Pretty Little Memoirs - a YA Book Blog

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🎉 MyKindaBook Party: Giveaway & More 🎉

Welcome to Becca’s MyKindaBook Party Weekend!


It’s lovely to have you here, whether you came for the bookish giveaways or because you just love being part of blogger weekends! This weekend, I have the pleasure of becoming a hostess for a MyKindaBook party online and offline (with a few friends!) where I get to share my views on some of the amazing books that MyKindaBook publishes and even throw in two giveaways just for this weekend and my blog readers! 


What is MyKindaBook?

I’m glad you asked, because they are amazing. MyKindaBook.com has been a haven for book lovers and I love going on there and seeing all the bookish things available. You might have seen Fangirl, Beautiful Broken Things and The Lie Tree in your local bookstore and they’re the books that my Party is focusing on this weekend! 


How do I get involved?

There are tons of ways you can get in on the action. You can search the #MKBParty tag on social media and catch all the parties happening this weekend (yes, Saturday and Sunday!) or you can stick around on my social channels and enter some giveaways in the meantime! If you follow this link, it will take you to a special Twitter giveaway I have for WHAT LIGHT by Jay Asher (another MKB Book) or below, you can enter to win a special bookish set! Or both, because why not?


All you have to do is enter below or head on over to my twitter here to enter my other giveaway! Here, you can follow the MKB Parties happening RIGHT NOW. 


The Giveaway is now CLOSED! Thank you to the over a HUNDRED of you that entered! And the winner is…

Darla C!

Wondering what my favourite quote of the weekend is so far? It’s from Beautiful Broken Things:

“But people we love come and go, Caddy. That doesn’t mean we loved them any less at the time.”

happy reading!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall 2013 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish, where bloggers come up with their TTT Lists on different subjects.


This
week we’re talking books on my Fall (or Autumn, as we call it in the UK) To-Be-Read list. I’m usually pretty bad at keeping to my TBR lists, but most are these are hugely anticipated by me, so I’ll be sure to make time for all of them!


 1. Have a Little Faith by Candy Harper
 Ever since I saw this bubbly, fun and light read, it’s been sitting on my TBR shelf, begging to be read!

2. Fuse by Julianna Baggott
I love, love, loved Pure and I needed to make time for the stunning second book! It’s currently being read… 

3. So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti
It’s no surprise that one of Susane’s books are on my TBR list, because at any given time, one of her books has been on there, just as loved as the next. 

4. Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
This one has always interested me by it’s intriguing premise and stunningly futuristic cover. I’m definetely going to make it finished, loved and read this year. 

5. Schooled In Revenge by Jesse Lasky
I adore the TV show, and watched both seasons in awe. When I saw there was a book slightly based on another girl’s search for revenge, who meets Emily Thorne, I just clicked “buy” right away. 

6. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
I loved Divergent so much (review to come next week!) and I am in so much anticipation for Insurgent. YAY. 

7. The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagwa 
The lovely people at Mira Ink sent this to me and it’s getting read as we speak! I love the Iron Fey series and started it way back when I was just beginning to review books, so it’s been with me for a while. 

8. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill 
New dystopian! YAY. I’m loving the Dystopian genre right now and saw this at the same time I picked up “Geek Girl” (which my sister currently has on her TBR list over on 23 Review Street). 

9. Daylighters by Rachel Caine
It’s not out until November, but I’m probably the biggest Rachel Caine fan and love every single Morganville novel I read. No lie. 

10. Flawless by Sara Shepard
I’ve been meaning to make time for this series and need to start taking it seriously! The TV show is very different to the books, so I’m in for more surprises!
 
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I
hope
you loved my TTT list, and please do post your links below and tell me
what you
think of my list and I’ll stop by your posts, too! I also follow back
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reading,
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Book Review: “The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls” by Anton DiSclafani {with thanks to Headline}

Southern-feel, buried secrets and suspense to keep you on your toes, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is a peak into a time Thea Atwell will never forget…

Publisher: Tinder Press
Release Date: 6th June 2013
Source: Publisher

A little bit about “The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls”…
 
1930s America, southern high society: Part love story, part coming-of-age novel, this is the moving, raw and exquisitely vivid story of an uncommon girl navigating a treacherous road to womanhood.

