought I would do a book haul for you guys, as this month I went a bit mad on buying books, but I didn't pay for them myself my lovely fiancé bought them for me as a treat.
All the books were purchased online from The Works
There are 13 altogether and I am just waiting for a delivery of two others. A few of these books I have been after for awhile and some I sounded really good so I had to get them.

These are all my books that I have so far received and sorry the picture is a bit blurry I was just so excited. I am yet to receive Pandemonium and Requiem the last two books in the Delirium series. I am yet to purchase Delirium it's self, but when I saw the other two for just £2.99 each I had to get them as I want this series anyway.

The Grave Tattoo By Val McDermid. 543 pages. Published: 2007.  Well what can I say, I loved Killing The Shadows, which I will be reviewing very soon, so much when I saw this novel I had to go and buy it. I love how Val McDermid writes and I thought this book sounded just as exciting as Killing The Shadows. I think if I enjoy this book also I may have to purchase more if not all of Val McDermid's books. I do tend to think  the covers of her novels don't tie in with the book it's self. Blurb/Synopsis: A 200-YEAR-OLD SSERCRET IS NOW A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. AND IT COULD BE WORTH A FORTUNE... It's summer in the Lake District and torrential rain has uncovered a bizarrely tattooed body on a hillside. Could it be linked to the centuries-old rumours that surround Fletcher Christian, mutinous First Mate on the ill-fated Bounty, a legendary massacre on the strange island of Pitcairn, and Christian's possible return to England? Jane Gresham wants to know. An expert on Wordsworth, she has a theory that the Lakeland poet, a childhood friends of Christian's, had harboured the fugitive and turned his tale into an epic poem - which has since stayed hidden. But as she follows each lead, death is hard on her heels. The 200-year-old mystery is putting lives at risk. And it isn't just the truth that is waiting to be discovered, but a bounty worth millions of pounds...

Room By Emma Donoghue. 401 pages. Published: 2010. Now this book is one I don't think I would of picked up myself in a store until, I watched videos on youtube of how good this book is and I have read so many great reviews on this book. Now this book was first published in 2010 and all of a sudden it has become very popular in the booktube world, the amount of love people are giving this book I don't know why it took 4 years to become so popular. I don't tend to follow tends as I feel just because someone likes/enjoys something doesn't mean I will, I tend to do/read things in my own time, but this book, as soon as I noticed the love this book was getting I was looking for it all over the internet to purchase it. I think with this cover is ties in with the storyline and I find the book simple but so captivating. Blurb/Synopsis: Jack is five. He lives in a single, locked room with his Ma. This blurb doesn't go into much detail like you would find on a normal book but in those few words it tells you a lot. Can't wait to read will be reading very soon.

Gold Digger By Frances Fyfield. 308 pages. Published: 2012. This book I haven't read or watched any reviews on but when I read the blurb online I loved the sound of it. I haven't heard of this author before so the author is new to me also so hopefully I have bought a very good read. Blurb/Synopsis: The warmth of him, the glorious warmth, was fading by the minute. In a huge old school house by the sea, full of precious paintings, Thomas Porteous is dying. His much younger wife Di holds him and mourns. She knows that soon, despite her being sole inheritor, Thomas's relatives will descend on the collection that was the passion of both their lives. And descend they do. The two needy daughters, who were poisoned against their father by their defecting mother, are now poison themselves. With the help of an unlikely collection of loners and eccentrics, Di sets a trap to hoist the family members on their own greed. And on the night they are lured to the house, she will be ready. Or will she?

First Among Sequels By Jasper Fforde. 395 pages. Published: 2008. This book I have heard a lot about and once again I so badly wanted to read it myself. I love the cover it is very colourful. This book is actually part of a series and I have heard so much about this book on it's own I thought I would give it a go. I'm not sure if I want to read the whole series as I haven't heard much about the other books themselves but I have heard a lot about this book, but me being me will probably read the rest of the series anyways. As it is part of a series I won't put the blurb/synopsis on here for you as some people may find it ruins the others in the series.

