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Blog Tour & Review: A Storm of Ice and Stars by Lisa Lueddecke

Title: A Storm Of Ice And Stars
Author: Lisa Lueddecke
Published: October 4th, 2018
Publisher: Scholastic
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Authors: Goodreads

Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Ice, myth, magic and danger in this bone-chilling, page-turning, beautifully written fantasy novel set in the same world as A SHIVER OF SNOW AND SKY. Blood-red lights have appeared in the sky over the frozen island of Skane, causing a cloak of fear and suspicion to fall over the village like a blanket of snow. In a desperate attempt to keep out the plague, the village elders barricade its borders – no-one, no matter how in need of help, will be permitted to enter in case they bring infection with them. 

Teenager Janna refuses to turn her back on people seeking refuge and is banished to the swirling snow and lurking darkness beyond the village. Can she survive? 

First Thoughts…

It’s no secret that I love a good story within a pretty cover, and A Shiver Of Snow and Sky and now A Storm of Ice and Stars have both of those incredible attributes. When I was asked to review this lovely little book and be on the tour, I couldn’t say no. I love Lisa’s style of writing so much so I was eager to get into this fast with the aesthetic being fitting for these colder months!

My Review…

In Skane, if you weren’t already aware of the fictional island where the books (which are stand-alone but you can read them as a series) take place, is a frozen wonderland where the sky talks in colours. Maybe not the wonderland part, though. Not since red lights have danced across the skyline, wreaking havoc and panic over the villages. They know it means that the plague is coming, and forced with immediate dangers, they shut the borders and permit no one to enter for fear of bringing in the illness. 
But Janna, our focal character, is a fighter. A true fictional heroine type. She refuses to give up and just turn away people who need the villages help. Making her decision rules against the others and she’s banished to the snowy darkness of nothingness. Survival is key, but in a twisted and icy backdrop where nothing is safe and magic is lurking, Janna finds herself fighting for her own safety. 
I just loved this book. Everything about it just screams winter and enticingly icy backdrops are that breath of fresh air once we step into the colder months. I’ve been in a bit of a book-rut lately and A Storm of Ice and Stars has totally just reignited my love for YA Fiction all over again. Although I did love the previous book, A Shiver of Snow and Sky a little more than this one, this is equally as steadily-paced and beautifully written. There’s something in the way that Lisa writes that is so deeply graceful and I can never look away from the pages for a second. 
Overall, A Storm of Ice and Stars is a must read this Autumn/Winter season. I read this delicious slice of snowy story-time by a few winter-y candles, scooped up a blanket and made it a full “reading spot” to set the scene for it, and I definitely recommend! You’ll feel transported to Skane, swept up in this iridescent icy tale and fall in love just as much as I did. Incredible four star read! 




Born into an Air Force family which gave her a love for travel, Lisa Lueddecke has spent her life moving between four countries and five states. She currently resides in England, is one of five girls, and is a former book blogger and publishing intern turned writer.


A STORM OF ICE AND STARS by Lisa Lueddecke out now in paperback (£7.99, Scholastic)
@LisaLueddecke        www.lisalueddecke.com
#ICEandSTARS

Have you read the incredible A Storm of Ice and Stars?


What do you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! 


Be sure to share your thoughts using the above hashtag and add the book to your Goodreads to read! You won’t regret a single page of this magic!


happy reading!

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DIY Bookmarks!

If you’re
thinking of ways to brighten up your reading time, there’s nothing better than
a cute bookmark to slip between the pages when it’s time to take a break. Of
course, there’s always Etsy, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble for your bookmark
needs, but if you’re feeling creative but you’re not the best artist in the
world, DIY Bookmarks are easier than you think.
I wanted
this tutorial to be something that anyone with any skill level or budget can
achieve. That’s why I’ve loaded this tutorial with alternatives to some of the
items I’ve used and I will link all the products that I own too. I bought most
of these items at either Hobbycraft (for the paper) and Amazon (for the
sharpies) but for countries that don’t have these stores, feel free to comment
below and I will do my best to find you some substitutes where you’re from.
So let’s get
started!
All you’ll
need for this tutorial is:
–     Sharpies (or colouring pencils,
felt-tip pens or crayon)
–     Thick card or paper (craft store
card over 180gsm works best)
–     Scissors (please be responsible)
–     Laminator (totally optional, but
adds a professional touch)

First you’ll
need to find out what kind of size you’d like your bookmarks to be. I chose
bookmarks to be 2 inches to sit nicely in the book. I’m making these with A4
paper. Feel free to customise this part of the tutorial to suit your bookish
needs! In this picture below, you can see the blank piece of coloured card. If
your card is white, you can colour in your card with the sharpie, or leave it
it’s original colour. I feel like the coloured card gives the bookmark a bit
more quirkiness, but I like to play up the shade using metallics (which I’ll be
using as a POP of colour – but if you haven’t got metallic sharpies, gel pens
are a cheaper and great alternative).

