Review: Secret Garden, Artist's Edition by Johanna Basford

Title: Secret Garden, Artist's Edition Colouring Book.
Author: Johanna Basford.
Publication Date: September 14th, 2015.
Publisher: Laurence King.
Format: Paperback, 20 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

From the artist and the publisher that brought you the hugely successful Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest - this special artist's edition features 20 beautiful, pull out art prints for colouring in. Colouring fans of all ages will enjoy immersing themselves in a selection of the most popular artworks from the original book, now presented in a new, large-scale format for maximum colouring enjoyment. Each detailed illustration is printed on high-quality card and can be removed easily for framing or craft projects.

 
 

Review

Usually I review novels, so testing out and reviewing this gorgeous edition of the Secret Garden colouring book is a first for me. I'm hoping this review will go smoothly, but also bear with me as I'm new to this type of review. The Secret Garden, Artist’s Edition colouring book contains 20 of the most popular and gorgeous images from the original Secret Garden colouring book, mounted individually on thick, high quality crème coloured card that’s easily removable and pretty enough to frame if wanted!

I've been testing out a variety of different mediums on pages to see which suits best, and I personally think you can use anything you like! I've loved using fine liners to colour in the intricate designs, and the best part? Is that if you flip over the page, you don’t get any bleeding through the page onto the back, which has happened a lot with other colouring books I've tested out. I'm no pro at colouring by any means, it’s something that I've recently started doing again and I love it! The designs in this colouring book are stunning, and different enough that, although they link in together with the Secret Garden theme, they aren't practically the same. The only small, tiny problem that I've noticed with the colouring book is that from where I've opened the book to colour, the spine has literally ripped open and split near the top. This may be just bad luck on my part, however if you’re particularly fond of how the book looks on the outside as well, I’d be careful just in case this may happen to you. I've posted a picture below.

Something that I thought was a brilliant touch to the colouring book was how easily and quickly the pages could be removed. I’ve often come across books with ‘easy tear’ pages, and when you try to remove the pictures, you end up creating a big rip right across the image you were trying to save! This, however, is not the case, and from what I can gather, the pages are glued to the spine for easy removal. Johanna Basford is an amazingly talented artist, and has created a gorgeous selection of pictures for people of any age and gender to colour in to their hearts desire. I love the simplicity of the design of the colouring book, no frills or extras, just beautiful content. If you’re a fan of any adult colouring books, or you’re looking to start using them, I’d definitely recommend this Secret Garden, Artist’s Edition colouring book – you won’t regret it!

August 2015 Book Haul

 

Hey book nerds! ^.^ How are you all doing? :) I can't believe we're nearly half way through September already! It's crazy, this year has been going by so quickly, it's ridiculous. I've got less than six weeks until my due date, which is really scary! :P I don't feel nearly prepared enough, but I'm sure all will be well when the little one makes an appearance. I was going to do some YouTube videos on my pregnancy, but unfortunately I've been suffering from low iron levels and I've just been tired CONSTANTLY and I haven't had the energy. I found out a while ago that I'm actually having a little girl, which is really exciting as I was sure I was having a boy! :) Anyways, I got some amazing books last month and I'm really excited to be sharing them all with you all. I hope you enjoy! :D

 

Video

 

Photos And Book Information

The Tattooed Heart (Messenger of Fear, #2) by Michael Grant.
Reawakened (The Reawakened, #1) by Colleen Houck.

A BIG thanks to Electric Monkey who sent me The Tattooed Heart for review, I can't wait to get around to reading the first book in this series! Also and HUGE thank you to Hodder who sent me a copy of Reawakened for review, it looks amazing! :)

The Keeper (Vega Jane, #2) by David Baldacci.
The Secret Fire (The Alchemist Chronicles, #1) by C.J. Daugherty & Carina Rozenfeld.

