Month: June 2014

REVIEW – LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD by Ava Dellaira

Posted June 29, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 27 Comments

Love Letters to the Dead
by Ava Dellaira
Publisher – Hot Key Books
Release Date – May 1st 2014
Buy – Amazon | Book Depository

It begins as an assignment for English class: write a letter to a dead person – any dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain – he died young, and so did Laurel’s sister May – so maybe he’ll understand a bit of what Laurel is going through. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people – Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Amelia Earhart… it’s like she can’t stop. And she’d certainly never dream of handing them in to her teacher. She writes about what it’s like going to a new high school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time – and how her family has shattered since May died.

But much as Laurel might find writing the letters cathartic, she can’t keep real life out forever. The ghosts of her past won’t be contained between the lines of a page, and she will have to come to terms with growing up, the agony of losing a beloved sister, and the realisation that only you can shape your destiny.

I’m not usually seen reading books in either a diary or letter format. For me I’m quite the opposite when the fact you should feel more connected on a interpersonal level but I just don’t. I’m disconnected and I don’t feel part of the book or the basis of the character’s life. However, that aside, Love Letters to the Dead is an inspirational turn of events when the main character records her life through an English Assignment.

“I think a lot of people want to be someone, but we are scared that if we try, we won’t be as good as everyone imagines we could be.”

Although, many of us find inspirations in other artists and famous stars, I’m less inclined to feel that way unlike some of my friends. Though, Laurel uses her sister’s death to explain to those up in the stars about her own life and how the loss of her sister, May, effects her. I felt that May’s death carried a emotional and conscious part of Laurel’s almost as if, she was no longer her real self but a shell of grief and guilt that she has never really been able to admit and relieve herself of.

The first letter of the novel starts with, Kurt Cobain… admittedly I’ve only really knew who Kurt and the band Nirvana was from a friend, which I know is probably an insult on the music industry.

“Dear Kurt Cobain…..I wish you could tell me where you are and why you left. You were my sister May’s favourite musician…”

Kurt was certainly a reoccurring guest in Laurel’s like she felt more connected with him than any of the other people she would write to. Once she starts to feel connected on a deeper level with Kurt, she decided to communicate with others that would highlight a piece of her life and her soul. She is able to relate some traumatic or beautiful moment between her and her sister to those who were seen fro their talent but not necessarily who they are as people. Personally I felt, that Amelia Earhart and Amy Whinehouse had the most influence with their historic and recent status within the media.

Within her letters, Laurel reveals more about herself than she does about her sister. She is mad at her sister for leaving her, for her mum leaving her and her dad being no more than just her father. She survives through the love of another, Sky, but is too closed to commit to the relationship. She has truth issues, first she has to trust herself in order to survive the loss, grief, guilt and sadness.

Jim, I want people to know me, but if anyone could look inside me, if they saw that everything I feel is not what it’s supposed to be, I don’y know what would happen.”

Dellaira creates a beautifully written and emotional realistic story of young girl surviving her life through the lives of inspirational people. It made me realise that at the end of the day we are all human and person to be recognised for who we are.  If you want a read completely different and unique from other literature of this genre, then I would recommend it!

Rating – 4

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REVIEW – COME BACK TO ME by Mila Gray

Posted June 25, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 14 Comments
REVIEW – COME BACK TO ME by Mila Gray

Come Back to Me by Mila GrayPublisher – Pan MacmillanRelease Date – 19th June 2014Buy – Amazon | Book Depository  Home on leave in sunny California, Marine and local lothario Kit Ryan finds himself dangerously drawn to his best friend’s sister, Jessa – the one girl he can’t have. But Kit’s not about to let a few obstacles stand in his way and soon Jessa’s falling for his irresistible charms. What starts out as a summer romance of secret hook-ups and magical first times quickly develops into a passionate love affair that turns both their worlds upside down. When summer’s over […]

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BLOG TOUR: Fantasy Cast & Giveaway – COME BACK TO ME by Mila Gray

Posted June 21, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 15 Comments
BLOG TOUR: Fantasy Cast & Giveaway – COME BACK TO ME by Mila Gray

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my stop of   Come Back to Me, a New Adult novel by Sarah Alderson, writing as Mila Gray. I can say after reading this book that you will love it. I will be posting my review later this week. If you enjoyed her works of the Lila series and The Sound then you will see a refreshing and different side of this genre of writing.  I’m so excited to share with you an excerpt from this book along with her Fantasy Cast which will make you swoon. (I know I did!) Also stay tuned at the […]

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ARC REVIEW – ON THE FENCE by Kasie West

Posted June 18, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 20 Comments
ARC REVIEW – ON THE FENCE by Kasie West

On the Fence by Kasie WestPublisher – HarperTeenRelease Date – July 1st 2014Buy – Amazon | Book Depository She’s a tomboy. He’s the boy next door… Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn’t know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. […]

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RELEASE DAY LAUNCH – PERFECT KIND OF TROUBLE by Chelsea Fine

Posted June 16, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 9 Comments
RELEASE DAY LAUNCH – PERFECT KIND OF TROUBLE by Chelsea Fine

Hi Everyone, Today I bring you the release launch of Chelsea Fine’s latest New Adult Contemporary novel Perfect Kind of Trouble. I have read her debut, Best Kind of Broken and I thought it was a simple, enjoyable approach to the NA genre. New Adult is fast becoming a genre that I’m reading more and I can’t wait to read this one very soon. So without further ado I present a excerpt of the novel and a brief description of the her latest novel. Enjoy! Perfect Kind of Trouble (Finding Fate #2)by Chelsea FinePublisher – ForeverRelease Date – Today! (17 […]

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REVIEW – THE SOUND by Sarah Alderson

Posted June 8, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 16 Comments
REVIEW – THE SOUND by Sarah Alderson

The Soundby Sarah AldersonPublisher – Simon & Schuster UKRelease Date – August 1st 2013Buy – Amazon | Book Depository When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston’s elite, she’s hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda. What she doesn’t count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer… […]

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ARC REVIEW – TAKE ME ON by Katie McGarry

Posted June 2, 2014 by Emma in Blog / 10 Comments
ARC REVIEW – TAKE ME ON by Katie McGarry

Take Me On (Pushing the Limits #4)by Katie McGarryPublisher – MIRAInkRelease Date – 27th May/June 6th 2014Buy – Amazon | Book Depository Champion kickboxer Haley swore she’d never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can’t stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honour. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she’d stay away from. Yet he won’t last five seconds in the ring without her help. West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. […]

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