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Blog Tour Guest Post

Sealed with a Kiss Blog Tour: Rachael Lucas on Her Top 5 Romantic Novels

21943796Today I’m very lucky to have Rachael Lucas, author of Sealed with a Kiss, on the blog. I loved Sealed with a Kiss and my review will  be up later this week, but, in the meantime, here’s a bit about Sealed with a Kiss:

Kate is dumped on her best friend’s wedding day by the world’s most boring boyfriend, Ian. She’s mostly cross because he got in first – until she remembers she’s now homeless as well as jobless. Rather than move back home to her ultra-bossy mother, Kate takes a job on the remote Scottish island of Auchenmor as an all-round Girl Friday. Her first day is pretty much a disaster: she falls over, smack bang at the feet of her grouchy new boss, Roddy, Laird of the Island. Unimpressed with her townie ways, he makes it clear she’s got a lot to prove.

Island life has no room for secrets, but prickly Roddy’s keeping something to himself. When his demanding ex-girlfriend appears back on the island, Kate’s budding friendship with her new boss comes to an abrupt end. What is Fiona planning – and can she be stopped before it’s too late?

My Top Five Romantic Novels by Rachael Lucas

 – and this is such a tricky one to do that I’ve actually sneaked in six, and one is actually a whole series, but shhh, don’t tell… Continue Reading

Where to Start

The Multiple Copy Obsession

I’m a sucker for gorgeous books, I really am. There’s obviously not a problem with this; I do tend to judge books by their covers before I read them, but sometimes something overcomes me and I need to buy more and more copies of books. One is never enough!

If you’ve watched any of my YouTube videos, or seen pictures of my bookcase, you may have noticed some of the multiple copies on my shelves. A question I’m frequently asked is: ‘Why do you have three copies of The Fault in Our Stars?’ That is a very good question indeed. My answer? I have no idea! I just can’t help myself. My first copy was the one I originally read, and I then found another copy in a charity shop for a very good price. I just couldn’t resist! And my final copy was my Grandma’s, which she no longer needed after reading it. I have a best copy, one to lend out, and one I shall be doing something with, which I will tell you all about in a future post.

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Recently I also picked up two more of John Green’s books, which I have already read and loved. In my defence, they have been re-jacketed and the new editions are so beautiful and hug-worthy.

The Paper Towns on the left is the older edition, the right the latest. The differences between the two are striking, but I love them both. The earlier version incorporates the idea of the ‘paper towns’ on the maps, whereas I like the paper elements of the latest cover. Both really capture a core part of the book.

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The older version of Looking for Alaska is on the left, the latest on the right. I prefer the latest because of it’s simplicity but also because it stands out so well. It’s also very shiny. I do really like the older version, but there’s just something about it that stops me from loving it unconditionally.

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A problem I had when I got my new bookcase was if I would be able to fit all of my Stonewylde series into one ‘pod.’ Luckily, they all fit perfectly! This is the series I have the most copies of: in total I have –

3 copies of Magus of Stonewylde

2 copies of Moondance of Stonewylde

2 copies of Solstice at Stonewylde

2 copies of Shadows at Stonewylde

2 copies of Shaman of Stonewylde

The books are my favourite series and have a very special place in my heart. The first three books were originally self-published so have different covers and the content is a little different. I borrowed the first three from the library originally and then bought them when they were published by Orion afterwards, and then I found the first self-published book by chance and was gifted the second and third. The fourth book was originally published in hardback and I also bought it when it came out in paperback, and I have a best of the fifth, and another copy just because it’s my favourite. I’ve met the author, Kit Berry, twice now and so quite a few of my copies are signed, and I must re-read them all soon!

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Finally we have the victims to my obsession… Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell!

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I originally read an e-ARC in spring 2013 and it immediately became one of my favourite books, and then ordered the US hardback in November because I just couldn’t say no to myself. The US hardback is amazing, and I think I slightly prefer it to the UK paperback, although the paperback contains graphics from Noelle Stevenson, or Gingerhaze, who is behind the cover, and an interview with Rainbow Rowell and bonus Simon Snow content. The paperback is decoration, whereas I know I’ll definitely be re-reading from the hardback, or my e-ARC where I have colour coded everything.

Do you collect multiple copies of books? Let me know your collection below! If you don’t, why not?

Lucy Recommends...

Lucy Recommends… [1] Contemporary Fiction

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Hello everyone! I’m here to start a new feature today called Lucy Recommends. The aim of this feature is to recommend lots of great books to you without writing a whole review. I’ll be showcasing genres, authors and series, and hopefully you’ll pick up lots of books you haven’t heard of before.