A HUGE thanks to Macmillan who sent a copy of The Keeper for review, this series looks brilliant and I can't wait to start it. ^.^ Also a BIG thanks to Atom who sent me a copy of The Secret Fire for review, it was an AMAZING book and I've already posted my review here.

Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith.
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West.

These were both belated birthday gifts from my best friend, Sarah. THANK YOU, Sarah, I LOVE YOU! :D

Find Me (Find Me, #1) by Romily Bernard.
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1) by Jennifer Estep.

Skin Deep (Eternal Forces, #1) by Megan D. Martin.
Hurricane (Hurricane, #1) by Jenna-Lynne Duncan.

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, #1) by Renee Ahdieh.
The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) by Mary E. Pearson.

Nil (Nil, #1) by Lynne Matson.
Between the Spark and the Burn (Between, #2) by April Genevieve Tucholke.

In the After (In the After, #1) by Demitria Lunetta.
Made for You by Melissa Marr.

Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell.
No One Else Can Have You (No One Else Can Have You, #1) by Kathleen Hale.

City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3) by Cassandra Clare.
The Bane Chronicles (The Bane Chronicles, #1-11) by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson.

I brought this book used online, and it arrived SIGNED by Sarah Rees Brennan! :D How awesome is that?!

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3) by Beth Revis.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) by Sarah J. Maas.

The Walking Dead, Compendium 1 (The Walking Dead, #1-48) by Robert Kirkman.

 

Thoughts

I am OVER THE MOON about having all of these books in my collection. The excitement I have for each book is ridiculous, I can't wait to read them all. :D I'm currently reading Nil by Lynne Matson, and I'm loving it so far, and it's fantastic. I think I'm also going to be starting maybe The Kiss of Deception or The Wrath and the Dawn really soon, but I'm not sure. :P I have so many books that I own and want to read now that it does get a bit overwhelming, but oh well! :D Have you read any of these books? Let me know! ^.^

 

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What books have you brought or received lately? Leave me a comment or a link to your blog post and I'll be sure to check it out. ^.^ Happy reading! (:

Blog Tour: Wicked Fate by Shannon Maynard

Title: Wicked Fate.
Series: Wicked Luck Series, #2.
Author: Shannon Maynard.
Publication Date: August 25th, 2015.
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing.
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, New Adult.
Format: eBook & Paperback, 310 pages.

Purchase

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How can Ava Starr’s dream come true be Dax Miller’s worst nightmare?

Ava’s mother always told her to be careful what she wished for. From the moment Ava woke up on Lamarai Island, she wanted nothing more than to find Preston. But now that she has, her heart is caught in a fierce game of tug-of-war. In a place where danger lurks around every tree, she must quickly figure out who she can trust, and who is out to destroy her dream of a happy ever after.

Dax’s plan to capture Ava’s heart was all falling into place. That is, until Ava’s past showed up on the island in the form of a tall, dark, and handsome pilot named Preston, leaving Dax to wonder if he’s inherited Ava’s wicked luck. Preston is determined to pick up his relationship with Ava where they left off before a plane crash separated them, but Dax will stop at nothing to fight for the girl of his dreams and discover the truth behind the mysterious pilot.

But Dax isn’t the only one troubled by the surprise appearance of Preston and his flight crew. The new visitors to the island have caused Dax’s stepsister, Roxy, to develop a bad case of sibling rivalry, as well as managed to attract the unwanted attention of a vicious tribe of cannibals. Now Dax must figure out a way to keep his new tribe of misfits safe, while Ava is left to make the most important decision of her life. Will they succeed, or will fate decide for them?

 


Title: Wicked Luck.
Series: Wicked Luck Series, #1.
Author: Shannon Maynard.
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2015.
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing.
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, New Adult.
Format: eBook & Paperback, 369 pages.

