Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

I am super excited to be taking part in the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop again this year!

Last's year hop was so much fun, I'm sure this year's one will be too!

I'm stop #3 on the blog hop, and my giveaway is International, as long as The Book Depository ships to your country!

The winner can pick their prize from the following books:

All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter below to be in with a chance of winning!

Don't forget to stop by the rest of the blogs taking part in the blog hop!

Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) - Veronica Roth

Name: Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Author: Veronica Roth

Release Date: 1st May 2012

Date I finished it: 7th May 2012

Source: Bought Paperback

Rating:

I've been waiting a while to write my review for Insurgent, because to be honest I'm not completely sure what to say about it. I was super excited for the book, I devoured Divergent in one afternoon and was desperate for more of the story right away.

So when I finally got my hands on a copy of Insurgent, I cleared my plans for the day and dived in right away. 

Right from the start it did seem different to Divergent in many ways, I knew it wouldn't be the same. Lots of things happened in the book and things had to be switched around and changed, but to me it just wasn't as good as Divergent was.

I know a lot of bloggers read and loved Insurgent. I just don't feel the same way about it, and I know I'll probably end up taking abuse for putting up this review, as it's not going to be all gushy about Four and how great this book is.

Don't get me wrong, it was a really great read! I loved the plot and getting to see some of my favourite book characters again after a long year without them. It just didn't seem to have the same element of suspense or thrill that Divergent did.

I think that maybe this is just me though, I find that with a lot of dystopian series', I feel let down by the second book in the series. I was the exact same way about the Matched series as well.

I did feel let down by it, and to be honest I can't explain why. There was a lot of action and drama going on in the book, which I loved! There was a few Tris and Four scenes, which again I loved!

I also liked seeing the different factions and learning more about them, especially with a war raging around them all.

I think I just expected more from this book, which again is probably my fault for getting my hopes up, and nothing at all to do with the book, really I can't fault anything in the story line at all.

I did give it four stars, like I said there is nothing wrong with the book, it's just me and my alarmingly high expectations. The plot is good and fast paced, which I like. The characters that I came to know in Divergent are back and smarter and funnier that ever! There are a few plot twists thrown in, which I am a huge sucker for! The writing style is easy to follow and sucks you in, the ending left me awe-struck and desperate for the third book!

Overall, it was a really great book!

I just need to learn not to expect miracles from authors, they are only human after all!

Review: We'll Always Have Summer (Summer #3) - Jenny Han

Name: We'll Always Have Summer

Author: Jenny Han

Release Date: 3rd May 2012

Date I finished it: 22th May 2012

Source: Paperback for review

Rating:

So this is the third and final book in the Summer series by Jenny Han.

After being a bit unsure about the series at the beginning, I have to say now I've finished all three I'm really glad I read them.

This book is set 2 years from the goings on that happened in It's Not Summer Without You. Belly has finished her freshman year in college and is dating Jeremiah. 

Ugh what can I say really, I was rooting for Conrad from the beginning, so I really didn't like reading about Belly and Jeremiah's relationship at all.

It was cute, but in my mind it's not who she is meant to end up with, so it frustrated me a little reading this book. 

Like the last book this one has alternative view points, this time including Conrad. Reading Conrad's thoughts just made me fall for him even more! I wish this boy was real and was a few years older.

Everything he's ever done was for Belly, for her happiness and only now is he realising this his happiness matter as well. How long should he wait to tell Belly the truth about how he feels, and should he ruin his own brother's wedding just to get the girl?

From about halfway through this book, I completely fell in love.

I mean I enjoyed the last two books, but there was something about this one that just gripped me in a way the previous two didn't. I can't really place my finger on what exactly it was. Maybe it was because they were all older in this one and I felt I could relate more to them. Maybe it was all the wedding drama and disasters, or maybe just the excitement and Belly finally making a decision and choosing between the Fisher brothers.

I was happy about the ending to this series, it left me feeling like the story had some closure. Which a lot of YA books don't seem to have.

This is really a great series, full of ups and downs that will leave you questioning what Belly and her boys will get up to next! A great summer read for fans of YA Romance.

Review: It's Not Summer Without You (Summer #2) - Jenny Han

Name: It's Not Summer Without You

Author: Jenny Han

Release Date: 1st May 2012

Date I finished it: 20th May 2012

Source: Paperback for review

Rating:

After really enjoying the first book in this series, The Summer I turned Pretty. I had to reach for this one right away, I wanted to know more about Belly and her Summer boys and I didn't want to wait!

This book picks up right where we left everyone in The Summer I Turned Pretty. It has a very different feel to it that the first book, for one the characters have grown up a bit because of the grief they are gong through. They have also grown a bit distant as well.

They have all lost someone special to them, and this book shows the different ways in which all the characters deal with that grief.

I did like the different points of view in this book, as with the first one it was all told from Belly's point of view. Having read the the first book I felt like I got to know the other characters as well, so it was really nice getting to see things from their perspective.

I'll be honest, I didn't like the thought of Belly and Jeremiah getting together in this book. I can see how it makes sense though he was there for her during the hard times when Conrad wasn't. But I still believe Belly belongs with Conrad.

Parts of the book frustrated me at times, there was a bit much retelling of what happened in the previous book. Having literally just put down that book and picked up this one, I really didn't need the refresher. I can understand why it's there though.

Sometimes Belly annoyed me in this book as well, there were parts of the book when I really just wanted to slap her round the head and tell her to get a grip! 

Overall though I enjoyed this one much more than The Summer I Turned Pretty. To me this one was more grown up and more real. I could relate more to the characters and I really felt their pain.

Needless to say I'm reaching for book three now!

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1) - Jenny Han

 Name: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Author: Jenny Han

Release Date: 5th May 2009

Date I finished it: 18th May 2012

Source: Paperback for review

Rating:

I've heard nothing but good things about this series, and I really wanted to read it for myself. Although I'm not usually the biggest fan of summer reads, or YA romance (without any paranormal elements in it), after receiving all three books in the series for review, I decided to give them a shot.

This first book, The Summer I Turned Pretty follows 15 year old Belly (Isabel) as she begins another summer at the beach house with her mum, her brother, her mum's best friend and her two sons.

This summer is different from previous ones though, Belly is older, more mature, and this year she feels pretty. The two boys she usually spends her summers swimming and hanging out with are starting to see her differently.

I'll be honest, I thought this book would be a quick bit of fluff type read. Once I actually got into the story though I realised that there is actually much more to the story than that. I don't want to give too much away, but there is a lot more going on underneath the surface of the story.

I really liked the flashbacks to previous years spent at the beach house, throughout the book we see Belly and the boys at different stages of their lives. I liked getting to know more about the history they all share, and it made feel like I got to know the other characters better as well.

I liked Belly as the narrator for this book, she is likeable, funny, and I can see younger readers being able to easily relate to her.

I gave this book 4 stars, because I really enjoyed it.

Like I said, it wouldn't be classed as one of my favourite genres, but I am really glad I gave it a shot. It really surprised me, and I'm looking forward to reading more about Belly and her boys.

I will be carrying on with this series, so keep an eye out for reviews on the rest of the series!

Thanks again to Razor Bill for sending me these to review!