Today, as my blog is called Queen of Contemporary, I thought I would recommend a few contemporary titles. I’m thinking I should probably start reviewing and discussing contemporary more on the blog.

The first book I’d like to recommend is Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider. Narrated by Ezra, I think it’s refreshing to read a contemporary book with a male protagonist. Schneider’s style is very similar to John Green, so if you’re a fan, you’ll love this. It tells the story of Ezra who has recently been injured in a car accident that has left his knee damaged. The book explores the feelings Ezra has towards his accident as he can no longer play tennis, his one passion before. I loved it!

Then we have The DUFF by Kody Keplinger. This is a more mature contemporary YA, but I loved it, nevertheless. One of the things I love about contemporary is how I can jump into it without thinking: I don’t have to get used to the rules of magic, or learn the ropes of a dystopian government. I can simply sit back and relax, and The DUFF was one of those books. I managed to finish it in a day and I know I’ll be re-reading it in the future.

Sarah Dessen is the true queen of contemporary, and The Moon and More was SO good. It’s a good book to read in the hot, summer months. Sarah Dessen’s books are set in fictional towns and I’m always amazed at how realistically created they are. Every detail seems to be perfect and I loved that about the book.

Next we have Just One Day by Gayle Forman which is a wonderful travel book. We get to see parts of England, France, the Netherlands and America. I’d love to live in France one day so I loved reading those parts in particular.

And finally, we have Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell! I’ve spoken so much about this book so I don’t think I really need to tell you how much I love it. If you’re  a lover of books or writing, you will completely fall for this one.

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What are your favourite contemporary books?

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My Top Ten Books of 2013

2013 must hereby be known as ‘The Year of Amazing Books.’ Seriously, in 2013 I read so many books that blew me away. I only started getting into YA in 2012 so I’ve been catching up on lots of the books I missed and there were so many releases of brilliant books too.

Below is a list of my top 10 books of 2013 and my reasons for them being my favourites. I haven’t included sequels or re-reads in my list.

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My favourite book of the year by far is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I just can’t get over the total gorgeousness of this book and no matter how much I rave about it, I still can’t convey my thoughts properly. It’s now my all time favourite book and Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors. I have so much love for this book! The Isobel Journal by Isobel Harrop is a book that took me by complete surprise. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did and I’m extremely jealous of Isobel Harrop’s artistry. This is a book that’s perfect if you’re in a bit of a reading slump or you want to try something a bit different. Then we have Every Day by David Levithan. I love books that make you question the world around you and give you something to think about and Every Day did just that. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi really blew me away. It’s another book I didn’t expect to like as much, but it’s one of my favourite dystopia novels now. I like how it’s written in a different style to typical novels and the sequel, Unravel Me, is even better. The final book is Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas which may be one of my favourite fantasy novels. The world Sarah J. Maas has created is so creative and unique.

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More Than This by Patrick Ness is another book that really makes you question the world around you. I didn’t know much about it beforehand but it ended up knocking me out with its awesomeness. Yes, 2013 was the year I finally read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling and I ended up loving it. I can definitely see what all the fuss is about. Then we have Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi which is a very different dystopia novel. It’s set a long way into the future so the whole world was different and it’s the type of novel I can’t help but love. Paper Towns by John Green really sealed the deal in me loving John Green’s books so much. After loving The Fault in Our Stars in 2012, I couldn’t not love Paper Towns. Finally we have The Host by Stephenie Meyer. After liking but not loving the Twilight series, this book was a really big surprise. My friend was hassling me to read it for ages and when I finally did, I fell in love with it. SO good!

So those were my favourite books of the year! There were so many to choose from and I’ve still missed so many out.

Let me know your favourite books of the year! Have you read any of the books I mentioned? What did you think of them?

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Letterbox Love (21)

Letterbox LoveLetterbox Love is a UK based feature where book bloggers showcase the books that they received that week, be they e-books, paperbacks, hardbacks or any other format. It is hosted by Lynsey from Narratively Speaking.

I’ve got such a big haul to share with you this week! I bought an awful lot, but I’m really pleased with everything I got.

 

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Freaks by Lisa M. Forester
Storm and Stone by Joss Stirling
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Shattered Dreams by Ellie James
Hidden Among Us by Katy Moran
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Legend by Marie Lu
Jude the Obscure & Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

What did you get this week? Leave a link to your own book hauls! 

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Top Ten Tuesday (1)

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week, a new topic is chosen and people are allowed to make their own lists

This week the topic is…

 Top Ten Favorite Books With X Setting (ie: futuristic world, set mostly in schools, during World War II, books set in California  etc. etc. So many possibilities!) 