Purchase

Amazon UK Amazon US Book Depository

For the past three years, Dax has been stranded on Lamarai Island with his stepsister and two tribes of cannibals. But now a beautiful girl named Ava has washed up on shore. After secretly reading her journal, he believes she is a perfect match to the girl of his dreams. He’s determined not only to keep her alive, but also to win over her heart by convincing her to forget about her past and the secrets that continue to haunt her.

Ava Starr has always been the epitome of bad luck, but she never imagined she would wake up and find herself on a cannibal-infested island with no memory of how she got there. The last thing she remembers is boarding a plane with her pilot boyfriend, Preston. But now he and his crew are missing, and she must find him before a tribe of hungry cannibals finds him first. But Ava’s troubles have followed her to Lamarai, where once again she’s surrounded by danger and people who want her dead. She finds herself caught in a web of deceit and soon discovers the answers to her mysterious past can be found in the most unlikely of places, and that no one is actually who they seem to be.

 

About Shannon Maynard

Website Good Reads Twitter

Shannon Maynard studied art and criminology before getting a license in cosmetology, but eventually wound up an expert daydreamer; a skill that occasionally leads to getting lost while driving, but has been a huge asset to her love for writing.

Her debut novel WICKED LUCK released in June of 2015 and is the first book in the Wicked Luck Trilogy.

 
 
 

Teasers

Giveaway

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Review: The Secret Fire by C.J. Daugherty & Carina Rozenfeld

Title: The Secret Fire.
Series: The Alchemist Chronicles, #1
Author: C.J. Daugherty & Carina Rozenfeld.
Publication Date: September 10th, 2015.
Publisher: Atom.
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 424 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

A battle against fate.
A race against time.

Taylor Montclair is a regular girl from the quiet backwater of Woodbury, England. Sacha Winters is a darkly mysterious boy from the City of Lights - Paris, France.

While Taylor is focused on her dream of attending Oxford University, school couldn't be further from Sacha's mind.. Sacha know exactly when he's going to die. He's done it before.

On the appointed day, Sacha's time will run out. And his death will fulfil an ancient destiny that could unleash chaos and catastrophe. Taylor is the only person who can save him. Neither of them know that yet. They haven't even met.

Hundreds of miles and a body of water separate them. Deadly forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart. They have eight weeks to find each other and unravel an ancient web of mystery and danger.

The clock starts now.

 

Review

Where should I start with this book? From the very first chapter of The Secret Fire, I was completely and utterly hooked. The Secret Fire is told in the dual perspective of the male and female main characters, and as I've said a hundred times before, I love books written that way. I love how invested you can get into both characters lives, and see how they interact with each other. The paranormal aspects in The Secret Fire are also really unique and fantastically done and the whole feel of the book seems really authentic and it’s beautifully written. You also switch between the Paris and England settings in The Secret Fire and at first I thought this would be a bit confusing, but it’s actually very easy to follow and keep up with.

Taylor is the female protagonist in The Secret Fire and at first I wasn't sure whether I liked her character or not. She seemed a little too reserved for my liking, but as I got further into the book you can see her character develop. She doesn't change completely, but becomes more open and you start to realise that her character isn't as uptight as she seems. One of the only problems I actually had with this book was that I thought Taylor’s character was a little bit too perfect and predictable, and although I did like her character, it irked me a little bit at how common her characteristics were. She’s a great character, don’t get me wrong, but she seemed a lot like a carbon copy of every female nerdy character in YA literature out there. There wasn't anything, aside from the paranormal aspects, that really set her apart from other characters out there - but oh well!

Sacha is the male protagonist and I adored his character! Sure he was a little immature, but I loved his snarky and sarcastic nature and the deep affection he has for his family. I also loved Sacha’s sense of humour; some of the things he came out with throughout the book had me really chuckling to myself. You could definitely tell that Sacha used humour as a defence mechanism, but I actually really liked that about him. I loved the relationship between Sacha and Taylor, their friendship develops quite quickly, and there isn't a hint of insta-love as the chemistry between the two of them builds slowly. I do wish however that there was a little bit more romance involved, I feel like there was this big build up to something and nothing really came of it in this book which was a shame, but hopefully in the next book there will be more. Mostly I just loved how their relationship wasn't the main focus of the story, but worked alongside it and intertwined with the story beautifully.