Thea Atwell is fifteen years old in 1930, when, following a scandal for which she has been held responsible, she is ‘exiled’ from her wealthy and isolated Florida family to a debutante boarding school in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. As Thea grapples with the truth about her role in the tragic events of 1929, she finds herself enmeshed in the world of the Yonahlossee Riding Camp, with its complex social strata ordered by money, beauty and equestrienne prowess; where young women are indoctrinated in the importance of ‘female education’ yet expected to be married by twenty-one; a world so rarified as to be rendered immune (at least on the surface) to the Depression looming at the periphery, all overseen by a young headmaster who has paid a high price for abandoning his own privileged roots…

 
My Review:
 
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls was mesmerising; I felt as if I were reading something like a diary from another place in time. The descriptive scenes were so vividly displayed that I could picture it clearly. The novel is set in North Carolina in 1930, after Thea; the main character, is exiled from her home in Florida.
The new world that Thea entered change her as a girl growing up in a different setting to what she was used to. I felt Thea’s voice echoed a true experience as I know the author had also had a childhood love for horse-riding.
Thea has to forgive and forget, for the most of it, and learn to take away something optimistic from her mistakes that she made in Florida and at the Riding Camp. In a setting of education, growth and complexity, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls was a hit in my mind–something perfect for those nights when you want something passionate and youthful, something relatable and deep.
I thoroughly loved this book and recommend it highly. This book will definitely have praise and accomplishment and has the potential to be a huge bestseller. A massive 5 stars!

You can buy The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls from June 6th at all major bookstores! To find out more about the book, click here or join the conversation on twitter and hash tag #Yonahlossee!
 
 
 
Many thanks to Headline for the gorgeous ARC. I adored this book and I’m positive everyone will too.
 
happy reading,
 
xo Becca


10 Books to Read This Summer! ♥ {2013}

It’s almost Summer and you’re looking for that *one* perfect read. So, here’s some of my favourites for getting lost in those story worlds…and getting some sun!

1. Starting off the Summer with something light and fun, The Twitter Diaries by Imogen Lloyd Webber will have you laughing at the awful truth of our addictions to the social networking site. Following the characters Tuesday and Stella; you’ll wonder why you hadn’t snatched this up sooner, because after all…140 characters can change everything!













2. If friendship is something you’re after this Summer, ditch Facebook and pick up Danielle Steel’s Friends Forever instead. A loveable journey of five friends, surviving love and other challenges, it’s a must for any of her fans. Gabby, Billy, Izzie, Andy and Sean are each bursting with their own fiery personality, and are quite inseparable through their childhoods/adult life, known to everyone as “the big five”. But despite life’s ups and downs, together they face the challenges knowing that they are all bound by a bond and a friendship that will last a lifetime. It’s an old-y, but a good-y!







3 & 4. Want something with a little extra bite this Summer? Why not read about the Young, Fabulous and Fanged in Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz…it’s all about ruling Manhattan in fangs this year, after all. Possibly one of the most 50/50 Vampire books of all, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is something we all need to re-visit! Think back to the days when you hadn’t seen the adaption of the screenplay and back to when your eyes first read the romance of book Edward and book Bella…

5. ROAD TRIP! Nothing is more exciting than going on a road trip with friends or family and having an amazing time. So, if you’re stuck indoors this Summer and want that “Road Trip” feel, then look no further than Morgan Matson’s Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour. It’s sincere, hopeful and adorably cute. Amy Curry’s year has sucked and it didn’t get better after her mother decided to move. Throw in emotions, romance & the ultimate Road Trip book, and your Summer is sorted.