A Room Swept White By Sophie Hannah. 454 pages. Published: 2010. This book I haven't heard anything about this book or author, but I just thought it sounded very good. I don't think this is in a series, but even if it is when I looked online at her other books I didn't get excited as much as I did for this book. I'm unsure if the cover ties in with the storyline it's self, but I do think the cover is so pretty, in fact all of the covers for Sophie Hannah's books are very beautiful. Blurb/Synopsis: TV producer Fliss Benson receives an anonymous card at work: sixteen number arranged in four rows of four - numbers that mean nothing to her. On the same day, Fliss finds out she's going to be working on a documentary about miscarriages of justice involving cot-death mothers wrongly accused of murder. The documentary will focus on three women: Helen Yardley, Sarah Jaggard and Rachel Hines. All three are now free, and the child protection sea lot who did her best to send them to prison for life, Dr Juddith Duffy, is under investigation for misconduct. For reasons she shared with nobody, this is the last project Fliss wants to be working on. And then Helen Yardley is found dead at her home, and in her pocket is a card with sixteen numbers on it, arranged in four rows of four... I can not wait to read this book, hopefully will be reviewing it very shortly.

Mister X By John Lutz. 455 pages. Published: 2012. This book I haven't heard anything about, but I have heard of the author before. I love crime/thriller books and this is right up my street. I love the cover as it seems dark and mysterious with the edge of the bright X makes me wanted to know who mister X is. Blurb/Synopsis: Fear leaves a mark... He mutilates his victims. Cuts their throats. And then carves and x into their flesh. Five years ago he claimed the lives of six women and then the killing stopped. And no one knows why. Ex-homicide detective Frank Quinn remembers- which is why he's shocked to see one of the dead women in his office. In fact, she is the identical twin of the last victim, and she wants Quinn to find her sister's murderer. But when the cold case heats up, it attracts the media spotlight - and suddenly the killings start again. This book reminded me of my favourite film(s) Saw, he marks all his victims with a jigsaw piece cut from their flesh and if I am honest that is what made me want to buy and read this book.

The House at Sea's End By Elly Griffiths. 388 pages. Published: 2011. Once again I haven't heard anything about this book or author but I really liked the sound of it. This is Elly Griffiths's Third crime novel but I don't think they are in a series. I love the cover as it goes beautifully with the books title, yet it's quite hauntingly beautiful as well. It was the blurb that made me want to read this book so badly as it reminded me of the Bones series by Kathy Reichs and i have just started the series and so far I love them. Blurb/Synopsis: Ruth Shivers, not entirely from the cold. Who would bury bodies here, in this inaccessible spot? /the bodies are bound, their hands tied behind their backs. When bones are unearthed at the foot of a north Norfolk cliff, forensics expert Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson are put on the case. The skeletons have lain there for decades, possible since the war, and for all that time a hideous crime has been concealed. When a body washes up on the beach, it becomes clear that someone wants the truth of the past to stay buried, and will go to any lengths to keep it that way. Can Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to stop another victim?

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting By Mary Higgins Clark. 445 pages. Published: 2014. I have heard of this author before and actually have Two Little Girls In Blue by the same author I just haven't read it yet. Both of these books sound very interesting and if I read and enjoy both books I will purchase more from the same author. This book isn't in a series, but she has written many books. The cover is stands out with the dark background and then the white and orange writing. Also with the slightly blurry girl who is running on the cover makes me wonder what is she running from? Blurb/Synopsis: A dark family secret puts the lives of two sisters in grave danger. Hannah Connelly is plunged into a nightmare when she learns that Connelly Fine Antique Reproductions, the family business founded by her grandfather, has been levelled by huge explosion.  The ashes reveal a startling and grisly discovery. Could the explosion have been deliberately set? And what was Kate, Hannah's sister and highflyer in an accounting firm, doing in the building in the middle of the night? With Kate lying in a coma in hospital, it is now down to Hannah to discover what truly happened. But little does she know that someone will do anything they can to prevent Kate regaining consciousness. Will Hannah find out the truth before that person kills to save himself? This sounds like an, edge of your seat kind of story to me and i can not wait to read it.

Divergent By Veronica Roth. 487 pages. Published: 2011. This book is greatly loved worldwide and is out in film as it was so popular. Like the rest of series that everyone loved I was a bit late to go with the tend. I have heard great things about both the book and the film, but it wasn't until I read the reviews of the film I felt the urge to purchase and read these books myself, so when I saw the trilogy for only £9.99 I had to buy them. The reviews haven't spoilt the book for me as I only read ones with no Spoilers in. Blurb/Synopsis: Three flying birds...one for each member of the family I left behind. Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit. So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choice lies ahead. Writing the blurb is the first time I have read it myself and straight away it remind me or Twilight, which I have reviewed here and The Hunger Games, which I have reviewed here. I look forward to reading the whole series.

