Choppy Random Talks: My New Book-ish Addiction

So a while ago, a friend of mine told me about this website called Wattpad. And basically, Wattpad is a website where you can read (short) stories written by people and believe me when I say that you can find a ton of stories that could suit every one's taste and some are PRETTY good, no purely amazing even. You could also publish a story yourself and get people to know about you and your story and most importantly - at least to me - is the feedback you get from publishing your story, whether it was accepted or not by actual readers and all that jazz that follow. It is really a whole community and it's really fun to be on, especially for those of us who are thinking of pursuing writing and it's a great way to read new ebooks that aren't any less amazing than other stories out there. And let me tell you, it's for free. I HIGHLY recommend checking out this website and trust me on this guys, you won't regret it ;) Just go through it intently though, to understand how it works.

Personally, I have been on the website for only a couple of weeks and I am already ADDICTED. I can't stop reading more that since I have been on Wattpad, I literally haven't read any actual book. Anyhow, I am also considering writing a story myself but we shall see and you guys, will be of course the first to know if I do but right now, I am just a bit busy with school and with the final exams coming too. 

So if you checked it out, tell me what you thought of and if anyone has published a story there, please don't hesitate in sending me the link to read it because I'd be more than happy to do so :D

Some books I have read on Wattpad:

• My Wattpad Love ( Rating: 5/5 )
• The Bro Code ( Rating 3.5/5 )
• My Life with the Walter Boys ( Rating: 5/5 )
• Sequel to My Life with the Walter Boys, My Life as a Walter Boy ( Rating: 4.5/5 ) Because believe me you will need it ;)
• Tame ( Rating 4/5 )
• Believe Me, I'm Lying ( Rating: 5/5 )

I am thinking about doing separate ( short ) reviews on books that I read on Wattpad here on my blog, I guess it could be fun and it could also let you know about more stories on the website and my opinion of it, would love to hear if you're interested but in this case I'll only be reviewing the ones that are really good and worth it. I will see how this goes though :)

 

Hope you enjoyed!
xoxo, Mariam

Book Review: Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Synopsis:

I can’t weep. I can’t fear. I’ve grown talented at pretending.Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

My Review:

   First of all, let me just say that I love this cover, it's a bit creepy but definitely eye-catching and cool. And secondly, I fell in love with the concept on which this book was built on, the premise wasn't at all tempting but then, it turned out to be nothing but unique and incredible, plus, it was overflowing with Emotions.

 

   In Kelsey Sutton's book, Emotions take the form of humans in a world where humans as well as Emotions and Elements live. Fear, Denial, Anger, Courage, Joy, Sorrow, Longing.... However, they weren't seen by humans, it was only Elizabeth that could see them but it was becasue she herself wasn't normal - she didn't feel anything, she didn't fear, care, love, nothing. I know it may seem complicated but once you come to grips with the story, you'll enjoy it. The writing was good and coherent. And although the story itself may be counted as a somewhat mystery novel - which is not one of my favourite genres - but it didn't feel like so. The characters were all genuine which will get you easily lost in the book. However, the general atmostphere of the story was, I have to admit a bit creepy for some reason , yet it was nicely lyrical. 

   Overall, Some Quiet Place left an impact on me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it that I had a hard time putting it down. The characters' feelings - especially Elizabeth's - was beautifully portraited. The plot was extermely well-thought and it wasn't a concept that would stumble across everyday and that I cherished. With this being said, I can only say that I do HIGHLY recommend reading this book!

Title: Some Quiet Place

Author: Kelsey Sutton

Series: Standalone
Release Date: July 8th 2013 by Flux
Source: NetGalley ( For Review )
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Rating: 4/5

*Thanks to NetGalley and Flux for providing me with an e-copy*

Feature And Follow Friday #18

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by 

Alison Can Read and Parajunkee where they choose a featured blogger every week along with a question for everybody to answer! It's an awesome way to meet new book bloggers and share the follower love :)

 

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Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

That'd be awesome! And of course the first author who must come to my mind has to be Katie McGarry. Then comes Stephanie Meyer - Surprise surprise! - Lauren Oliver, Maggie Stiefvater and Phillippa Gregory. All those authors have a to-die-for imagination as well as some real precious talent in writing and not to forget that they are dead amazing - I am certain :P

 

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What about you guys? I'd love to know about the authors that you'd like to meet so don't forget to leave me a comment down below telling me or a link to your own post :D

 

Happy Reading!
xoxo, Mariam

Strangelets Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway!

