Saturday 31 October 2015

The Lady Elizabeth - Alison Weir - Spoiler Free / Spoilers

Title - The Lady Elizabeth
Author - Alison Weir
ISBN - 978-0-09-179672-3
My Copy - Purchased
My Rating - 4 /5
Where You Can Find It -  Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US
Genre - Adult > Historical Fiction

Alison Weir is known for her non-fiction about the Tudor period and this book is her second fiction book. It follows The Lady Elizabeth who becomes Queen Elizabeth I. This book follows Elizabeth from a Young Girl into a Young Woman and her relationship with her father all of her step mothers, her sister and her first love and the consequences of that love. This is a different take on why Elizabeth become known later in life as The Virgin Queen.

This book starts off with Elizabeth at two years old being told her mother has been executed for treason, then she goes to court and meets her new step mother Jane Seymour and then it goes very quickly throughout the next couple of wives until Henry marries Katherine Parr and dies four years later. Then the story really gets into the good stuff. We have love, anger, jealousy, pain, torment all in one relationship.The events that changed the course of her life and the decisions she makes.

Then you have the struggle with her sister and her right to her place in the line of succession. Elizabeth goes through so much from the age of Two till Twenty-Five. If you love historical fiction i suggest you give this book a read it was an entertaining and a roller coaster of a book.


 SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.



I mean where do i even start with this book it had me on the edge of my seat and trying to figure out where it would go next, I loved Henry and Elizabeth's relationship albeit they didn't have much of one but what we did see warmed my heart except for the flashbacks where she remembered him calling Anne a witch and a whore. then when Elizabeth goes and lives with Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, i started to feel like i knew where this was going when Elizabeth fell pregnant but i didn't know what route she would go down i was trying to think if we knew anyone it could be then when she had the miscarriage i knew that would be a huge factor in her life and that she wouldn't want to go through that ever again and watching Jane die. 

I definitely had mixed feeling towards Katherine in this book on the one hand she was duped by Thomas as well but then she was telling Elizabeth to just let him tickle her and joining in by holding her down. So for me i personally didn't like her very much but then again you are more inclined to back the heroine than anyone else if we had the same book in Katherine's POV it might be different.

Thomas on the other hand having sex with your wife's step daughter, your nephews sister and the old kings daughter is sick and its Treason to plot it let alone act upon it no wonder he was executed. 

Then when that part of her life is over and Thomas is Executed, then her brother dies and she has to fight for her right to the succession. There is a quote that i loved when Mary was deciding if she should marry him or not her adviser refrains from telling her "Great men married for Duty and bedded their mistresses for pleasure" and for me that just about summed up pretty much every single Medieval king baring a couple so i don't know why she would be shocked.

Mary is a Catholic and is trying to put England back to the true faith and Elizabeth is a threat to that so when she locks her in the Tower when she sees Anne's ghost it really hit me in the feels in one of the most terrifying times in her life her mother is there to comfort her and protect her. Then when Mary gives the OK to have Elizabeth found guilty and have her executed i never thought she would do that. To me that is far from the truth but we will never know.

When she is released from The Tower she is under house arrest with her closest friend taken away. Elizabeth gets more and more agitated with only one maid not allowed the reading material she desires. 
Mary quickly becomes Bloody Mary when the burnings of the Protestants start.

When Elizabeth and Phillip meet for the first time and Elizabeth dresses to her advantage and wore her hair loose like an unmarried virgin. (royal married women were not allowed to have a bare head they had to wear a hood) and when Elizabeth felt that shock of lust my brain was screaming don't do it, don't do it and luckily she didn't but she knows she must have him on her side if she if to never be sent to the tower again.

When Mary becomes pregnant you know everything is coming to an end then when she goes into confinement and no baby is there then Philip leaves and goes back to Spain, she tries to help him by sending troops into France then loose Calais that had been held by England for over 100 years all for a Spanish Catholic who wanted her sister more than her. 

Mary finally had to concede and finally name Elizabeth as her Heir but only if she promised to rule England as a Catholic Nation. Elizabeth agreed obviously. Then sitting under a tree in Hatfield Grounds Elizabeth Finally becomes Queen Of England. 