Second,
after you’ve cut your card into a bookmark size using steady, precise lines to
make sure it’s nice and straight, you’ll want to get that pen on paper! I like
to start by adding a background. For this tutorial, I’ll be making a floral
design that’s perfect for reading a cute YA book in the sunshine. I’ll add the
colours one by one (as shown below in step 3) and fade the different shades of pinks,
purples and reds into an ombré. Be sure to add something behind the paper as
you do this to make sure that the colour doesn’t bleed through too much, as
this can happen sometimes with wet colours.


Third,
DECORATE IT! This step is my favourite, when you get to add some pretty touches
to your design. I’ve opted to draw some flowers and metallic dots around the edges,
but this is totally up to you. If you’re not that great at drawing flowers,
swirls are your new best friend. They can take up those little free spaces that
you don’t want to leave blank. If you want to add quirky little sketches, those
can look so adorable, too!


Fourth is
where the magic happens. You’re ready to add your text! Personally, I love
making bookmarks that feature a nice scripted message or title, like above. Below are some bookmarks that I made as a beginner at bookmark DIY. If like me,
you’re a huge fan of big and bold letters, go ahead and write what you want to
make a statement about. For those of you who are looking for a sentence or mini
message to write, you can use alternating scripts and styles to create your
masterpiece. When you’ve written your fabulous text on your bookmark, feel free
to let it dry for a little while to make sure that your design doesn’t smudge
if you’re using felt-tips or any sort of Sharpie calligraphy.


Your final
and fifth step is totally optional: to laminate your design! I’m using a TEXET laminator for this tutorial, and some A4 pouches of the same brand. All you’ve
got to do is follow the instructions for your laminator settings and then you’re
done: you’ve made your own bookmark! Now that wasn’t too bad, right?!
If you’re
skipping the laminator step, make sure to let your design dry fully before
using it in your book pages because of the risk of smudging. If you’re
laminating, also wait a small while before putting them through the laminator
because the heat might make your design bleed and smudge.
Thank you so
much for reading my DIY Bookmark tutorial! Stay tuned for another bookish
tutorial coming very soon that will feature even more ways to get creative
while you read. This post was in no way sponsored and everything was bought
myself!

happy reading!

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Book Review: “Once And For All” by Sarah Dessen

Title: Once And For All

Author: Sarah Dessen

Published: June 6th, 2017

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers 

Find the Author: Goodreads 


I bought this book myself and was not gifted in any way! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen’s thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine. 


Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants. 


Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humour, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

First Thoughts

Sarah Dessen is a staple author for those books that make you feel all the feels. I’ve read a few of her books before I started blogging a few years ago, and since then, collected her releases. But Once And For All just appealed more to me than anything else when I saw it in Waterstones. It just had one of those gorgeous covers and intricate, delicious sounding blurbs that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. So ultimately, I had to feature it. I finished it a few weeks ago but because of some busy IRL stuff, my blogging schedule has been all over the place. So I’m back with a bang!

Review

Let me just start by saying that this is THE novel you want on a summer vacation, cooped up on a beach somewhere or at a Lake House, absorbed in another beautiful Sarah Dessen world (or maybe to take along to a destination wedding?). I finished it in three sittings, mainly because I was busy, but I would have devoured it in one sitting if I had the time, trust me. 
Despite the happy cover, our main character Louna doesn’t have a bright and beautiful life. Her story is hard-hitting and emotional, working at a wedding planning business and keeping everyone’s special day the best day of their lives. She wants everything to go smoothly, but it doesn’t always, and the stress that she was under definitely echoes though the pages to me as a reader. Bonus; I loved Louna’s relationship with her mother and business partner. They had this chemistry all together as a dynamic and it was just so realistic, you know? Like I could honestly believe every word. 
But, enter Ambrose. He’s Louna’s love interest and the kind of boy that’s your typical bookish boyfriend material. He’s charming, suave and kindhearted through and through. After Louna’s bad relationship in the past, she’s forced to feel like she needs to distance herself from Ambrose – so they become friends instead. In fact, they begin caring for each other in ways Louna feels bittersweet about. She can’t help but remind herself he’s got female attention all the time and enjoys it, but this changes the more that they spend time together. He becomes more attentive and drops the annoying act, and they click and spark like a wildfire together. Something inside Louna tells her that she can open her heart back up to love, in many forms and ways, if she believes that she deserves a little happiness, too.
I love, love, loved Once And For All. Although at times I felt it was slow, or a tad predictable (it’s not hard to be in YA romances, though) I can’t deny that this was such a pleasantly sweet book that I fell head over heels for. Overall, you will definitely benefit from reading this! Sarah Dessen has truly outdone herself with characters, words and romance to make your heart soar with love.