Insurgent By Veronica Roth. 525 pages.Published: 2012. As of above I have heard great things about this whole series. I love how, as I bought it as a series set, all my cover go together and that they all stand out one way or another. I haven't read the blurb and to stop spoilers for people like myself I won't write it here also.

Allegiant By Veronica Roth. 526 pages. Published: 2013. The final in the "Divergent" series. I can not wait to read this series, and review it for you guys. To stop spoilers, again I won't write the blurb to this story here. If you have read this series feel free to comment below but No Spoilers!

Well I hope you enjoyed this book haul as much as I did writing it and as you can see I have a few books to read now and will be reviewing these books very soon.

See you soon.

Laura xxx

●● Waiting on Wednesday - Dust By Patricia Cornwell●●

Hey Guys,
I thought I would try something new this week and get involved in a memo created by the brilliant Breaking the spine.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

Expected release date: 24th April 2014.

After working on one of the worst mass killings in US history, Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta returns home to recover, but an unsettling call drives her straight back to work. The body of a young woman has been discovered inside the sheltered gates of MIT, draped in an unusual cloth and posed in a way that is too deliberate to be the killer's first strike. A preliminary examination reveals that the body is covered in a fine dust that under ultra-violet light fluoresces blood-red, emerald-green and sapphire-blue, and physical evidence links this to another series of disturbing homicides in Washington, DC. As she pieces together the fragments of evidence, Scarpetta discovers that the cases connect, yet also seem to conflict, drawing herself and her team deeper into the dark world of designer drugs, drone technology, organised crime, and shocking corruption at the highest level.

Dust is a thrilling, addictive novel featuring one of the most iconic, original and compelling characters in crime fiction today.

Now I know this book is already out in hardback, ebook and audiobook, but I have the whole series collection in paperback and I wanted the latest book to match. I have been waiting for this book for what seems like ages, as Patricia Cornwell is without a doubt my favourite author of all time. I have reviewed the Scarpetta series so far here and even wrote a Author Review here. I can not wait to get my hands on this book!!!

Laura xx

The Moaning Life of Karl Pilkington by Karl Pilkington.

Hey Guys,

Product Details:
Publisher: Canongate 2013
Paperback. 357 Pages.
Source: Christmas Present.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Synopsis/Blurb: I've been on the planet for forty years now and I'm still none the wiser as to what it's all about really. I've never worried about life's big questions. People at my age sit about pondering "why are we here?" The only time I ever asked myself that is when Suzanne booked us a surprise holiday to Lanzarote.' Karl Pilkington is forty years old. He's not married, he doesn't have kids, and he's got a job where he's known as an 'idiot'. It's time for him to take stock and face up to life's big question - what does it all mean? Karl is no stranger to travel, and now he's off on a series of madcap adventures around the globe to find out how other cultures approach life's big issues. Travelling from far-flung tribes to high-tech cities, Karl experiences everything from a drive-thru wedding in Las Vegas to a vocational theme park in Japan, he meets a group of people in Mexico who find happiness through pain, attends a clowning school in LA, and even encounters a woman in Bali who lets him help deliver her baby. Have his experiences changed him? Find out in this hilarious new book where Karl shares his stories (and opinions) in his inimitable style. Karl Pilkington is back on the road, and this times he's on a journey of self-discovery...

My love for Karl Pilkington goes on. Both his books and TV series are the funniest things I have ever seen, and I love every page of this book too. I haven't watched The moaning life TV series as of yet as whenever it is on I miss it, but I plan to buy the DVD and watch over and over.
Karl brightens up any sad or bad days I have as he tells the truth and sees the world as I also see it. Very very funny book, I couldn't put it down. This book is split into to sections: Marriage, Kids, Vocation & money, Happiness and Death. Karl meets weird and wonderful people that have different views on each point/section in the book. He seems to "enjoy" this more than the idiot abroad as he isn't told to do stuff he doesn't want to do. In this book I really enjoyed the Karl's facts and sayings.
This isn't like my usual book review as I cant talk about characters but I highly recommend this book as it's very funny.
See you soon.
Laura xx 

You Only Live Once by Katie Price.