6. The hit-TV Show is back this Summer, so get your book fix with Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard. The book is a tad different to the show, but has twists and horrors that will take the crown of YA fiction. Everyone has something to hide–especially high school juniors; Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna. But their ex-best friend Alison? She’s dead. And whoever killed her…knows all their secrets. Some pretty big stuff goes down in this series so don’t miss it!











7. I reviewed it earlier this year and gave it my best 5 stars. Now, it’s almost everyone’s favourite read this year! The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is just the perfect romance to get sucked into, only with quirky character; Don, and fiery character; Rosie, to read about. Think quirks like New Girl and an intriguing story as gripping as a tabloid, The Rosie Project cannot be missed. 















8. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is seriously the best Summer book. Of course, Summer is in the title, but don’t think it’s just a pretty cover…it’s much, much more. Every year, Isabel spends a perfect Summer at her family friends’ house. There’s a swimming pool at night, the private beach–and the two boys she just might be in love with. Conrad; unavailable and aloof. She’s been in love with him forever. Jeremiah; friendly and relaxed–the only one who has ever really paid her attention. But this year, something is different. They both notice her. It’s going to be a Summer she won’t–and you won’t forget.

9. Staying on the sweet side…Sweethearts by Sara Zarr is creative, enthralling and realistic at it’s best. Jennifer and Cameron were both social outcasts, and underneath it all, each other’s only friend. So when Cameron disappeared without any warning, Jennifer thought she’d lost the one person who ever understood her. Now, she’s in high school. She’s different. She’s now Jenna; popular, happy and dating–everything “Jennifer” wasn’t. But she can’t shake Cameron’s memory. So when he re-appears, they are both confronted with memories of their pasts and new paths their lives have taken. The novel will shake every realistic moment from our own lives and echo them with a feeling that Sara Zarr knows exactly how to make her characters have those lifelike moments and lines. Addictive, or what?
Plus, have you seen the cover? It’s reason alone to buy this just for the adorable heart-sharped cookie! It will definitely go down as one of my favourite books; inside and out.

10. A gorgeous friend. A shared crush. Big problem. All the main aspects of Flawless by Lara Chapman are explained like that. The story is about Sarah, who’s life is complicated–but the hard parts aren’t going to get easier. Her mother begs her to get a nose job, and she’s just agreed to help her best friend, Kirsten, catch the eye of the new guy, but he’s actually-kinda-definitely perfect for her! Matchmaking at it’s most misguided, hilarious lines and possibly a perfect romance…hide the remote to the TV this Summer because this is your new high school romcom.




So..here are my ultimate favourites to read this Summer! Missed any of your favourites, or got a suggestion for my list of Summer reads? Comment below to share your perfect read-in-the-sun books!

   happy reading,
xo Becca
                                
 
 
                                          


  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Why I Love Twitter { I’m getting a Signed Rachel Caine book?!}

Twitter isn’t just for social networking with friends; it’s actually amazing for bloggers…especially when you get to talk to your favourite author…

So, yay! I just pre-ordered my signed Rachel Caine copy of “Fall of Night”, the penultimate book before *wait for it…* the end of the Morganville Series 🙁
Fall of Night sees Claire wondering if she’d ever leave Morganville; let alone get out alive. But going her own way has never been smooth as she finds out that leaving Morganville could be the last mistake she’ll ever make.
Sounds sooo exciting!! I can’t wait to read…and of course review the series that I love so much. Morganville has been with me for a few years now, each character growing on me until I knew this series would be my favourite YA of all time; even a good contender with some adult series out there.
But wait…you, yes, you…can read Fall of Night too! It’s out in stores TODAY, so go and get it! If you haven’t started the series, you will surely love getting to know the characters and the world of Morganville too.

happy reading & happy may!
 
xo Becca
 
 
Becca Jayne
 
 

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Book Review: “Glass Houses” by Rachel Caine (plus “Fall of Night” UK Tour Dates!)