Rating

Perfect For

YA romance and contemporary fans!

What do you think of Once And For All? 


Have you read it?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!



happy reading!

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🌹 Prestige Flowers 🌹

Happy Saturday, book lovers! 

Today, I’m doing an alternative kind of review about Prestige Flowers (pictured above). Since I adore flowers and everything Pretty, it was a welcome invitation to review!


About Prestige Flowers
Flower delivery by Prestige Flowers, Voted #1 on Review Center and Review Florist’s Editor’s Choice 2014. We have an incredible selection of vibrant and elegant bouquets. We deliver 7 days a week and next day delivery is possible when you order flowers before 9pm with our flowers by post.Each bouquet is designed by our head florist with over 25 years of experience and use only the freshest and most premium quality stems in our arrangements so you can enjoy them for longer. Flowers with free delivery available on select arrangements.We pride ourselves with an enviable reputation for quality flowers online with over a million bouquets delivered to date. If you are having trouble deciding on a bouquet our florist team are here to help. All of our bouquets are backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee so you can safely order flowers. With an excellent review rating of 4.7/5 we are proud to be the UK’s favourite online florist.


 Review

Flowers are one of those things that just makes a room. They’re the focal point of fields, coffee tables and windowsills. Even with hayfever, I still can’t stay away from their beauty and wanting them in my house. When I had the chance to work with Prestige Flowers on their Valentine Flowers I was thrilled. They arrived in a beautifully patterned box (pictured above) and inside were the most gorgeous Red Roses that I had ever seen. They were delicate and strikingly magnificent. Along with the Roses, there were a box of British Crafted Truffles (included in most flower deliveries) and they were SO GOOD. The kind that you don’t want to share. I received these last Saturday and I wanted to give them a chance to bloom and thrive before I fully reviewed them and gave my final thoughts, and all I can say is that no other flowers that I’ve bought before have lasted this long and still look beautiful. Since Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, these Roses reminded me of all things love. They’re reasonably priced for flowers (actually cheaper than most I’ve seen on flower delivery sites) and they do a range of Roses, Lilies, Orchids, you name it. 

Overall, they’re perfect for all occasions, especially Valentine’s Day. Their service is easy to use and they have an in-depth review of all the flowers, occasions and types of hampers you can get online. If you’re looking for a place to get your significant other flowers for Valentine’s, without a doubt Prestige Flowers would be top of my recommendation list. Truly beautiful!

*This post was sponsored by Prestige Flowers for an honest review of their Valentine’s Roses. I was not paid for this review and was only gifted the above items. 

Happy Saturday! I hope you all have the best weekend.

love always,

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Pretty Little Recap: #1

Hello book lovers! I thought I’d start the New Year with a new trend here on PLM: Pretty Little Recap! I used to have a section here called Play It Again which was similar although it focused more on music and books and I wanted to delve a little more into Lifestyle, Culture and of course Books. 

The theme will be divided into things I’ve watched or listened to this week, things I’ve read and things I’ve bought that I want to share with you all! If you want to see these things in more depth, my insta page is always readily updated. 


Books

I haven’t read too much this first week of 2017 because I’ve had the flu and reading only makes my head fuzzy. Getting back into reading is like bumping into an old friend or finding that book you’ve been searching for ages to find, so that feeling of getting to delve back into old habits was perfect. 

I received Girls On Fire this week for review from Little, Brown and it looks like one of those die-hard books that you get lost in. Robin Wasserman is the author of the book and if you’re interested in captivating yet spine-tingling novels, you might want to look into this one! I’ll let you guys know what it’s like ASAP. 

I’m also on some amazing blog tours coming up very soon so check back next week for the information on those if you’re a fan of Adult fiction. 

Below are some of the books I’m DYING to read this year that I got late last year. I’ll be reviewing them all this month RIGHT HERE.