Overall, I thought The Secret Fire was an absolutely brilliant novel! If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed novel filled with humour, mystery, adventure, unique paranormal aspects and so much more, I’d definitely recommend picking up this book. C.J. Daugherty and Carina Rozenfeld write together so wonderfully and seamlessly and between the two of them they've created a nearly flawless and amazing book that’ll have anyone on the edge of their seat. It’s impossible not to get drawn into The Secret Fire and be dragged along for the ride with the characters, trust me; you’ll be dying to find out what happens next! I really can’t wait for the release of the second book in this series, because I know it’s going to be incredible – it’s just a shame there isn't any information on it yet. Lastly, I just want to say a BIG thank you to C.J. Daugherty and Carina Rozenfeld for writing such a unique and fantastic book, please write more together!

Quotes

'This is how things have been as long as anyone can remember,' she'd said the day she told him of his fate. 'The family has tried everything to save the boys but each time... they die.'
Her eyes had been filled with a grief so stark, it had shaken him.
They'd been sitting on the sofa in the living room,, Sacha remembered. The same sofa that was there now, soft, brown and sagging a little in the middle. It had been his sixteenth birthday. That year she'd given him a computer game he really wanted. And a death sentence. - Page 150.

He chuckled. 'And you're just some English girl with a leaf in your hair.'
'There's a leaf in my hair?' Reaching up, she felt for the object.
'Here. Let me.' Leaning towards here, Sacha pulled the leaf from a curl carefully. Her hair felt incredibly soft beneath his fingertips. The last rays of the setting sun made each individual gold strand glitter.
'Here.' He held up the incriminating flora so she could see.
She looked self-conscious. 'My hair is so hopeless. You can probably find other things in there. Lost watches. The Bermuda Triangle. The missing link.' - Page 190.

'No, no, no,' she said, frustrated. 'I just wanted one candle. Just one.'
An odd sound from the end of the bench made her look up. Louisa was shaking with laughter.
Taylor's cheeks reddened. 'It's not funny.'
'I don't even,' Louisa gasped, hands clutching her sides, 'have any idea how you did that. You set the air on fire.'
'It was an accident,' Taylor said, but she found herself giggling, too. 'Just a tiny accident.' - Page 295.

August 2015 Wrap-Up

 

Hello my fellow book nerds! :D I hope you all had a lovely August, I swear I have no idea where last month went. It didn't seem that long ago that it was nearing the beginning of August, and now we're already the 3rd of September! Where on earth is this year going?! I read some really wonderful books last month, so I'm excited to share them with you guys and let you know what I thought. :) I'm already over half way into another book, The Secret Fire by C.J. Daugherty. I have yet to haul it yet, so this snippet is a sneak peak at my August book haul, which I hope to do within the next week or so. :) I've also been really active on Instagram the last month, I've taken a real liking to photographing books and posting pretty books online, and my followers have suddenly grown! If you're interested in checking it out, my username is @eternal.reads. :) That's it for today, enjoy this post! :D

 

Video

 

Books Read In August 2015

• Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne.



• Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick.



• 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma.



• Dead Jealous by Sharon Jones.



• Ashfall by Mike Mullin.



• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

 

Total: 6 books read.
Click on the link to be taken to the review.