 
 

dark, captivating and ultra-amazing, Rachel Caine’s “Morganville” series starts with a bang..and never disappoints…

Publisher: Allison & Busby
Author: Rachel Caine
Available: in Paperback/Hardback/eBook
My Edition: UK Paperback

A little about “Glass Houses”…

 

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don’t show many signs of life, but they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

My review:
 
The US Cover of “Glass Houses”

Firstly, I want to express my applause and gratitude to Ms. Caine for writing such a wickedly entertaining and incredible set of novels in the Morganville Series. I began reading them a few years ago after finding the whole series in a local book retailer. I got about the first three novels in the Morganville Series (Glass Houses, The Dead Girls Dance & Midnight Alley – my favourite) and I began reading them right away. I was enthralled by how captivating they were and how much they held my attention; I had heard so many positive things about Rachel’s writing and they all came true. (Of course now I have all the books!)
Okay, so “Glass Houses” is one of my personal favourites. It begins with the ever-present factor of every teenagers life; the bullies. Often in the form of popular, pretty girls with a vengeance or need to hurt those weaker–and that’s where Monica and her “followers” came into it. We learn more about Monica later in the series as to why she is so, well, her. So, Claire *spoiler* gets “beat up” by them. This makes her utterly hate living in her dormitory and she looks to be re-housed. She finds this in the “Glass House”. Yes, I know what you were all thinking when you first saw the title; a glass house–like a house made out of glass?! But no, that was the owners name; Michael Glass. His roommates were, the “beautiful goth” Eve Rosser, and the “handsome misfit” Shane Collins. At the beginning, there wasn’t much to describe Michael other than “ghostly”..and you’ll find out why.
Claire begins to see herself fitting into the Glass House–on a temporary basis, that is. She was a few years their junior and Michael insisted that she only stay there for a little while. But I knew that as soon as they all blended together and let a couple hearts flutter (Michael & Claire…no…Shane & Claire…yes) they would all be kind-of happy.
That’s where the Vampires came into it. Claire didn’t know about the Vampires right away, not until I think it was Eve who told her. This doesn’t make Claire frightened, as such. Possibly a bit “spooked” that she didn’t know, but not so much that she would leave her new friends, because I think she made this sort-of instant connection with them all that I didn’t really notice until I reflected back on the book itself.
There is drama that follows, laughable commentary from jokers Michael & Shane, and the blood mobile?! I mean, like an ice-cream van for Vampires? That’s..weird and amazing at the same time!
I thoroughly adored Glass Houses, then went on to love, love, love the rest of the series, and I’ve read each and every one of them. You will want to re-read them over and over just to relive that insane, crazy-beautiful town they call Morganville.
Rachel’s books will always be 5 stars. 😉

 

UK Morganville Fans! Rachel is coming our way this May 2013 for her “Fall of Night” book tour, so make sure you get to one of her signings in a city near you! (dates below)

“Fall Of Night” will be released on May 2, 2013. (UK) Pre-order here.

May 10
UK TOUR: Waterstones Bristol Gallery (Bristol)
 
 
May 11
UK Tour: Waterstones Southampton West Quay
 
 
May 11
UK TOUR: Waterstones Bournemouth Arcade
 
 
May 12
UK TOUR: WH Smith Exeter
 
 
May 14
UK Tour: Foyle’s Charing Cross Road (London)
 
 
May 15
UK TOUR: Talk, Q&A and Signing at Waterstones (Leeds)
 
 
May 17
UK TOUR: Talk, Q&A and signing at Waterstones Nottingham
 
 
May 18
UK TOUR: WH Smith Darlington
 
 
May 18
UK TOUR: WH Smith Stockton-on-Tees
 
 
May 19
UK TOUR: Waterstones Finchley Road O2 Centre (London)
 
 
May 20
UK TOUR: Waterstones Hull
 
 
May 20
UK TOUR: Waterstones York Talk, Q&A and Signing
 

 
xo Becca
 
Becca Jayne

YA/Fantasy Review: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush #4)

 



a bold, courageous heroine and a charming, yet dangerous hero in the form of a fallen angel…will love outlast the finale?

