My Expanding Bookshelf

Title: The Secret Countess Author: Eva Ibbotson Published: 01/06/2007, Young Picador Pages: 352 Source: Bought Format: Paperback Rating: 2/5 After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian Countess, has no choice but to flee to England. Penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination. Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties - not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. To make matters worse, Ruper appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there's the small matter of Rupert's beautiful and nasty fianc ée...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is my ten best books of 2016.

Title: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett Author: Chelsea Sedoti Published: 03/01/2017, Sourcebooks Fire Pages: 398 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: DNF @ 51% A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn't mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it. she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie's life. That includes taking her job... and her boyfriend. It's a huge risk - but it's just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.

Title: The Next Together Series: The Next Together #1 Author: Lauren James Published: 03/09/2015, Walker Pages: 356 Source: Bought Format: Paperback Rating: 3.5/5 How many times can you lose the person you love? Katherine and Matthew are destined to be born again and again, century after century. Each time, their presence changes history for the better, and each time, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be tragically separated. Spanning the Crimean War, the Siege of Carlisle and the near-future of 2019 and 2039 they find themselves sacrificing their lives to save the world. But why do they keep coming back? What else must they achieve before they can be left to live and love in peace?  Maybe the next together will be different...

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog . - From the Bout of Books team.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is ten books I wouldn't mind Santa leaving under my tree.

Title: Paper Butterflies Author: Lisa Heathfield Published: 30/06/2016, Electric Monkey Pages: 312 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 5/5 June's life at home with her stepmother and stepsister is a dark one - and a secret one. She is trapped like a butterfly in a net. But then June meets Blister, a boy in the woods. In him she recognises the tiniest glimmer of hope that perhaps she can find a way to fly far, far away from her home and be free. Because every creature in this world deserves freedom... But at what price?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is five books I'm looking forward to in the first half of 2017. Only five because I'm rubbish at planning ahead when it come to new releases.

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1 Author: Sarah J. Maas Published: 05/2015, Bloomsbury Pages: 419 Source: Bought Format: Paperback Rating: 4.5/5 Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill - the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price... Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic top ten new-to-me authors read in 2016.

Title: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Author: Joanna Bolouri Published: 20/10/2016, Quercus Pages: 416 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 4/5 A hilarious and heartwarming Christmas comedy. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Tracy Bloom and Chrissie Manby. Thirty-eight year olf Emily has a satisfying job, fab friends, an amazing car and, most importantly, a wonderful flat, exactly 411 miles away from the judgemental, batshit crazy, interfering family she reluctantly sees twice a year. In fact, the only minor stress in her life is her twenty-something neighbor Evan and his penchant for flirting, loud music and even louder sex... but he's nothing she can't handle. Emily also has a boyfriend called Robert and it's going really well. So well, in fact, that this year Emily is hoping to take him home for Christmas to meet her family. Finally she won't be subject to five days of nosy questions from her parents and pity looks from her younger married sibli...

This year I've decided to only participate in two year-long challenges, as I found four a bit tough and I hope to join in on a few of the smaller challenges throughout the year. So the challenges, I will be participating in are as follows:

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

The first Challenge I will be participating in is the 2016 Bookish Resolutions Challenge, hosted by Laura @  trips down imagination lane  and Michelle @  Because Reading . The challenge runs from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016 and you can sign up here before 1st March 2016.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is a Holiday Gift Guide freebie. I'm going to go with ten books for the Contemporary Romance lover in your life.

Title: Did I Mention I Miss You? Series: The DIMILY Trilogy #3 Author: Estelle Maskame Published: 01/12/2016, Sourcebooks Fire Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 3/5 A year has passed since Eden last spoke to Tyler. She remains furious at him for his abrupt departure last summer but has done her best to move on with her life in Chicago. As school breaks up for the summer, she's heading back to Santa Monica, but she's not the only one who decides to come home... Having been left behind to deal with the aftermath of their bombshell revelation and a family torn apart, Eden has no time for Tyler when he reappears. But where has Tyler been? And is she as over him as she likes to think? Or can Tyler and Eden finally work things out, despite their family and against all odds? The explosive finale to Estelle Maskame's international bestselling DIMILY trilogy, and the highly anticipated conclusion to Eden and Tyler's addictive love story.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Title: Carry On Author: Rainbow Rowell Published: 25/02/2016, Macmillan Pages: 518 Source: Netgalley/Bought Format: Ebook/Paperback Rating: 3/5 Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here - it's their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up. Carry On is a love letter to love stories and the power of words - to every "chosen one" whoever had more on their mind than saving the world...

Title: Pivotal Moments Series: In Time #1 Author: Trinity Hanrahan Published: 19/01/2016, Limitless Publishing Pages: 404 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 3/5 A senior in high school, introvert Aislinn Munroe is satisfied living unnoticed... Aislinn is doing the normal post-high school preparations to get into college. She's getting ready for a life beyond senior year, and wonders where she'll fit into the world once she's officially an adult. Though her curves are to kill for, she's also smart and funny. However, she isn't at all popular, which is just fine with her. Aislinn's introverted ways are about to be put to the test... Content with hiding from the limelight, Aislinn doesn't get bullied like so many other shy kids do - that is, as long as she keeps to herself. But is she really living the life she's meant to? Or are there unforeseen adventures waiting to shake up her life in the near future? When her brother comes home from col...