Hey Guys,

Product Details:
Publisher: Arrow Books 2012
Paperback. 324 Pages.
Source: Christmas Present.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Synopsis/Blurb: Break-ups, marriage and moving on. The last two and a half years of Katie Price's life have been anything but quiet. And yet through it all, while her private life continues to be played out on the front pages of the tabloids, Katie has always stuck to what she does best - combining a successful career with the two biggest loves of her life: her three beautiful children and her horses. In this, the latest dazzling instalment of her autobiography, Katie reveals the many highs and lows of the past few years, the challenges she has overcome, and the exhilaration of trying new things. Throughout a highly publicised divorce, her return to the I'm A Celebrity jungle, and her romantic Las Vegas wedding to Celebrity Big Brother winner Alex Reid, Katie has always managed to make the most of every minute. From the woman who always speaks her mind, You Only Live Once gives her devoted and loyal fans the truth behind the headlines, as once again Katie's unflappable nature, humour and incredible determination allow her to set the record straight and tell her side of this rollercoaster story.
I have read some of Katie's Prices books before but not one of her autobiography before as I don't really like these types of books all that much but I thought I would give it a try. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did. I will say when Katie and Peter split up I wasn't on anyones side and still am not. Each have made mistakes and each are happy with new babys in their lives yet once I read this I have learnt about Katie a lot more and I see how much she has been through. This best way to describe how this is written it is as if she is sat talking to you about her life and what happened in it. She is truthful and very honest in the book from good to bad.
I really enjoyed "getting to know" Katie as has pulled through a lot more than I thought she had. I liked this pictures in the book, very glamorous.
Katie does things people either wished they had the guts to do or wish they could do, its all jealousy when they say bad things about her and her family. Everyone has to earn a living and everyones way is different.
This isn't like my usual blog post as I can't talk about the characters and stuff but I really did enjoy this book and have got her new book, Love, Lipsticks and Lies to read.

See you soon.
Laura xx

Cast a Harry Potter Spell!

Hey Guys,
Today I thought I would do a tag for you and I came upon this tag on here. It was originally from Flip that page here. On Feed me books now's blog and loved the sound of it so decided to do it myself.

Reparo

fixes damaged objects

A book that needs some serious fixing: The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom. The cover and synopsis of this book sounded brilliant I so badly wanted to read this book but the book it's self was in my opinion a big let down. I have done a blog post on it here.

Lumos

creates a narrow beam of light

A book that deserves more attention: Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell. I know a lot of people enjoy Patricia Cornwell books but I feel this book didn't get the hype it really deserved.

Nox

counters the effects of Lumos

An overhyped book: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith/J k Rowling. I was recommended this book by a lot of people, I had newsletters and emails about how great this book is and I also was told by fellow Goodreaders or blogger it was a great book, me myself I thought it was okay not as good as I was expecting though.

Accio

summons an object from a significant distance

A book you’re anticipating: Dust by Patricia Cornwell. I know this book is already out, but I don't own a kindle and don't like hardbacks so I am waiting for it to come out in paperback.

Alohomora

opens unlocked doors, unless bewitched

A book you want to be more open about: Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James. I am not into reading erotic novels I have tried but I just couldn't get in to it and when the sex parts came I felt awkward, but I think that is because I was a lot younger and since starting this blog I have tried different books. 

Expecto Patronum

conjures an incarnation of positive feelings

A book that made you cry, or at least want to: Ghost Girl by Torey Hayden. This story touched my heart and life so much I have re-read count less times and everytime I cry. I love it so much it is very up lifting.

Morsmordre

conjures the Dark Mark

A book you wish to mark as one of your favorites: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling. I don't know why in the whole series this one is my favourite as it was hyped about as much as the first or last book but I really enjoyed this book.

Petrificus Totalus

petrifies victim

A book you wish to keep forever: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Do I really need to explain why?

Protego

shield charm

An intimidating book you keep putting off: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I have seen the film and had the book for at least 4 years, but it's so big in page numbers I always put it safely back on it's shelf and tell myself it's going to be the next book I read.

Riddikulus

used against a boggart

A book with a deceiving synopsis: The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom. Same reason as before (reparo) it sounded like a great book....oh boy was I wrong.

Lacarnum Inflamarae

shoots fireballs

A book you wish to burn out of your mind completely: The Birthing House By Christopher Ransom. Can you tell I really didn't like this book yet?