Lifestyle

I think I found my new favourite store, you guys. SERIOUSLY. I haven’t been to Homesense before this but I love it’s sister-store TK Maxx so I thought I’d give it a try and headed in over the holidays. Not only did they have AMAZING furniture but unique and beautiful stationary! I almost did a haul picking up things for my desk. I’ll be posting some of the white marble accessories I got there on my insta page this weekend for you to have a closer look! But if you haven’t checked out Homesense you should – unless I’m way behind on the trend and you already love it. 

Music

I’m going to miss Christmas music SO MUCH. The song from the Grinch, What If by Kate Winslet and Daniela Andrade’s EP. There’s just so many good Christmas songs to get into the winter mood with and now they’re gone. I did a little rooting around on Spotify to find some new music for the new year and found the Spotify Winter Acoustics Playlist and it’s almost like I’m making snow angels in a sun-lit forest. Perfect. 


That’s it for this months Pretty Little Recap! (Hopefully next time I’ll have more incredible things to share without having the flu).


happy reading!

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new design!

Just a quick post to say HELLO to the new Pretty Little Memoirs design! I spent the last few days working on it and brainstorming the few HTML tricks I knew to getting PLM just the way I wanted it.

We have a new clean-cut wallpaper theme, with rich roses and vibrant Autumnal palette to give my blog a whole new vibe. I wanted the real focus to be on the reviews and content while making the patterns and style easy on the eye. You’ll notice there’s new subjects in the sidebar, a brand new TWEET ME sign at the very top of my blog (you can now tweet when you visit!) and a whole host of new things. 

To kick off the new design, I’ll be doing a giveaway very, very soon so look out this week for some bookish goodies PLM readers! 


happy reading!

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Book Review: “Bullet Catcher” by Joaquin Lowe

Title: Bullet Catcher

Author: Joaquin Lowe

Published: February 4th, 2016

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this book for review! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

A coming-of-age tale reimagined as a searing Western epic.

In the small town of Sand, populated by gunslingers and surrounded by endless desert, Imma washes dishes and grieves for a life she never had. She and her brother, Nikko, dreamed of escaping to become bullet catchers, a legendary band of outlaws who can deflect bullets with their hands. But they were wiped out years ago, Nikko with them. And leaving is impossible when walking into the desert means certain death.

When she sees a stranger catch a man’s bullet and turn it back on him, Imma knows it can only mean one thing: the bullet catchers live on, and this is her way out.
Determined to follow him, Imma starts a journey that will take her to her physical extremes and force her to question just what family means and who she really is: bullet catcher or gunslinger; hero or monster.

 I’ve never read a YA Western before but just like that, they became one of the favourite genres of the YA world overnight. Reminding me of Rebel of the Sands, I knew that Bullet Catcher looked like an epic adventure inside the pages and with 4.10 Goodreads rating (which is amazing, by the way!) I was definitely looking forward to reading. 
Imma is at a loss. In the small town, Sand, she is alone. Imma and her brother Nikko dreamed of running away and escaping to become bullet catchers, the heroes that would go down in history as the legends that could deflect bullets with their hands. But they were wiped out, Nikko too, even though he escaped with promises to return, and now going into the desert lands by herself would be like walking into a death trap. She had no choice but to stay and live out her days washing dishes and thinking about escaping, without being able to. 
That’s until Imma spots a stranger catch someone’s bullet, turning it on him, and once she knows that, it became evidently clear that the bullet catchers do live on and she can grasp the hope of leaving Sand, again. 
Bullet Catcher was just something else. With the world building, character conflicts and journey’s throughout the novel, it was unlike anything I’ve read before in a great way. I couldn’t put it down, turning pages like I was thrown inside the book and watching the plot from the sidelines. Not only were there plot twists I wasn’t expecting like in other books where they seem unsurprising, but there wasn’t even a need for romance in this novel because it was just that good that without the strings of romance, it still worked. There was more to Bullet Catcher than action, there was a ton of character development, mainly Imma, who’s journey throughout the book was believable and well written. The family aspect and the guardian/teacher and student relationship of training was written perfectly and was entirely believable. Just because there was action doesn’t mean there wasn’t emotion, which there was, and the mix of all these fresh, exciting plot points, Bullet Catcher just seemed to pave the way for writing it’s own five star review. 
Overall, Bullet Catcher was a lively, immensely entertaining and highly addictive book for fans of YA Western, adventure and mystery. Joaquin did an amazing job of writing one of my favourite books of the year so far! I can’t wait to read more about the YA Western genre and see more to come from Joaquin in the future. Five stars completely. 

 YA Western and adventure/action/Dystopia.

Have you read Bullet Catcher?


What did you think?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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