Published by: Simon & Schuster
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Available: Paperback/Hardback/eBook
My Edition: UK Hardback

A little about “Finale”…
Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank’s absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels – destroying Patch.
Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.
As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

My Review:
 
Okay, so I had started reading Finale sometime in the weeks after it’s release (quite a while ago..) and in-between all the other books I was reading, somehow misplaced my thoughts and ended up not finishing it for some reason I can’t even think of. So, when I found myself wanting to re-read the Hush, Hush series, I was completely bewildered that I hadn’t read, let alone reviewed the amazing final to the series.
Finale picks up with another gorgeously-written prologue, detailing Nora’s “army” debating whether she is the right person to take the Nephilim to victory against the Fallen Angels. But, for Nora this is bittersweet; because if she were to carry out her oath to Hank (her dad, Marcie’s dad..so confusing!) then that would ultimately mean killing Patch in the process–or “sending him to hell” as we later learn about.
Nora starts to be “trained” by Nephilim; Dante, who is not as friendly as, perhaps, Scott Parnell is. Instead, Dante is driven by devilcraft; an addictive, powerful substance that gives power to anyone, among other things. I didn’t think a girl like Nora, who is far from “normality” after the past three novels, would be interested in something as dangerously bad as devilcraft, but she has other ideas in Finale, and we see a different side to her usual self.
Vee is around, mostly where drama follows in Nora’s more human side in the book, but I still found for a mainstream character, she was missing from some of the action–BUT, that is where Ms. Fitzpatrick tricked us! I could not believe Vee’s ending storyline toward the last chapters of Finale…it definitely took me by surprise and even though I knew she was made for better, brighter things; this was a welcomed, happy surprise. Not to give too much away, Vee may get her heart broken at some point by a tragedy that I hadn’t quite seen coming either, but overall get’s her happy ending in the form of a new Becca Fitzpatrick tradition; an Epilogue.
Nora and Patch spend most of Finale tricking most of the characters into thinking they are broken up, because it will make for a better “leader” image for Nora as head of the Black Hand’s Army; but just as villain’s go; a sneaky, last minute competitor calls out Nora to where her final moments could have been over before the last pages were turned. (*spoiler; finally, a fight!*) But of course, as much as it was often feared for, I was certain that Nora and Patch would make it out of the end of Finale still as perfect as they ever were, and you’ll have to read it for yourselves to discover just how happy that happy could be.
There was heartbreak, hurt, disaster, triumph and happiness in Finale…and I couldn’t have even thought it as incredible as Becca wrote it. Another pure, 5 star YA read.
 
 
happy reading,
xo Becca


Becca Jayne

Book Review: “Jasmine Nights” by Julia Gregson (with thanks to lovereading.co.uk)

Beautiful, exquisitely written and captivating, Jasmine Nights will have you reading it from day..to night…



Published by: Orion
Author: Julia Gregson
Available: Paperback/Hardback

About “Jasmine Nights”: The author of the bestselling “East of the Sun” returns with a lush novel about a young singer who is recruited by the British Secret Service during the height of World War II.At twenty-three, Saba Tarcan is a talented but naive singer who dreams of being more than just another act playing in small clubs and talent contests in Wales. So when the opportunity arises to join a group that will entertain the troops in the Middle East, she jumps at the chance. She must leave behind her overprotective family and cut short a burgeoning love affair with a young fighter pilot, Dom, whom she met when she went to sing in the hospital where he was recovering from burns after his plane had been shot down. When Dom follows Saba to Cairo, the difficulties of combining their two intense lives are compounded. Dom, addicted to flying, refuses to stay grounded, while Saba finds she’s suited for life on the stage and on the road. When it turns out that Saba is also uniquely qualified for a secret mission, she is asked by the Secret Service to spy on a Turkish impresario and his associates. But it’s a mission that will jeopardize not only her own safety, but also the love of her life…
“Jasmine Nights” is a powerful story of danger, beauty, and love set amidst some of the most exquisite and dangerous cities of the Middle East

My review:



What first amazed me was the beautiful landscape Julia Gregson had written about
in careful, descriptive words that made me believe I was there—in that place and
time of her novel. I hadn’t read a wartime novel before, but after reading this,
I would definitely consider choosing the genre. What I liked about Jasmine
Nights was that it surprised me, and I couldn’t have predicted what would happen
on the next page. One of my favourite things about reading Jasmine Nights was it being partly based in Cardiff, Wales, which is very close to where I live in Wales. It made the book even more relate-able in ways that I didn’t think would be reflective. The character of Saba was magnificently written about, and
though she was very focused on her own future, she blended well with Dom, her
love interest. Above all, this love story wasn’t like anything I had read
before—more wonderful and powerful. I couldn’t have chosen a better ending,
either. It was purely magical!





Many thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Orion for allowing
me the opportunity to read such a beautiful novel.
 
happy reading!
xo Becca

Becca Jayne

Get The Look: Aria Montgomery (from “Pretty Little Liars – Season 3”)

all photographs used credited to ABCfamily (c)

The trend-setting girls of ABC’s “Pretty Little Liars” have always been ahead of the game when it comes to style and fashion. But, the question is, can we as fans replicate those amazing outfits?! Look no further…

Starting with one of PLL’s most notable trendsetters, Aria Montgomery, played by the equally stylish Lucy Hale, here are some of Aria’s most perfectly put together pieces and affordable, suitable alternatives for you…

Blue (Blue) Yumi Blue Polka Dot Crop Blazer | 272073440 | New LookStripe ponte jacketBlazers. Aria has worn a few of these throughout Season 3, most memorably being the boldest colours on the palette; like the crop-gold blazer and her red/black striped jacket. If you wanted to go all-out like Aria with something bold and adventurous; a blazer like this one (blue, polka dot) would definitely spice up any outfit. Though, if you’re wanting to play it safe, a blazer like this one (black/white striped) would be a more neutral alternative whilst still keeping a trendy, Aria-inspired outfit. You can pair either of these blazers with a quirky skater-dress for a youthful look, or skinny jeans for a more casual style; like Aria demonstrates at Rosewood High School.

Gold (Gold) Gold and Silver Cross Charm Bracelet Stack | 277739293 | New LookWhite (White) People Tree Cream Puffin Peplum Joy Dress | 272293310 | New Look

STUNNING Lazer Cut Platforms

Blue lace peplum dressDresses. Aria has some bold fabric choices throughout all the seasons when it comes to dresses, but one of my all-time favourites has to be the white/black peplum dress she wore in Season 3 and this quirky, equally detailed and peplum (black/white detail dress, above), is a brilliant equal to Aria’s dress. But for those who aren’t looking for that full-on printed dress and only want half that colour attack, this cute turquoise peplum dress (below, blue/black) is just a little spark of quirky-ness that Aria would surely approve of. Pair any of these dresses with gold jewellery, perhaps like this one (seen above) that has Aria written all over it. Heels are a must for these dresses, especially for the night-time themed outfit. For daytime, if you’re not feeling like dragging five-inch heels around the mall with friends out shopping, wedges (white/yellow, above) and hidden height flats are a favourite of mine. 

Gold (Gold) Gold and Neon Pink Pearl Spike Necklace | 279671493 | New LookJewellery. Aria is a big fan of those necklaces you think you’ll never pull off; then you see Miss Montgomery sporting them on PLL and immediately want one. My favourite store for jewellery is “New Look”. They have some awesome necklaces, and even one that looks extremely similar to the one Aria is wearing in this picture with Hanna (both necklaces, above/below). Her style is very much girly-studs when it comes to jewellery, and she never fails in making us want her wardrobe!
 