Synopsis:

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…
17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…
17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving.

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life.

 

Excerpt:

Declan tried the door again. It was proving to be a beast. Ever since he'd woken up in this sodding hospital, he'd been working at the lock. He'd rarely encountered a bolt he couldn't master given enough time and effort but was almost ready to daclare this one a lost cause.

Well, at least he hadn't been shot. Declan wasn't sure what had landed him here, but there wasn't a scratch on him.

  

As he squinted ata the smooth metallic bolt, he puzzled over what had happened. Hard to say what had come over him, reaching out for that light. Simple survival instinct? It had felt like more as he was doing it. Like he'd been chosen for something, and had no choice but to accept.

Silly bloody nonsense, he told himself. He'd passed out, and for some reason the Russian had fled. Someone had probably stumbled across him unconscious and brought him here. As to his door being locked, and no nurses propping in to check on him… no matter. He was alive, he wasn't hurt, and soon as this bloody latch gace, he was gone.

  
Last tim he'd ever taken a gig from a stranger, that was for sure. He'd whiled away more than a few hours wondering what inside that freckin' box had been worth killing for. No knowing now, chalk it up to a life lesson and call it a day.

  
He wrestled again with the pin. Fortunately, his pick kit had still been in his pocket when he came to. All his clothes were still on, in fact jeans, a Pogues T-shirt, and trainers. A bit strange for a hospital, but he was grateful for it. He'd hate to have to walk the streets of Galway with his arse hanging out once he broke free.

  
He thought of his mum. After the necklace, he'd have a few euros left to buy her something, too. Maybe that nice electric kettle she'd had her eye on. She'd like that.

  
Click. The door handle turned.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Michelle Gagnon is a former modern dancer, bartender, dog walker, model, personal trainer, and Russian supper club performer. Her bestselling adult thrillers THE TUNNELS, BONEYARD, THE GATEKEEPER, and KIDNAP & RANSOM have been published in North America, France, Denmark, Spain, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. BONEYARD was a finalist for a 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

Links:
Website | Twitter

Happy Reading!
xoxo, Mariam

This tour was presented by ItchingforBooks

Book Review: Broken by A.E. Rought

Goodreads:
A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry’s boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetary and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she’s intrigued despite herself. He’s an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely…familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel’s. The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there’s something very wrong with Alex Franks.

And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks’ estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.

My Review:

     Awwwww! That was just so frikkin' cute. I cried while reading this book and it's not something I usually do. But seriously! I can't say except that this book for the most part was brilliant and so emotional and the author herself is again brilliant and I love her and her book ;)

    So this story started out as a normal contemporary read and ended with a paranormal scene. To be quite honest, the ending - which was a unique twist to a story like this - was a bit epic, hasty and rushed. But I didn't mind because I can't forget the emotional punch that I took during reading this book and Alex... UHHHHH! So Alex was sort of the male protagonist here. And he was this witty, hot guy with this mysterious and catchy personality and everything about him combined with his situation in the story took his sexiness into a whole new level. Overall, he was a swoon-worthy guy that I fell for him from his first appearance - I LOVED him - and add on him Daniel, the dead boyfriend and that will bring us a WOW. You see, there is a bit of a huge story that you need to read the book to get, I have to admit it was a bit twisty, maybe complicated but it was fun and sweet. Nonetheless, the ending is the one thing that may act as the epic factor in this story, a drawback even for some. 

    Overall, this was so much of an emotional read. A contemporary novel for the most part with a paranormal twist at the end, it was unrealistic but that's what novels are, right! However, I must say that this book could either a miss or a hit and for me, it was a hit so I won't say that it's a must read because I can think of many people just hating this book so I would say to just give it a try ;)

Title: Broken
Author: A.E. Rought
Series: Stand-alone
Release Date: January 8th 2013 by Strange Chemistry
Source: NetGalley ( For Review )
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Rating: 4.5/5

*Thanks to NetGalley and Strange Chemistry for providing me with an eARC*

PS: I read this book ages ago and wrote this review a while after but I forgot about it ;)

Oh and Happy April's Fool Day! Hope you didn't get too many mean pranks :P
xoxo, Mariam