Until Next Time
Happy Reading





The Halloween Book Tag

Happy Halloween everyone, so this tag is about all things spooky and halloweenie  (not a word) 

So lets get started .... 

1. Favourite Horror Book?

I don't really read Horror books so i kind of cheated a little bit and chose Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake, its got ghost and blood and murder in it but it is more paranormal.


 2. Scariest Moment in A Book You Have Read?

Again i don't read books with many scary moments but there is one i do remember, is from The Diviners by Libba Bray and it is the rhyme the killer says  
"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones." 
It still freaks me out and i read it over a year ago



3. Would You or Have You Ever Dressed Up As A Book Character for Halloween?

No, but i most probably will at some point.


4. What Do You Think Your Favourite Character Would Dress Up As For Halloween?

My fave character is Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead and when she was in school you could just imagine her dressing up as a Strigoi and piss off Stan. 

(Well That was luck i found a picture of her dressed as a Strigoi)


 5. What is your favourite kind of Horror ? (gore, psychological, thriller, spooky...)

Like i said before I'm not a big horror fan but if had to choose it would either be Spooky or Thriller like The Never List by Koethi Zan 



6. If Books Were As Cheap As Candy, Which Ones Would You Give Out To Trick or Treaters?

It would have to be any Jacqueline Wilson, Roald Dahl books also maybe some of the Captain Underpants books they were awesome.

 


7.Halloween to Read List?

I'm not reading any books on Halloween, because it is my sisters birthday so I'm spending my day making her cake and then going out for a meal, but here are some of my Halloween Recommendations....

The Diviners - Libba Bray
The Never List - Koethi Zan
Anna Dressed In Blood - Kendare Blake
Unleashed - Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
The Name of The Star - Maureen Johnson


So that was it for The Halloween Book Tag, now for Christmas songs to start playing tomorrow...

Until Next Time
Happy Reading


Thursday 29 October 2015

October 2015 Book Haul

Hello, so this month i have gone a bit overboard and i have accumulated 36 books this month so i am just going to name them and if you want to no more about that book just click on the title and it will take you to the goodreads page.

Kindle books 

Jet - Jay Crownover 
Rome - Jet Crownover
Nash - Jay Crownover
Rowdy - Jay Crownover
Asa - Jay Crownover
Confess - Colleen Hoover
Lick - Kylie Scott
Play - Kylie Scott
Lead - Kylie Scott
Deep - Kylie Scott
Pushing The Limits - Brooke Cumberland
Born to Endless Night - Cassandra Clare
The Rocker Who Betrays Me - Terri Anne Browning
Catching Lucy - Terri Anne Browning
Craving Lucy - Terri Anne Browning

Physical Books - 

Magnus Chase & the Sword of Summer - Rick Riordan
Happily Ever After - Kiera Cass
Twilight 10th Annerversary Edition - Stepehnie Meyer
Saga Volume 1 - Brian K Vaughn
The No'1 Ladie Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
My Sisters Keeper - Jodie Picoult
Amy Snow - Tracy Rees
Longbourn - Jo Baker
You Had Me At Hello - Mhairi McFarlane
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
Juliet Naked - Nick Hornby
The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night Time - Mark Haddon
P.s. I Still Love You - Jenny Han 
One Hundred Names - Cecelia Ahern 
The Duchess - Amanda Foreman
The Secret Dreamworld of A Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sohie Kinsella
Shopaholic and Sister - Sophie Kinsella
Martyr - Rory Clements
Perkin - Ann Wroe

And i got 1 book for review 

The November Criminals - Sam Munson 

So that is all the books i got in October if you have read any of these books and recommend them tell me in the comments. 

Until Next Time
Happy Reading


 

Thats What He Said Thursdays - Krit Corbin - 29th October 2015


So That's What He Said Thursdays was Created by Chapter Break and it is pretty much just a appreciation post for your favourite Male Protagonist's quotes to his girl. 

(I messed up last week and posted two because i put the wrong date in to the Cage York post so i had to quickly had to make one for this week)

So i re-read this series this month and i just got to this quote and i loved it so much i had to mark the page normally i just flick through till i find it again...