I’ve chosen to talk about my favourite books with contemporary settings, seeing as though my blog is called Queen of Contemporary!

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1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This is such a cute novel and, set in Paris, I absolutely adored it. I really want to visit Paris after reading this.

2. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

I love Hundred Oaks and all the characters have just stuck with me. I’m so attached to this book!

3. From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

This is such a fun book and has a crazy road trip in it. I must re-read it soon!

4. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

I really want to go to Amsterdam after reading this (and The Fault in Our Stars, and because I’ve just finished a big project on Anne Frank.). It flows so well and it’s such a sweet novel.

5. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Probably my favourite novel of all time and has made me want to travel to America, particularly Omaha. I love everything about this novel. I can’t fault it at all!

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6. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

I can’t fault Sarah Dessen’s ability to make me crave for the places she creates. A perfect summer read!

7. The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oramperf5.250x8.000.indd

I read this in July and didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It was only supposed to be a quick read but I haven’t forgotten about it since.

8. The Duff by Kody Keplinger

I read this the other week and really loved it.  The plot, the characterisation, everything else, was done just right and I’d highly recommend it.

9. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

This is an emotional and captivating book that I really enjoyed, and it has a very beautiful cover design.

10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

A very obvious choice for very obvious reasons. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me tear my hair out in despair. An all time favourite!

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What would your choices be? 

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A to Z Book Survey

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The A to Z Book Survey was created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. I love her blog so much (seriously, she’s one of my blogging idols) and she does the End of Year Book Survey every year which is such a good idea. I’ve seen this going round the blogosphere for a few days now and I thought I’d give it a go myself because it’s such fun.

Author you’ve read the most books from:

According to Goodreads, I’ve read the most books by Cassandra Clare (7), but I know that according to my bookshelf it is Meg Cabot. I’ll read anything written by both.

Best Sequel Ever:

I’m going to choose Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi for this one because I couldn’t put it down. I love her books so much and this one exceeded Shatter Me by miles.

 

Currently Reading:

At the time of writing this (yesterday), I was reading The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle, which I’m finding very difficult to get into. 🙁

 Drink of Choice While Reading:

I only drink water so that’s going to have to be my answer. Although when I’m reading I usually forget to drink anything.

Ereader or Physical Book?

I’ll always love physical books, and nothing will beat them for me, but I am trying to read more e-books because they’re so much cheaper and it’s much easier to buy novels that aren’t so freely available here in the UK. This saves me having to buy a hardcover for a book I might not enjoy.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell! My ultimate book boyfriend. *swoon*

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Wings by Aprilynne Pike, because I was very close to DNF-ing it.

Hidden Gem Book:

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did!

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Starting my blog. I wouldn’t be the reader I am today without it, because blogging made me read more and look to other genres that weren’t familiar to me.

 Just Finished:

Faking It by Cora Carmack which I LOVED. I love her books so much now!

 Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

 I don’t like reading vampire novels, but I will tolerate them. I do avoid time travel novels now because I just have a lot of problems with them.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Major book hangover because of:

Shaman of Stonewylde by Kit Berry. It’s the last book in my favourite series

Number of Bookcases You Own:

I have two shelves that run the length of my wall, one that runs half and a big bookcase. And I still don’t have enough room…

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

 City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Whenever I’m in a reading slump, I’ll pick it up and it always helps me get out of it.

Preferred Place To Read:

I can read just about anywhere, but I love reading in my chair which normally has things heaped up the sides and fall on me pretty regularly. I’d take a picture but it’s so messy the sight would probably horrify you.

 Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“‘After all this time?’ 

‘Always,’ said Snape.”

It gets me every time!

Reading Regret:

 This is a really hard one for me to answer because there’s nothing that I wish I had done differently. I’m still really young so I can’t say I wish I had done things years ago and I read so much anyway that I can usually fit in anything that I want to read. I’m going to leave this one blank for now.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. I only have one more book to go!

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Anything Rainbow Rowell, which is pretty ironic seeing as though one of her books is called Fangirl.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi! Words cannot explain how excited I am. 😀

Worst Bookish Habit:

 I do buy a lot of books that end up sitting on my pile for months and months. My TBR pile takes up two shelves.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Your latest book purchase:

Faking It by Cora Carmack for my Kindle.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Losing It by Cora Carmack! I stayed up all night reading it!

Have you done this survey? Link me to your own posts if so! 

(sorry for the lack of pictures. My post wouldn’t format them properly. :))