After completely missing the summer COYER this year, I decided that I definitely need to do the winter one. COYER is run by Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun , Michelle @ Because Reading and Stormi @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! and this winter COYER is going to be a 12 week Blackout from 17 December to 3 March. The challenge this time round is that only ebooks you have already acquired before the challenge start date count. And to make it even harder, these books have to have been acquired for less than $1.00. However, to make it slightly easier, for every ten ebooks (over 100 pages) read you can read any one book you want. To sign up by 17 December, follow the COYER link at the start of this paragraph. I'm definitely going to use this COYER to help increase my Netgalley ratio that bit more. It's just what I'm needing to be honest! I'm not going to set myself a solid goal, but I'll be happy if I can read at least 10 books this COYER. I'm also h...

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Title: Battle for Cymmera Series: Kingdom of Cymmera #3 Author: Dani-Lyn Alexander Published: 22/11/2016, Lyrical Press Pages: 215 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 3/5 With the traitor on the run, Ryleigh and Jackson can finally begin rebuilding their kingdom. But when a cryptic message suggests he was seen in Argonas, chaos creeps back into Cymmera once more... Jackson knows Cymmera will never be safe until the traitor, guilty of treason, is detained and executed. After ordering Cymmeran guardsmen to scour the land, he and the Death Dealer team brave the wilds of Argonas in search of the informant who spotted his foe And in his absence, Jackson not only leaves the throne empty,, but the kingdom vulnerable to attack... As a vicious army descends on Cymmera, Ryleigh is forced to flee to an uncharted realm with a small group of survivors - a place Jackson has no chance of discovering. Alone, but for the few people she was able to save, Ryleigh must decide whether to...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is a movie freebie. So, I'm going to list my seven all-time favourite movies.

Title: The Rose Petal Beach Author: Dorothy Koomson Published: 2013, Quercus Pages: 663 Source: Bought Format: Paperback Rating: 4/5 Every love story has a dangerous twist. Tamia Challey is horrified when her husband, Scott, is accused of something terrible - but when she discovers who his accuser is, everything goes into freefall. Backed into a corner and unsure what to think, Tamia is forced to choose who she instinctively believes But this choice has dire consequences for all concerned, especially when matters take a tragic turn. Then a stranger arrives in town to sprinkle rose petals in the sea in memory of her lost loved one. This stranger carries with her shocking truths that will change the lives of everyone she meets, and will once again force Tamia to make some devastating choices...

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is ten books I've recently added to my TBR.

Title: What Light Author: Jay Asher Published: 20/10/2016, Macmillan Children's Books Pages: 256 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 3/5 Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon - it's an idyllic place for a girl to grow up, except that every year they have to pack up and move to California to set p their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life begins to eclipse the other...

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

The first Challenge I will be participating in is the 2016 Bookish Resolutions Challenge, hosted by Laura @  trips down imagination lane  and Michelle @  Because Reading . The challenge runs from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016 and you can sign up here before 1st March 2016. My 2016 resolutions are: Bookish resolutions Get Netgalley ratio up to 80% January - 57% February - 57% March - 52% (This better start going up real soon!) April - 54% May - 56%  June - 54% July - 54% August - 56% September - 60% October - 64% (Well, this definitely won't be happening! I'll be happy if I reach 70) Read 20 physical books I already owned prior to 1st January January - 2 February - 4 March - 8 April - 9 May - 10 June - 10 July - 12 August - 14 September - 15 October- 16 Reread 5 books January - 0 February - 2 March - 2 April - 3 May - 4 June - 4 July - 4 August - 5 September - 6 - Well it's safe to say I've smashe...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is ten books to read if your book club likes X. This week I think I'm going to go for an easy option with YA fiction as there is so much variety.

Title: Not If I See You First Author: Eric Lindstrom Published: 31/12/2015, HarperCollins Children's Books Pages: 321 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 3.5/5 Parker Grant doesn't need perfect vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. When Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart, suddenly reappears at school, Parker knows there's only one way to react - shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough to deal with already, like trying out for the track team, handing out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened - both with Scott, and her dad - the more she starts to question if things are always as they see...

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Title: Unnatural Deeds Author: Cyn Balog Published: 01/11/2016, Sourcebooks Fire Pages: 288 Source: Netgalley Format: Ebook Rating: 4/5 Secrets. Obsession. Murder. Victoria is about to discover just how dangerous it can be to lose yourself.  Victoria Zell doesn't fit in, but she's okay with that. All she needs is the company of her equally oddball boyfriend, Andrew. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks... until magnetic, charming, mysterious Z comes into her life, and she starts lying to everyone she knows in an effort to unravel his secrets. And then something terrible happens. Someone is dead and it's time for Victoria to come clean. Interspersed with news clippings and police interviews, Victoria tells her story to Andrew, revealing her dark, horrible secrets... secrets that have finally come back to haunt her.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish . This week's topic is ten scary books on my TBR. Well... books I've put on  my horror shelf anyway... I'm don't think I really have many scary books...