Krit Corbin
Bad For You - Sea Breeze - Abbi Glines

"I'm not sharing. You're mine. No one will touch you but me. I have an addictive personality. I always have. And you just became my number one addiction. I'm gonna want this. A lot. I'm needy and demanding, and now you're the only one who can meet that."

 
Until Next Time
Happy Reading

 
 

Monday 26 October 2015

Organise... Organise .... Organise

Hi all, so this post is how i organise things to do with my books, i have a really bad memory so even when i can remember a book by the end of the month i cant remember if i read it this month or last. so i started documenting on paper instead of goodreads because i pretty much just update at the end of the month because i forget whenever i start a new book.

So the first method i started using was 

Going Old School - 

A Binder and some Paper i just write the title and the author then the date i started and finished the book. 


I also do this for my haul because i never can remember what books i got when...


Method 2 

Post It Note - 

When ever i just want a quick glance at when i finished or started a book i just look in the inside cover and see because you can remove a post it note with no damage to the paper. I divide the post it not into 4 or 5 sections then i use it kind of like a library sticker but not then i know the first time it read it was this date the second was that date and so on and so forth....


Method 3 

Using a Diary -

Just using a yearly diary, i just write when i started and the the date i finished the book its pretty easy to understand


The final Method 

Method 4

Libib - 

So libib is an free app i got from google play stores i was trying to find a app that catalogues books from there barcode and this was the most recommended one. so all you do is make a library so i have TBR, and Read Books and all i do when i get a new book gut scan the barcode into the library you want it to go. so you can keep track of all of the books you own. 


Hope some of this helps you
Until Next Time
Happy Reading

Thursday 22 October 2015

Thats What He Said Thursdays - Cage York - 22nd October 2015


So That's What He Said Thursdays was Created by Chapter Break and it is pretty much just a appreciation post for your favourite Male Protagonist's quotes to his girl. 

This week i have chosen a guy who stood out in a series of amazing men, and is my favourite man from Sea Breeze, Alabama 



Cage York
Sea Breeze - Abbi Glines



Until Next Time
Happy Reading

Thats What He Said Thursday - Percy Jackson - 15th October 2015

So That's What He Said Thursdays was Created by Chapter Break and it is pretty much just a appreciation post for your favourite Male Protagonist's quotes to his girl. 

I had to at some point chose this character because this quote was building for 10 books i mean c'mon.


Percy Jackson
PJ & the Olympians & The Heroes of Olympus






Until Next Time
Happy Reading



Thursday 15 October 2015

Thats What He Said Thursdays - Dimitri Belikov - 8th October 2015

So That's What He Said Thursdays was Created by Chapter Break and it is pretty much just a appreciation post for your favourite Male Protagonist's quotes to his girl. 

This 6ft 7 of a man was the first man i claimed as one of my book boyfriends all the way back in 2010  i fell in love with the soft man and the strong warrior 


Dimitri Belikov 
Vampire Academy



Until Next Time
Happy Reading

Thursday 8 October 2015

Thats What He Said Thursdays - Edward IV - 1st October 2015

So That's What He Said Thursdays was Created by Chapter Break and it is pretty much just a appreciation post for your favourite Male Protagonist's quotes to his girl. 

I fell in love with this character in a different series but its a quote from Conn Igguldens, Wars of The Roses Series that i am choosing this week.


Edward IV
Wars of The Roses

"I am a violent man, my lady. I have been so and will be again. Not to you, though. When i think of you, I am softer"



Until Next Time
Happy Reading

 

Saturday 3 October 2015

Mean Girls Book Tag


Hello So this is the Mean Girls Book Tag and i originally saw this on Book Bitch Reviews Blog and decided to give it a go.

So Lets Get Started....

 1. "It’s pronounced like Cady” 
 Which fictional character’s names did you get completely wrong?

Chaol - Throne of Glass 

I always used to pronounce it Cah-ool but it is pronounced Kay-all or Kale the Vegetable. I am pretty sure at some point of reading this book unless you looked it up before hand pronounced it wrong.
 

2. “She doesn’t even go here!” 
 Which character would you like to place in a fictional world from another book or series?

Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy) into Twilight

I mean who wouldn't want to see Roses reaction to sparkly Edward or Bella just imagine for a second. That was be fricken awesome.

 











3. “On Wednesdays we wear pink!”  
 Repetition. Repetition. Which book gave you dejavu of another book whilst reading it?


The Iron Trial - Cassandra Clare & Holly Black

Now don't get me wrong i absolutely adored this book but there was quite a few similarities to harry potter and they couldn't be ignored. 

 

4. "You all have got to stop calling each other sluts and whores. It just makes it okay for guys to call you sluts and whores." 
Which book gave you the complete opposite of girl power feels? 

The Selection - Kiera Cass

I love this book and this series but there were time it was all about 35 girls competing for the love of a prince and tearing each other down and sabotaging each other instead of helping and supporting.




5. “You go Glen Coco!” 
Name a character you felt like you wanted to cheer on whilst reading.

Cammie Morgan - Gallagher Girls - Ally Carter

Cammie is such a strong female character, with everything she goes through and i really just cheered her on to get through it and conquer everything and everyone in her way.


6. "Get in loser, we’re going shopping!” 
 How long do you typically spend at a book shop? 
 
I really don't get to go into bookshops as much as i would like the one near me is very small and after about 20 minutes i have had enough of the cramped space. Online at waterstones.com forever.


 7. “It’s not my fault you’re like in love with me or something!” 
Which character would have to get out a restraining order on you, if they were real?

Rush Finlay - Rosemary Beach - Abbi Glines

Rush is gorgeous he is a good guy disguised as a bad guy i mean anyone who has read the Rosemary beach series ends up having a RUSH CRUSH.



8. “I can’t help it that I’m popular.” 
Which overhyped book were you cautious about reading?
Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell 

At the point i read this book i hadn't read anything else by the author because she was so over hyped, and i didn't really read contemporaries at that point but i gave it a try and fell in love it was well deserved of the hype.

9. “She’s a life ruiner. She ruins peoples lives.” 
We all love Regina George. Name a villain you couldn’t help but love.

Tasha Ozera - Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
Tasha is a sore spot for me i love her but hate what she did and i don't want to talk about what she did because SPOILERS.



10. “I’m not like a regular Mom, I’m a cool Mom.” 
Your favourite fictional parents

Either The Hamilton's or The Winsteads - Wait For You Saga - J Lynn

I Would have chosen Molly and Arthur Weasley but everybody chose them, so i decided to be different. The Hamilton's and The Winsteads are bot amazing parents so i couldn't choose between them they are supportive and loving and amazing. Even though they are not mentioned very much, when they are it is some of the most memorable quote for me personally.

 











11. “That is so Fetch!” 
Which book or series would you love to catch on?

 The Geek Girl Series - Holly Smale

 This series is so feel good and when i read it i was ill and it perked me up it was funny and cute, i finished the first two books in about 4 hours in one night and it only has 7000+ reviews not alot compared to most books. 





12. “How do I even begin to explain Regina George?” 
Describe your ideal character to read about.

My ideal character is a character i read a lot a sassy, funny, caring, kick ass character.
Percy Jackson
Celeana Sardothian
Rose Hathaway
Blair Wynn (with her gun)


 13. “I just have a lot of feelings.” 
What do you do when a book gives you a bad case of ‘the feels'?

Cry into my pillow, no i just tend to carry on reading while crying my eyes out.


14. “Nice wig Janice, what’s it made of?” "Your Mom’s chest hair!”
 Which characters one liners would you love to claim for your own?

Rose Hathaway - Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

I mean even in the bloodlines series she had some pretty good one liners but she is just so quick witted and i would love to be inside her brain on a day to day basis.


15. “Boo, you whore.” 
Name a time a characters decision has made you roll your eyes

Bella - Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

I mean come on i have to pick just one time Bella's choice made me roll my eyes how about having sex with a vampire, marring a vampire all the stupid stuff she did before that i literally cannot even name all of them because this would be too long.



 So that was it for the Mean Girls Tag i hope you enjoyed it if you have done this tag leave a link to it in the comments  so i can see your choices.

Until Next Time
Happy Reading