Hey all,

I just want to apologise for being kinda absent. I am still sickly and have also been trying to organise uni things (BLAH) the good news is I have a great schedule and am able to factor in a lot of blog work and blog post time which is excellent.

Please be paitent but things will hopefully be back to their normal selves within the next week

This meme allows us to share the new books and book related items we have obtained recently. It’s a great way of sharing what’s catching our interest as of late, and what it is we are reading (or planning on reading in the near future)

With uni starting in a weeks time, and textbooks costing such a high price, I haven’t bought many books and am on a slight buying ban. This past fortnight I went to the LifeLine bookshop and purchased a few books, all second hand and very cheap, but with the money going to such a good cause, I felt it was a good deal all around.

* New Girl by Paige Harbison – Thanks to Harlequin
* Complete Poems by Banjo Paterson – Purchased
* Ohio Brides by Cara C. Putman – Purchased
* Malory Towers by Enid Blyton – Purchased
* Back to Malory Towers by Enid Blyton – Purchased
* Faraway Tree Adventures by Enid Blyton – Purchased

Finn Finnegan Press Release
Finn (not bleedin’ Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn’s survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of “fighting Irish.”

Title: Finn Finnegan
Author: Darby Karchut
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.SpencerHillPress.com)
ISBN: 978-1-937053-32-1
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Formats: Paper, e-book
Genres: Middle Grade/Young Adult, Fantasy

I rather like the cover, I think the green boarder and the face, of whom I assume is Finn, looks rather compelling, drawing the reader in. The blurb seems like the perfect read for some of my students, which means I will have to give this book a good read myself. This book seems to have potential, and so I can’t wait for its release.

Name: Just Chamomile
Brand: T2
Rating: 5 / 5
Serve: Hot on its own or with a dash of honey. Can also be ice cold as a refreshing beverage.
Properties: Relaxing
Website for more information: T2

Description from Website: One of the all-time classic herbal tisanes. Carefully selected for their flavour and aroma, high-grade plump Egyptian chamomile blossoms provide an intensely sweet, honey-like aroma and a refined and sublime flavour. Refreshing and calming, soothing and sweetly seductive, chamomile is one of the most widely-drunk herbal infusions, with very good reason.

Review Camomile has always been a favourite of mine. It helps me relax, sleep and just feel all around good. The T2 loose leaf tea allowed for a slightly stronger taste, with a sweeter smell. After brewing this tea, and then inhaling the smell, one instantly feels calm and relaxed.

I personally love to let it cool and drink it when its almost cold, as it leaves a nice refreshed sensation. If the sensational taste of camomile on it’s own isn’t enough for you, this tea is fantastic when mixed with the T2 Lavender tea. After a single brewed cup, I am always left feeling less stressed and more clear headed.

After a busy day, this tea is my cure and saving grace! A must for all!

Hey guys,

Happy Valentines day!!!!

My plan was to review a recent romance I have finished for today (how romantic) but alas I have come down with the flu or a virus or something horrible so I will be instead resting all day… I’m sorry!

I hope you all have a great day and just tell those around you you love them!

- Kylie

xxooxx

Colours Used: Re-Fresh Mint (China Glaze), Black Shatter (OPI)

How It Was Done: This was a really quick and simple Manicure that looks amazing. I simply applied two coats of the China Glaze polish “Re-Fresh Mint“, which I found went on smoothly. It was such a fresh minty green and had a nice consistency, making the application fast and simple. When polish was dry I then applied 1 very quick coat of the Black Shatter by OPI. This can be tricky at first, as it is a habit of everyone to apply thick even coats. I found the best way to do it was to dip the brush for each nail and try to cover the nail is a single brush stroke. Don’t worry if you miss a small area because the shatter look with cover that, but do try to have an even application throughout manicure.

I just loved the shattered look and I felt it really complemented the green quite well. It is essential your bottom coat is completely dry before applying the shatter or else the base coat will also split and crackle. As always, a solid topcoat is essential, which will seal in the polish and leave the mani looking shiny.

This manicure was great for an everyday look, and really caught peoples eye. I received so many comments and compliments on it.

Thanks to the awesome people at Harlequin Australia, I am so excited to announce that I will be hosting a giveaway. Two lucky people will each win a copy of Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder.

The winners will be drawn on February 23rd.

Sadly I could only make this giveaway for Australian’s and New Zealand-ers only. But never fear my international buddies. Watch this space, as I will be hosting a second giveaway soon to celebrate my blogaversery.

Spread the word guys and best of luck to all who enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: My Horizontal Life
Author: Chelsea Handler
Genre: Autobiography
Rating: 2 / 5
Publication Date: June 6th 2005
Purchase: The Book Depository

More About the Author: Website | Goodreads
More About the Book: Goodreads

Plot from Goodreads.com: You’ve either done it or know someone who has: the one-night stand, the familiar outcome of a night spent at a bar, sometimes the sole payoff for your friend’s irritating wedding, or the only relief from a disastrous vacation. Often embarrassing and uncomfortable, occasionally outlandish, but most times just a necessary and irresistible evil, the one-night stand is a social rite as old as sex itself and as common as a bar stool.

Enter Chelsea Handler. Gorgeous, sharp, and anything but shy, Chelsea loves men and lots of them. My Horizontal Life chronicles her romp through the different bedrooms of a variety of suitors, a no-holds-barred account of what can happen between a man and a sometimes very intoxicated, outgoing woman during one night of passion. From her short fling with a Vegas stripper to her even shorter dalliance with a well-endowed little person, from her uncomfortable tryst with a cruise ship performer to her misguided rebound with a man who likes to play leather dress-up, Chelsea recalls the highs and lows of her one-night stands with hilarious honesty. Encouraged by her motley collection of friends (aka: her partners in crime) but challenged by her family members (who at times find themselves a surprise part of the encounter), Chelsea hits bottom and bounces back, unafraid to share the gritty details. My Horizontal Life is one guilty pleasure you won’t be ashamed to talk about in the morning.

Comments: I have owned this book for quite some time, but it took me a while before I decided to actually pick it up and read it. I sometimes watch Chelsea Handler on her late show show on E!, and while I am not her biggest fan, I do giggle now and then at her dry humour and wit. I decided to pick up her book and see how she was at tackling the literary world, especially considering she has already three big sellers out in the world. Sadly though, I felt that this book just didn’t cut it for me.

This meme allows us to share the new books and book related items we have obtained recently. It’s a great way of sharing what’s catching our interest as of late, and what it is we are reading (or planning on reading in the near future)

I didn’t receive a lot these past two weeks, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t thrilled with every book I received. I actually can’t wait to read each and every one of em . So lets get started shall we?

* The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg – Thanks to Penguin
* Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally – Won
* The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (Signed) – Purchased
* Quiet the Mind by Matthew Johnstone – Thanks to Pan Macmillan

Nail Polish
* Essie: Super Bossa Nova
* Essie: Smooth Sailing
* Essie: Braziliant
* Essie: Meet Me at Sunset

Hey Guys!

Wow, was it just me or did January just FLY by? I seemed to have blinked and then It was over! This month there are some excellent books being released, which I cannot wait to share with you all! I can’t wait to get my hands on these babies! hehe So let’s just get started!

7th: Unbroken by Rachel Caine
7th: Breakaway by Deirdre Martin
21st: Fever by Lauren DeStefano
28th: Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors by Molly Harper
28th: The Husband Hunt by Lynsay Sands
28th: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

What titles are you excited for this month?

Click on the thumb nails to see larger images of my three favourite covers of the month.