Wingardium Leviosa

levitates objects

A book you wish to reread: The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Oh boy what a great page turner.

Avada Kedavra

causes instant death

Worst book EVER: The Haunted by Niki Valentine. I hated this book, it was so predictable and it was so easy to read I felt I was reading a book for a 5 year old. I have written a blog post here.

So there you go I really enjoyed doing this book tag.
See you soon
Laura xx

Hunger Games Triology Review.

Hey Guys,
My last three book reviews were a review of each book in The Hunger Games book series, today i will be reviewing the series as a whole collection. I hope you enjoy it.
As you may know i borrowed this series off a family friend and enjoyed the start of The Hunger games so much i went and purchased the whole collection myself. I enjoyed this series so much and i have recommended to everyone who would listen. I have put it second place in my series favorites after Harry Potter and before Twilight. Each book has it's own storyline but all go together to make a great collection.
I think the collection is quite strange as it's set as in olden times, as in, having to fend for themselves, by growing and catching their own food, but at the same time it is very futuristic. The capitol and the hunger games are futuristic yet how they have to live in each district they only have small houses and stuff.
I really did enjoy getting to know Katniss as a character and Peeta also, yet at the same time i don't understand why you don't get to know how Katniss really feels for Peeta till the very end of the series and even when you do, you feel as though it is all a dream/false. I think it would of made the series much better if you knew how she felt but she had kept a secret from other people.
One thing i didn't understand about the series on a whole, yet it didn't come to light until the last book. I don't understand why in the books they could remove hair for weeks on end, make skin look perfect and remove cuts, bruises and even scars from the skin forever, yet at the same time when it came to Peeta and Katniss going crazy they couldn't heal them. I would of thought from them being so futuristic that they would of been able to control the mind if they can control districts serparately for so long.
I have watched The Hunger Games film and loved it, i thought it was great film, they missed out little parts but left all the important parts in it. I didn't go to see Catching Fire in the cinemas, but i am watching to buy it on DVD. I wil purchase the whole DVD collection.
Altogether i really enjoyed this series and will be re-reading soon. The storyline was so good and i loved it so much. I don't know how to put into words how much i enjoyed this series. Each book does have it's own story but it read best in order to understand more of the storylines.
See you soon.
Laura xx

Mockingjay By Sunzanne Collins.

Hey Guys,

Product Details:
Publisher: Scholistic 2008.
Paperback. 439 Pages.
Source: Purchased by myself.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Synopsis/Blurb: "If we burn you burn with us" Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But she's still not safe. A revolution is unfolding, and everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - everyone except Katniss. And yet she must play the most vital part in the final battle. Katniss must become their Mockingjay - the symbol of rebellion - no matter what the personal cost.

Once again just like Catching fire this starts off where the last one finished. Great twist that starts at chapter one. All through this book you don't fully understand how Katniss really feels about Peeta and i feel it needed to be put to bed a long time ago as it didn't keep that storyline alive much. I did enjoy reading this bok as it was the end to the series but i didn't feel the urge and pull to read this book like i did with The Hunger games and Catching fire. I liked how you finally learn the truth about district 13 and how the Capitol and District 13 go to war and Katniss was the leader for District 13, but at the same time Katniss wasn't really the leader as she had a mental problem and couldn't think straight for half of the book. I ended the twist between Katniss and Peeta as Peeta wanted to kill Katniss, but his feelings for her got the better of him and his killing feelings soon went. You learn about a lot of new characters in this book and were just in the background of the last two. As you may tell i didn't really enjoy this book as much as the other two in the series, it was a good ending to the series but at the same time was, to me, kind of boring. This was written just the like the rest in 1 st person.
My next review will be on the whole series of the Hunger Games.
See you soon.
Laura xx

Book Mystery.

Hey guys,
I have a mystery to solve and would like your help. Last week i returned home from work to a package addressed to myself with a book in it. It had no note with it but was sent from a publisher (the random house group). I haven't ordered any books or entered any competitions since i moved to my new home (a month ago) so i don't understand A) how they knew my new address. B) why i got this book and C) where it actually came from??
I am a member of a group on goodreads that is about the book but my account hasn't got my new address on it.
I am very grateful for the book infact it was on my to buy list but i don't know if i have been sent it to review it or just as a gift.
I have emailed the company but i have heard nothing back yet.
Please help me.
laura xx