Hair. Over the course of three seasons, Aria’s hair has gone through some major chops-and-changes. From long to short, curls to straight, Aria’s hairstyle can never be predicted from episode to episode in PLL. The only thing we can predict is those streaky-pink highlights she wears in flashbacks which remind us so much of the liar-free Aria. How-to; for Aria’s wavy curls, try braiding your hair when it’s almost dry from washing, and wear the braids overnight. In the morning, your hair should be lusciously wavy, and the curls should stay all day when sprayed with a little hairspray to keep frizzy-waves gone. For stubborn hair; try putting some heat protection spray on your hair before curling with a 1-inch curler, starting with the bottom layer of your hair and working your way through to the top. Finishing touches; pin half your hair up with a detailed hair-clip or pin to get the Aria-inspired finish.
 
Make-up. From day-to-day, Aria keeps a subtle, black lined eye with a rosy-blush and perfectly groomed eyebrows look. My favourite Aria make-up of Season 3 had to be the one she wore on the Halloween Train. How to; start with your usual foundation, concealer and powder. Start next with the eyes; place a light, cream colour all over the lid. Next, trace a black kohl liner and wing it out toward the end. Next, take a blending brush and blend a medium-to-dark brown shade in the crease of your eye. This will intensify the smoky-eye look, too. Next, blend a black or brown eyeshadow on the bottom lash line, starting on the outer corner, inwards. You can also line your bottom water-line with kohl if you want that full cat-eye. Finish off with two coats of mascara and fill in any gaps in your eyebrows to give a perfected arch. Minimal blush is needed for this look, and you could even swap with a light bronzer instead.
 
Thank you. I hope you loved all my Aria-inspired looks for Season Three, and I will most definitely be investigating some of the other Liars’ wardrobes for some alternative looks we can all inspire to wear. You can follow all the links above to find the clothing and jewellery I’ve added, and for more hints and tips for Aria, subscribe to this blog or follow me on twitter at @littlememoirs.
happy shopping,
 
xo Becca
 
   Becca
Jayne
               

Book Review: “Elijah’s Mermaid” by Essie Fox (with thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Orion)

Captivating and unique, Elijah’s Mermaid is growing to be one of the best original, pure books I’ve read for a long time…


Elijah’s Mermaid by Essie Fox
Published by: Orion
Available: May 2013 in Paperback/Hardback/eBook £12.99


Following the success of Essie Fox’s highly acclaimed debut THE SOMNAMBULIST, this is a gloriously gothic new novel from one of the most talented historical writers around.
Since she was found as a baby, floating in the Thames one foggy night, the web-toed Pearl has been brought up in a brothel known as the House of Mermaids. Cosseted and pampered there, it is only when her fourteenth birthday approaches that Pearl realises she is to be sold to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile, the orphaned twins, Lily and Elijah, have shared an idyllic childhood, raised in a secluded country house with their grandfather, Augustus Lamb. But when Lily and Elijah go on a visit London, a chance meeting with the ethereal Pearl will have repercussions for all of them, binding their fates together in a dark and dangerous way…
In this bewitching, sensual novel, Essie Fox has written another tale of obsessive love and betrayal, moving from the respectable worlds of Victorian art and literature, and into the shadowy demi-monde of brothels, asylums and freak show tents – a world in which nothing and no-one is quite what they seem to be.

Elijah’s Mermaid was set in mid 19th Century London, England, where the setting is detailed as Victorian Gothic and bewitching; which I instantly noticed as the storyline progressed quickly. The story fixed on Pearl—an orphan raised in a brothel, and also focused on Lily and Elijah—twins, who live in the country with their grandfather, Augustus Lamb; a writer of fairytales. From the very start I knew there was a darkness dwelling in each character, though although not all the obsessive, powerful darkness came to the surface, I could tell it was there and got stronger as the book developed. There were glimmers of a grand love for Elijah and Pearl, two characters who didn’t only have an instant connection but underlying roots that would draw them closer. Elijah’s Mermaid told of a story-world I easily fell into and as I read more, it was obvious that I wasn’t putting the book down until I had finished. Overall, it was fascinating, with gripping characters and twists and turns that kept me wanting to read more and more. A true five star read.

 

 

You can also read this review at Goodreads.

Many thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Orion for sending me a copy of this amazing book!

xo Becca

Becca
Jayne

Book Review: “Fallen Land” by Patrick Flanery (with thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Atlantic Books)

a true, raw book that reflected how no one truly knows the future and pasts events…

Fallen Land by Patrick Flanery
Published by: Atlantic Books
Available: May 2013 in Paperback/Hardback. £12.99

Following the critical acclaim for his debut, Patrick Flanery’s Fallen Land is his astonishing break-out novel; a nail-biting story powered by a fierce anger at the utter failure of the American dream, and the greatest fears that lurk in every one of us. Poplar Farm has been in Louise’s family for generations, inherited by her sharecropping forebear from a white landowner after a lynching. Now, the farm has been carved up, the trees torn down; a mini-massacre replicating the destruction of lives and societies taking place all over America. Architect of this destruction is Paul Krovik, a property developer soon driven insane by the failure of his dream. Julia and Nathaniel arrive from Boston with their son, Copley, and buy up Paul’s signature home in a foreclosure sale. They move into the half-finished subdivision and settle in to their brave new world. Yet violence lies just beneath the surface of this land, and simmers deep within Nathaniel. The great trees bear witness, Louise lives on in her beleaguered farmhouse, and as reality shifts, and the edges of what is right and wrong blur and are lost, Copley becomes convinced that someone is living in the house with them.                                   

As soon as I read the blurb of Fallen Land, I knew it was going to be a one-of-a-kind read, and as the story progressed into troubled characters and surprising events, I knew my speculation was coming true. The characters, particularly Paul Krovik, were beautifully crafted though damaged by their past and occurrences in life. I felt true understanding for all of them. Though Fallen Land was disturbing and frighteningly surprising at times, I was still drawn in by the developing plot that called to be read more. The last portion of the book was created astonishingly and the ending was unexpected and startling. There are no other words to say it was amazing other than I truly loved reading Fallen Land, start to finish.

You can also read this review at Goodreads.

Many thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Atlantic Books for the copy of this book!

xo Becca

Book Review: “When Captain Flint Was Still A Good Man” (with thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Corsair)

a hit storyline that makes reading it as easy as the ocean waves…



 When Captain Flint Was Still A Good Man by Nick DybekPublished by: Corsair Available: Now in Paperback/Hardback £12.99

Every fall, the men of Loyalty Island sail from the Olympic Peninsula up to the Bering Sea, to spend the winter catching king crab. Their dangerous occupation keeps food on the table but constantly threatens to leave empty seats around it.
To Cal, Alaska remains as mythical and mysterious as Treasure Island, and the stories his father returns with are as mesmerizing as those he once invented about Captain Flint before he turned pirate. But while Cal is too young to accompany his father, he is old enough to know that everything depends on the fate of those few boats thousands of miles north. He is also old enough to feel the tension between his parents over whether he will follow in his father’s footsteps, and to wonder about his mother’s relationship with John Gaunt, owner of the fleet.
Then Gaunt dies suddenly, leaving the business in the hands of his son, who seems intent on selling away the fishermen’s livelihood. Soon Cal stumbles on evidence that his father may have taken extreme measures to salvage their way of life. As winter comes on, his suspicions deepening and his moral compass shattered, he is forced to make a terrible choice

When Captain Flint Was Still A Good Man had a brilliant concept, and although it wasn’t my usual genre choice, I am always taken by a book that manages to still engross me in a story-world that I could learn to love. One of my favourite things about Nick Dybek’s book was the dialogue between the children, that came across so adult that it showed growth in the characters across the rising suspense. The setting was well drawn, a place I could see as I read more—painting a scenic element of your average thriller, though fragments of dilemmas and unforgettable actions in the best way possible. Cal was a very intricate character, who had a father that felt like a stranger to him, and that showed the emotion that carried the novel into a fast-moving, tragedy that was a shockingly great read.

You can also read this review at Goodreads.

Many thanks to lovereading.co.uk and Corsair for gifting me a copy of this fantastic novel!

xo Becca

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