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What books did you read in August 2015? Don't forget to leave me a comment or a link to your blog post and I'll be sure to check it out! ^.^ Happy Reading! (:

July 2015 Book Haul

 

Hey my fellow book lovers! :) How are you all doing today? I'm doing well myself, I'm finally in the third trimester of my pregnancy, and I'm due in just 11 weeks. How crazy is that?! As for the bookish part of my life, I'm on a bit of a roll reading wise this month, as I've already read two books. :D I don't know whether I'll be able to keep this pace up, but I can try. ;) I really need to get down and read some of my review copies as they've built up a bit! The only problem with this is, I have absolutely not idea what kind of book I'm in the mood for. xD Oh well, I'm sure I'll find something! Anyways, enjoy my July 2015 book haul, I got some amazing looking books. :D

 

Video

 

Photos And Book Information

The Love Game & Playing for Keeps (The Game, #1-2) by Emma Hart.
Lips Touch by Laini Taylor.

A BIG thanks to Hodder who sent me copies of The Love Game bind-up and Lips Touch for review! They both look brilliant and I can't wait to read them. :)

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston.
Monster by C.J. Skuse.

A HUGE thanks to Macmillan who sent a Proof Copy of A Thousand Nights for review, it looks amazing and I can't wait to start it. ^.^ Also a BIG thanks to Mira Ink who sent me a Proof Copy of Monster for review, it also looks really brilliant! :D

The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke.
The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold & Emily Gravett.

A BIG thanks to Quercus who sent me a copy of The Lost and the Found for review. I LOVE Cat Clarke's writing, and I have a review posted here. ^.^ Also a big thank you to Bloomsbury who sent me a copy of The Imaginary for review, it looks really cute and I can't wait to read it. :)

The Heir (The Selection, #4) by Kiera Cass.
Sever (The Chemical Garden, #3) by Lauren DeStefano.

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers.
Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz.

Sea of Shadows (Age of Legends, #1) by Kelley Armstrong.
Recalled (Death Escorts, #1) by Cambria Hebert.

Elusion (Elusion, #1) by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam.
17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma.

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith.
Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair.

Blind Spot by Laura Ellen.
One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington.

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen.
Raven by Allison van Diepen.

The Lost Code (The Atlanteans, #1) by Kevin Emerson.
Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Molly Cochran.

 

Thoughts

EE! :D *does a little dance* I LOVE getting new books and sharing them with you all. They're just so pretty to look at, and they all look brilliant and I don't know which one I want to start first! I have to say, I also love taking pictures of my books, I've got photo proof of every single book I've brought since I started YouTube and Blogging. So if you don't include the ones I had beforehand, that's still probably about 950 books! :D Problem is, now I've officially run out of room. I have ones for next months haul, and then I'm completely out of space - I'm heartbroken! :( I can't wait to have my own place so I can display all of my beauties on gorgeous shelves, and just stare at them all day. :) Have you read any of these books? Let me know! ^.^

 

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What books have you brought or received lately? Leave me a comment or a link to your blog post and I'll be sure to check it out. ^.^ Happy reading! (:

July 2015 Wrap-Up

 

Hey bookish people! :D I'm back again for another Monthly Wrap-Up video and post. :) I only managed to read two books last month, which was a bit disappointing, but oh well! I did really enjoy both of them, so I'm happy about that. ^.^ On a side note, I've had no end of of trouble with my site the last few days, you wouldn't believe! My domain and hosting were set to run out/expire on the 6th August, so I was going to renew them both, but it ended up being much more expensive than I thought! I couldn't afford to pay this new price, so I figured I'd shop around and find another host that was cheaper. I finally settled on GoDaddy, and transferred everything over, but things have been all over the place. Files weren't transferring, my domain was still pointing at my old host and a hell of a lot of other issues. Luckily the support system for GoDaddy is brilliant and I think I've got everything sorted out now. But if there's any glitches or errors on my blog, I apologise! I'm working to make sure it's all sorted ASAP. Anyway, that's it for today, talk to you all again soon! :D

 

Video

 

Books Read In July 2015

• Pivot Point by Kasie West.



• The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke.

 

Total: 2 books read.
Click on the link to be taken to the review.

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What books did you read in July 2015? Don't forget to leave me a comment or a link to your blog post and I'll be sure to check it out! ^.^ Happy Reading! (: