... "Sandpiper Snippets"

New Banner

2010-06-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

I was experimenting with a new banner for my YA books blog and I thought I'd post it here first to see what everyone thinks of it!

Top Four MOST WANTED

2010-06-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

HALO by Alexandra Adornetto - out in August

FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan - out in September

ENCHANTED IVY by Sarah Beth Durst - out in October

MATCHED by Ally Condie - out in November

Book List

2010-06-18T06:53:00.001-07:00

This month I have put together a list of YA book's I'm on the look out for! Enjoy!

Flipped - Movie Trailer!

2010-06-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

I just watched a movie trailer for the new film Flipped and it looks amazing!

You can watch it here: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/flipped/

Finally, a simple down to earth romance story - with twinges of open honesty and buckets of well versed acting! I don't know about anyone else but I'm going to see this when it's released in August (if it comes to the UK).

Skywatch Friday Post

2010-06-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

The Lake District, UK.

"Dear native brook! wild streamlet of the West!
How many various-fated years have passed...
Visions of childhood! oft have ye beguiled
Lone manhood`s cares, yet waking fondest sighs:
Ah! that once more I were a careless child!"

- To the River Otter, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I love everyone's pictures, they're great!

This picture was taken while on a walk with my dad and my uncle - we meandered along a river and ended the day with cake! :-) The sky was so alive though, it was almost tactile the way it held its own in your vision, against the hills and the trees. (Does that make sense?)

[This picture is posted as part of the Skywatch Meme.]

Ruthless Magnate, Convenient Wife by Lynne Graham

2010-01-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

THREE/FOUR STARS

Love the cover! (What a beautiful dress!)

Mills and Boon synopsis:

Billionaire in need…

Sergei Antonovich, a Russian billionaire, was famous for being knee-deep in stunning supermodels and aspiring actresses. But not one was suitable bride material. Would he ever grant his ageing babushka her dearest wish and present her with a grandchild? Of a bride and a baby…

So, why not handle this challenge as business? Without emotion, but with a contract of convenience that granted him the perfect deal: a wife he’d bed, wed, get pregnant…and then discard…

Pregnant Brides

Inexperienced and expecting,they’re forced to marry!

My review:

I didn't realise when I started this book that it was part of a trilogy (the 2nd one written I think) following a group of friends in their journey to finding love. This book was Alissa's story. Her greedy twin signs a contract agreeing to marry Russian billionaire and give him a child, then she ropes in Alissa to fill the role while she swans off with the money he paid her. An unsuspecting Alissa, who trusts her twin implicitly and is doing this to help pay off her mother's debt (and who knows nothing of the private side, planned to accompany this 'business' agreement), then slowly begins to fall for Sergei.

This couple had great chemistry and the story was promising, full of tension. What let the book down was the fact that these two characters hardly ever really talked to one another - the baring of one's soul is not conducted via sexual tension. This romance was good, but the lack of communication between the two was unedifying to say the least.

Ms Graham, you have a wonderful writing style, you have wonderful characters, and a full imagination. A Russian hero? How marvellous. But you were rushing, and avoided displaying true intimacy in this book. I know the hero was supposed to be strong, resilient, tough, mysterious, devilishly attractive, but did all of that really necessitate his loss of voice?

New Artist: Anjulie

2010-01-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

First Heard: At the end of ABC's The Deep End's Pilot, in Boom.

Album: "Anjulie" [self-titled]

This girl is about to get huge! :-) Check out her new music video for Addicted2Me on her homepage: http://www.anjuliemusic.com/

The Devil You Know by Liz Carlyle

2010-01-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

THREE STARS

I carried on my Liz Carlyle stretch this week with The Devil You Know, Frederica and Bentley's story.

Goodreads:

From acclaimed author Liz Carlyle comes a spellbinding new novel in which the ton's most charming ne'er-do-well meets his match in a most unexpected fashion and discovers the true meaning of desire....

The Devil You Know

Frederica d'Avillez is sure she will never marry. She's had a disastrous London season, and now her longtime beau has thrown her over for a more eligible miss. But if Freddie can't have a husband, she's hell-bent on experiencing at least one night of unforgettable passion. Where better than in the arms of the dashing rogue Bentley "Hell-Bent" Rutledge? So what if he's a rake, scoundrel, and all-round devil?

Scandal trails in Bentley's wake and fair maidens usually steer well clear of him -- and vice versa. But when the opportunity presents itself, Bentley can't resist Freddie's exotic beauty. When their wild, reckless passion has dire consequences, Bentley is forced to choose between honor and freedom. And Freddie soon realizes that Bentley's devil-may-care façade is just that -- for she has unwittingly unleashed his dark secrets...and secret desires.

My Review:

As before, I greatly enjoyed Ms Carlyle's style of writing, and I was swept away (although not to the same extent as in Wicked All Day) by the world she created for us, her readers. At the end of the book it becomes apparent that she has been approaching a rather sensitive subject (which I shall not spoil here), and this was gently handled. Unfortunately, just because a book keeps you up into the small hours, doesn't mean that it is perfect. I felt the ending for Freddie and Bentley was a little quick (if one discounts the + 7 or so months time leap of the epilogue). We never got to see them interact independently, as a couple, in their own home. What kind of a life will they have together beyond their honesty, love, devotion etc. Freddie comes from such an eccentric background, there was soo much promise there... As always, I am looking for what I want to see rather than what was there, but reflection in critic is necessary I think. Especially when dealing with high calibre writers like Ms Carlyle - how do you tell between them enough to rate one book differently from another otherwise? Something to ponder perhaps.

http://www.lizcarlyle.com/

Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle

2010-01-22T06:21:00.000-08:00

FOUR STARS

I have not read any historical romance from Liz Carlyle before, only her contribution to Big Guns Out of Uniform (a modern romance anthology) which admittedly was well written. So I thought I'd give this book a whirl. It's set in London and Sussex (England).

Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle continues her enthralling historical series with the story of an impetuous, illegitimate beauty and the forbidding nobleman who protects her -- while fighting an obsession to possess her....

Miss Zoë Armstrong is beautiful, charming, rich -- and utterly unmarriageable. So, while she may be the ton's most sparkling diamond, her choice of husbands looks more like a list of London's most unsavory fortune hunters. Since a true-love marriage seems impossible, Zoë has accepted -- no, embraced -- her role as society's most incomparable flirt and mischiefmaker...until in one reckless, vulnerable moment, her future is shattered.

Stuart Rowland, the brooding Marquess of Mercer, has been part of Zoë's extended family since she was a child. As dark and cynical as Zoë is lively, Mercer has always known they would be the worst possible match...until his scapegrace brother Robert does the unthinkable, and winds up betrothed to Zoë. Now, secluded on Mercer's vast estate to escape a looming scandal and the ton's prying eyes, Zoë and Mercer may find that a dark obsession has become a tempestuous passion that can no longer be denied....

My review:

I thought all the characters were well drawn - which I suppose is only to be expected when the author has previously written whole novels for these characters (e.g. A Woman Scorned featured Mercer's mother's romance, and My False Heart featured Zoe's father's!).

I was a little upset by this author's interpretation of a Scottish accent - I am typing from Glasgow, so I think I have the credentials to comment.

Overall, the author's ability to sweep her readers up in her world has not altered from that small novella she wrote all those years ago. I enjoyed reading this book, and indeed was compelled to read through until 5AM.

I guess the thing that I missed most (on my "wish a book had included this" hit list) was more scenes from the character's teen years - we saw one scene at the very beginning of the book, when Zoe was around five years old, and were told in character's speech about various escapades, in a sentence or so's length, but I think the connection and history of the characters could have deepened. Their relationship would have been more fascinating still for it.

Liz Carlyle's characters seem to grow as the novel progresses and their journeys are plausible and interesting. Their romance was worth reading about, but it wasn't legendary. Very few books I have every read have achieved the latter though. Well done Ms Carlyle, fabulous book!

I am planning on reading The Devil You Know, or My False Heart, next, as these are the novels I was most intrigued by from the synopses on Ms Carlyle's website:

http://www.lizcarlyle.com/

Snow Leopard episode

2010-01-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Last night I gamely decided to update my sixth month old laptop to Snow Leopard (from Leopard). The first part was easy; the computer took about 50 minutes to go through the loading process, and when it was done nearly everything, and every setting, I'd started with remained. Simple right? Wrong!

My computer was noisy (like a hoover) and overheating regularly, all yesterday and today. So, living in a city for my studies, I toddled off to the apple store. Apparently my anti-virus software (Sophus) which worked fine on Leopard was not speced for Snow Leopard. It was trying to run and falling, using 100% CPU [or something!] and so deleting it from the My Computer Library solved the problem.

A lengthy tale.

If you have noise (or speed) problems following an up

date to Snow Leopard check to see if you are running any software which cannot work in the new operating system correctly. This may solve your problems.

As a further note to any techs out there, now I have upgraded, even by downloading DIVX for Mac I cannot view embedded divx videos in Safari, only in firefox - what should I do to correct the issue? :-)

Sinful Surrender by Beverly Kendall

2010-01-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

THREE STARS

A new book by a brand new author! Historical Romance, set in England (19th Century).

Goodreads:

Millicent “Missy” Armstrong is entering her fourth London Season, but not for lack of suitors. Since her debut three years ago, Missy has received twenty marriage proposals. But she is interested in only one man—her brother’s best friend, James Rutherford. As a child, Missy looked up to James. As a grown up, her admiration has blossomed into the longings of a beautiful, sensuous woman—and she won’t rest until James admits his love—and desire—for her…

James Rutherford rues the day he let his physical weaknesses get the better of him by kissing Missy. His best friend has made it clear that Missy is off limits, and though he’s avoided her for three years, he hasn’t forgotten the feel of her soft lips pressed against his—and it seems neither has she. For no matter how much James tries to discourage Missy, he keeps winding up in her arms, sharing heated caresses that promise the most delirious pleasure...

My Review:

The supposed allure of this book is that Missy has been in love with James for as long as she can remember, and yet we hear almost nothing of the characters' pasts. It was... anticlimactic at worst. The lust-y scenes were written with a strong hand, but the characters' themselves lacked definition. Another disappointment I'm afraid, one which went on for nearly 400 pages. It was written well enough but I am not certain I will revisit this author's work, despite the fact that this book clearly sets up the reader for MANY sequels. The ideas behind the characters were attractive; the idea behind the romance in this book was attractive; the book itself was lacking. Somewhere between the creation of this world, the writing of it, it seems that certain wonderful details and images were lost.

If you need a book "to get you through" then this is a fine read.

http://www.beverleykendall.com/

Radio 1's Live Lounge: Volume 4

2010-01-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

Love these sessions! My favourites off of the new release (Vol 4) are Paoloma Faith's cover of 'Sexy Chick', Florence and the Machine's cover of 'Halo', Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone', and Gossips' 'Heavy Cross'. Fantastic stuff! Makes one realize the problem with overproduction in the music industry. A strong voice and simple backing do it every time.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radio-1s-Live-Lounge-4/dp/B002Q6YF52

Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan

2010-01-02T04:05:00.000-08:00

FOUR STARS

Goodreads:

"She works to live . . .

One would think the last place a beauty like Fallon O'Rourke could keep her virtue was in the Mayfair mansion of London's most licentious duke, the notorious Dominic Hale. Yet Fallon—who's endured nothing but lecherous advances since her father's tragic death—is perfectly safe there . . . disguised as a footman! Beneath the notice of the dark-haired devil with his smoldering blue eyes and sinful smile, Fallon never imagines her secret will be discovered. But how long can her deception last when she begins to wish she is one of the many women traipsing in and out of the sinful rogue's bedchamber?

He lives to sin . . .

Most men envy the duke, never suspecting his pleasure-loving ways are a desperate attempt to escape, however briefly, the pain of a past that's left him with a heart of stone. Only one woman can break down his defenses. Only one woman can win his love . . . if she reveals her secret and succumbs to the sins of the wicked duke."

My review:

I was a little disgruntled by the rude nature of one particular early scene in the book [carriage scene!], but I stuck with the novel and I'm glad that I did. The main character Fallon had a wonderful, strong, faithful voice. The novel gave you a rounded image of Fallon as a individual, without delving into long drawn out visions of her past life. I loved Dominic's tattoo - ooh. : ) I have to say I was completely swept along in the errr, later scenes, which were very well written. All in all, I would read another Sophie Jordan book if it was put in front of me. The comic nature of many events in the book reminded me faintly of Lynsay Sands' historical romances, which are actually outrageously funny (your in tears in the eyes country with her books!). What I think prevented this book from reaching the next level of 'great' was the lack of investigation into Fallon's own thoughts - while there was enough reflection, scenes simply moved too quickly to do any of them justice. Work on your narration Ms Jordan and you might just get added to my 'must read' list.

p.s. The reasoning why an abused childhood would make Dominic unfeeling, or how he came to see himself as incapable of love, were just never explained satisfactorily. Editors, how did this escape your notice?

Anyhow, I plan to check out the same author's Moon Chaser's series (paranormal romance with werewolves) written under the pseudonym Sharie Kohler.

http://sophiejordan.net/

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T12:17:00.003-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

May 2010 be wonderful and bright! :D

Avatar

2010-01-01T11:58:00.000-08:00

Okay so we went about a week ago now. The 3D stuff was okay, and it did elevate the film. LOVE Michelle Rodriguez but then she always picks the best roles (SWAT, Girlfight etc); punky, sassy, complicated and reasoning. Our friend who'd visited that afternoon called the plot "pocahontas in space" which is I think, right on the mark. Incredible scenes, good script, brilliant imagery. My only complaint is that you were only shown a small part of Pandora, the planet where the story was set, when clearly James Cameron had devised a whole world (30 second shots of the "plains" and "coast" were flashed upon in the movie). The cast was great, the graphics really good, definitely worth a cinema ticket!

The relationship between the two main characters progressed at a believable pace (something not always the case in male productions!) and both leads were strong. Somehow after around 30 seconds this whole new world, the switching between Avatars and humans, was no longer odd. The Avatars and native 'humanoids' had as much presence on screen as the ordinary 'familiar' characters.

The message of love behind this movie (of universal peace and acceptance), make the end battle a tragedy as much as a victory for our characters, and yet somehow we left the cinema feeling buoyant and happy. An incredible feat.

I'd be up for a sequel, anyhow. Anyone else? :-)

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/

Movie madness

2009-12-13T06:15:00.000-08:00

O.K. so I just got off a really tiring week and now I'm ill in bed *sigh* so I decided to make a lovely video of all the films I might possibly drag myself along to in the next year. :D Enjoy!

I missed off 'Leap Year' - January (Amy Adams!)

Movies at the Cinema

2009-10-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to see Cirque de Freak at the invitation of some friends and I have to say it was surprisingly good! Obviously the first movie in a series, the beginning of an epic battle, but satisfying enough anyway. The casting was amazing, and the beginning credits were really something special. This is the type of movie that would work really well for a family evening, as it will appeal to all ages and genders.

Future movies I would like to see include James Cameron's (of Titanic and Dark Angel fame) Avatar, New Moon, St Trinian's: The Legend of Fritton's Gold - the first one was really good! -, Valentine's Day and of course anything with Sandra Bullock in it (she's one my Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler list!).

Honouring Vania's Birthday...

2009-10-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

Out in the blog-o-sphere, there is a competition running for an ARC of Beautiful Creatures - a haunting paranormal romance set in the deep south - and the reason I mention this is because:

A) This is an extremely desirable ARC (for us teen romance readers).

B) It's about birthday presents.

Entrants are suggesting suitable presents for birthday girl Vania, and she'll pick the winner. It's one of the best spirited competitions I've seen and I think it's a great idea! So, if you're interested in the competition, or just a challenging and positive way to spend half an hour or so, pop over to Vania's blog and leave a comment!

For inspiration (?!), here's my suggestion (spotted at an Apple Store yesterday!):

"I think that you should consider one of the Wacom Bamboo input devices -http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_craft.php - this will let you do some really original stuff via your computer, and be a great asset in your personal and professional life. :) [It's what I want for christmas aside from a copy of Beautiful Creatures!] Happy Birthday Vania!

Hugs, Sandpipper."

Grease retro meets my life...

2009-10-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

I have a fan heater! Finally!

It's my first, it's industrial strength, and I'm hoping it will make getting out of bed in a morning look just a little bit more easy.

I had a choice of 10-15 dull white plastic ones, and a red metal beast, so of course I went with the red one. :)

Mini review: it's sort of LOUD, it trundles along.... but it sure does heat quickly. And for the price it looks very nice... It has a tilt sensor thing which is extremely unfortunate: if you pick it up and move it the thing shuts itself off, like a fuse has gone and it can take you ages to get it back up and running. :(

Can't you just see it on the set of Grease??

Most recent Itunes purchase...

2009-09-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Simply Beautiful - Al Green

First Heard: The Secret (movie starring David Duchovny and Olivia Thirlby)

If I gave you my love,
I tell you what I'd do
I'd expect a whole lotta love outta you
You gotta be good to me
I'm gonna be good to you
There's a whole lotta things you and I
Could do
Hey hey

Hey hey hey

Simply beautiful simply beautiful simply
Beautiful
Simply beautiful simply beautiful simply
Beauti..
Simply beautiful
Simply beautiful
Simply beautiful
Simply beautiful

What about the way you love me
And the way you squeeze me
Hey
Hey simply beautiful hey

And you get right down it
And the love is getting you through it

Simply beautiful [Repeat to end]

A good night in: Elizabeth Hoyt's "The Raven Prince"

2009-09-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

I was given this book as a Secret Santa present at Christmas, and nine months on I have now, finally, read it!

The Bio

Anna Wren, a simple widow who lives with her mother-in-law and a maid she took in years before, is sadly in need of money. When the job of secretary to a recently returned Earl opens up, Anna applies for the post. She works on transcribing the Earl's theories on agricultural practice at the Abby's library, gradually coming to know a man who has been deeply scarred by the loss of his family to small pox, and then his wife in childbirth years later. Anna thinks her only chance to be with Edward romantically is to play a demimonde in one of London's brothel houses, wearing a mask to disguise her features. A single night of pleasure to relieve her growing feelings for him, a man whose social standing is so far above her own as to make a match between them unthinkable.

The Review

I enjoyed this book. I don't think it lived up to its hype very well though. Although the narration of the book was top notch, I felt that the characters' feelings and pasts were not adequately explored, and parts of the book dragged on. It was not a very compelling read. There were some 'mystery' aspects to the book, but they never truly came to the fore even at the book's end (which featured a half heart, ill plotted, unsurprising 'blackmail' event).

This historical romance was good enough to pass the time, but I have read better books from the same genre - by authors such as Lynsay Sands (who's works often feature wonderfully comedic scenes), Teresa Medeiros and Gayle Callen, for instance. I might at some point in the future read more of this author's work, but I'm not going to log onto booksonboard and buy her back catalogue anytime soon, unfortunately.

Movie Night: The Sleeping Dictionary (5*)

2009-09-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight I watched a little know movie from back in 2003. 'The Sleeping Dictionary', a historical romance, set to the background of 1930s British Imperialism in a remote jungle landscape and starring Jessica Alba, Hugh Dancy and Bob Hoskins. It was beautifully shot, the story at once sad, poignant and uplifting.

IMDB: In 1936, the expatriated young and naive just-graduated British John Truscott (Hugh Dancy) arrives to the Sarawak, a British colony, to work in the Iban society. The beautiful Selima (Jessica Alba) is assigned to be his "sleeping dictionary", to live and sleep with him and teach him the language and habits of the locals. The reluctant John and Selima fall in love for each other in a forbidden romance.

Charity Spotlight: Cinnamon Trust

2009-09-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

This charity has arms which reach all across the UK (Cornwall to Scotland!), its run by elderly people for elderly people, and that means its efficient and effective!

The point of Cinnamon Trust is to help people keep or re-home their pets when they get to an age where they can no longer look after them by themselves - they might need someone to help them take their cat to the vets when he gets ill, to bring them pet food, or to walk their dogs.

This charity does amazing things, including helping elderly people to keep their pets when they move into homes, or to temporarily look after a pet when they themselves go into hospital for a particular operation (etc).

This is an amazing charity. Take a look at some of the Trust's 'case studies'. There can be no doubt that this is a wonderful charity to get involved with!

So what are you waiting for?

http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/

Dreamy bags - Mandarina Duck, New Range!

2009-09-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

Mandarina Duck are my absolute favorite bag designers, they make comfortable bags which actually sit obediently on my shoulder and are made from top quality materials! What more could a girl ask for?

These are my two 'wants' from the 2009/2010 collection, see what you think:

1) Haiku

(pictured top)

2) Lips

(pictured bottom)

Books I want to read...

2009-09-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Fallen by Kate Lauren

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Tempted by P.C. + Kristin Cast

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Most recent Itunes purchase...

2009-09-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Running Up That Hill - Placebo

First heard: Vampire Diaries pilot

It doesn't hurt me.
You want to feel, how it feels?
You want to know, know that
it doesn't hurt me?
You want to hear about the deal I'm making.
You, you and me.

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...

You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder.
there's a thunder in our hearts, baby.

so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, you and me.
you and me, won't be unhappy.

And if I only could,
make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
if I only could, oh...

"Come on, baby, c'mon c'mon darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
Come on, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience"
oh...
And if I only could,
make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
(with)No problems.

And if I only could,
make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
with No problems.

"If I only could, be
running up that hill.
If I only could, be running up that hill.