~ The Chocolate Book Tag~

Sweet centred Reading

 

 

DARK CHOCOLATE - a book that covers a dark topic. (abuse, domestic violence, rape, loneliness, bullying, etc)

 

 

Deerskin by Robin McKinley is a beautiful fairytale for adults. This story follows Lissar as she travels on her dark and bitter journey from girl to woman. a must read!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHITE CHOCOLATE - your favourite light hearted, humorous read.

 

 

 

Perfectly Correct by Philippa Gregory shows how courtships in the modern era can still be eventful and funny. Gregory shows that it is not just historical fiction that she excels at.

 

 

 

 

MILK CHOCOLATE - a book that has a lot of hype that you're dying to read.

 

 

I love the Cousin's War series and cannot wait to read The Kings Curse by Philippa Gregory. It should be an amazing end to a fantastic series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHOCOLATE WITH A CARAMEL CENTRE - name a book that made you feel all gooey in the middle while you were reading it.

 

 

The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my favourite books. I absolutely love this book and the love story between the main characters makes my heart melt every time.

 

 

 

 

 

WAFER FREE KIT KAT - name a book that surprised you lately.

 

 

The Gargoyle was recommended to me by The YA Nightstand as I was very surprised by the ending. Very interesting read about the human mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNICKERS - a book that you are going nuts about

 

 

I cannot wait to read China Dolls by Lisa See. Set to be an amazing read about two Chinese girls living in 1930s America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOT CHOCOLATE WITH CREAM AND MARSHMELLOWS - what book would you turn to for a comfort read?

 

Not exactly the most happy of topics but when I need a cheer up with loveable characters and entertaining sarcasm then Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is the ticket!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOX OF CHOCOLATES - what series have you read that you feel has a wide variety and a little something for everyone?

 

 

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine are full of wacky twists and turns, vampires, hotties and an epic love story....what else is needed??? And I dare anyone to not be a little in love with Shane.

 

Changeling (Order of Darkness #1)

by Philippa Gregory

Rating:  2/5

Pages: 265

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN: 978-0-85707-730-1

Summary (via Goodreads)

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.

Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon.(

 

Review

I am a complete fan of Philippa Gregory and have read all her books to date so had to give this a go. Changeling is the first book in her new series The Order of Darkness which are aimed at a younger audience. The story follows Luca Vero (who I  believe is the main character in at least the next book too) and his friends as they journey around the world looking for sinners and the devil.

Overall, I gave this book a 2/5, however I do want to point out that this isn't meant as a bad review, the book was actually enjoyable at points. Having said this, I did struggle with it a bit. This was mainly because I am so used to her adult aimed books which have more happening in them plot wise and I think the characters are better established in her earlier works than in this book. One of the things I really missed in this book was the complex storylines and gripping romances that normally characterise a Gregory book. I think my main issue was that, for me, Changeling lacked the set-up I needed in order to get sucked into the story. At times I felt the book was predicable and even rushed. I think the main reason I struggled with this book is because it is aimed at YA readers and therefore is not something I was able to get excited over.

On the other hand, I pride myself on always trying to write a equal review and this book is no exception.. Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to that doesn't by any means make it a 'bad' book. I think the themes and ideas behind the book are very interesting, I particularly like the way that The Order fits in to the catholic religion of the time.

I would like to end this review by stating that although I struggled with this book I do have the next two books lined up in a pile ready to read despite this as I feel that in order to really appreciate this series you need to get to the second book where the characters are established and the reader is starting to get a handle on the storyline as it unfolds.

 

Dream Boy

by Madelyn Rosenberg and Mary Crockett
Release Date: 07/01/14
Sourcebooks Fire

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Annabelle Manning feels like she’s doing time at her high school in Chilton, Virginia. She has her friends at her lunchtime table of nobodies. What she doesn’t have are possibilities. Or a date for Homecoming. Things get more interesting at night, when she spends time with the boy of her dreams. But the blue-eyed boy with the fairytale smile is just that—a dream. Until the Friday afternoon he walks into her chemistry class.

One of friends suspects he’s an alien. Another is pretty sure it’s all one big case of deja vu. While Annabelle doesn’t know what to think, she’s willing to believe that the charming Martin Zirkle may just be her dream come true. But as Annabelle discovers the truth behind dreams—where they come from and what they mean—she is forced to face a dark reality she had not expected. More than just Martin has arrived in Chilton. As Annabelle learns, if dreams can come true, so can nightmares.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18478539-dream-boy?ac=1

 

Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo Books * The Book Depository

 

(Other buy links)

INDIE BOUND:

www.indiebound.org/book/9781402295836

 

BOOKS-A-MILLION:
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dream-Boy/Madelyn-Rosenberg/9781402295836?id=6021086034552

 

iTUNES:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dream-boy/id848454252?mt=11

 

AMAZON UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Boy-Madelyn-Rosenberg/dp/1402295839/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1401878623&sr=8-1

 

INDIGO:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/dream-boy/9781402295836-item.html?ikwid=dream+boy&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0

 

WATERSTONES:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/madelyn+rosenberg/mary+crockett/dream+boy/10376141/

 

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOdYb03lh5Q

 

Advanced Praise:

“Dream Boy explores the mysterious world of dreams, where we access our deepest desires…the authors expertly weave fantasy and the real world in a perfect blend.”

-- Erica Orloff, author of In Dreams






"Eerie, twisty, fast and funny, Dream Boy will forever change the way you see your dreams--and your nightmares. An exciting, imaginative look at what might happen when people from the corners of your mind suddenly show up in your real life."
-- Lois Metzger, author of A Trick of the Light



Reviews:

“The perfect book to add to your summer reading list. An awesome balance of love, humor and action, this new read may just be your dream come true!” – GirlsLife

 

"Hits the chick-lit and romance buttons, adding suspense and an intriguing idea as well for nicely rounded entertainment." -- Kirkus Review

 

"An original, twisty paranormal romance." -- Booklist

 

“Five stars... Perfect writing, perfect characters … perfect plot.” -- Paperback Wonderland

 

“Dream Boy skillfully and creatively tackles the common theme of good and bad dreams coming alive.... The writing is tight and well-paced, and nicely balances action with Annabelle’s character development as she tries to unravel the mysteries of... her dreams. Her teenage voice is spot on: unsure of herself, but spirited, with a sarcasm that masquerades as confidence. The plot twists and moves in unexpected yet fascinating directions." -- The Roanoke Times

Excerpt:

I’ve always been a dreamer. Daydreams. Night dreams. Dreams of grandeur and dreams of escape. If I were an onion and you peeled back the papery outside, you’d find layer after layer of eye-watering dreams. And in the center, where there’s that little curlicue of onion heart? There’d be a puff of smoke from the dreams that burned away.

~
Keep reading! You can check out the first three chapters here:

https://marycrockettbooks.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dreamboy_excerpt_proof.pdf

 Special post options … VIDEOS!

What's it like writing with a co-author? Find out what Madelyn has to say about the process in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6Hfy7Kfk4

 About the Authors

Mary Crockett likes turtles, licorice, and the Yankees. Madelyn Rosenberg likes cats, avocados, and the Red Sox. Luckily they both like the weirdness of dreams (and each other) enough to write novels together. The friendship has survived three moves, six kids and countless manuscript revisions. Madelyn lives just outside of Washington, D.C. Mary remains in the mountains near their hometowns in southwestern Virginia.

 

You can find them on Twitter @marylovesbooks and @madrosenberg or their blogs at www.marycrockett.com and www.madelynrosenberg.com

Where to find Mary:  Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

Where to find Madelyn:  Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 Got a Book Club that might be interested in reading DREAM BOY? Check out the DREAM BOY Discussion Guide.

 The DREAM PARTY Pinterest page has ideas about throwing a theme party.

 The DREAM BOY inspiration page can show you some of the things that got Mary and Madelyn thinking.

 ***GIVEAWAY***

$10 Gift Certificate to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winners choice) PLUS a nifty Dream Boy T-shirt

<a id="rc-2348b9db308" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2348b9db308/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>

Or:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjM0OGI5ZGJmNWUwNzllYTYzNjAyYzhhZGU0MDc0OjMwOA==/

Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours