Book Review: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Is there really such a thing as a good luck charm? Ex-soldier Logan Thibault thinks he just might have found one. Haunted by memories of the friends he lost in Iraq, Logan knows how fortunate he is to be home. He believes that a photograph he carried with him, a picture of a smiling woman he’s never met, kept him safe. Even though he knows nothing about this woman, he hopes she might hold the key to his destiny. Resolving to find her, Logan embarks on a journey of startling discovery. Beth, the woman whose picture he holds, is struggling with problems of her own: her volatile ex-husband won’t accept their relationship is over and threatens anyone who gets too close to her. And, despite a growing attraction between them, Logan has kept one explosive secret from Beth: how he came across her photograph in the first place . . .

Nicholas Sparks tells another beautiful love story.  I have to admit, part of the appeal was that Zac Efron would be playing Logan in the film but nevertheless I'm glad I picked this book up (or rather, downloaded it).  I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I was a little confused during the final pages as to what was going on - although the epilogue soon clarified everything for me. The book features romance, dogs and stalkers which make for a surprisingly good story. It's an easy, light read, perfect for a holiday and grips you from the start.  If you enjoy chick flicks with a bit of drama then I recommend this to you.  

I watched the film last night to compare the two together, and as always the book won.  Although the film was a great watch, it lacked so much from the book.  For example, one of the main themes in the novel is dogs - Zeus was as much of a main character as Logan and Beth yet the film failed to portray this.  By doing so we lost Ben and Zeus's friendship.  Also, in the film they make out that Logan knew how Drake died - something that didn't happen in the book at all! I know film adaptations are always different but I felt that they could have kept closer to the original storyline.  Nonetheless it was a good film, one I would watch again.      

Just finished: Fifty Shades of Grey

Currently reading: Fifty Shades Darker

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A fight to the death - on live TV. The game show where you kill or die, and where the winner's prize is survival. In District 12, where Katniss Everdeen lives, life is harsh and brutal, ruled from afar by the all-powerful leaders of the Capitol. The climax of each year is the savage Hunger Games - where twelve boys and twelve girls from each District face each other in a murderous showdown. When sixteen-year-old Katniss is chosen to represent her district in the Games, everyone thinks it's a death sentence. Only one person can survive the horrors of the arena. But plucky Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature...

May the odds be ever in your favour. 

This has been hands down one of the best books I've read in a while.  Suzanne Collins has written this so well that you just have no idea what's coming. *Spoiler* I had an inkling that Katniss wouldn't die because she's the central character in a trilogy but that didn't stop me thinking she would die.  This book greatly deserves the hype surrounding it and it's definitely one I'll read again and again.  I wanted to read it before the film came out (trailer below) and honestly when I first saw the trailer when I went to see Breaking Dawn in the cinema, I didn't think it was for me.  Suzanne sucks you into this world of District 12 and into the premise of The Hunger Games, which is essentially like Big Brother as it's a yearly reality programme watched by all but the only difference is to win the Games, you must kill and survive.  If you like books like The Maze Runner, Uglies, Divergent and even Twilight - you're going to love this book.  As soon as I finished I instantly bought the second book on my Kindle. 

Currently reading: Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Have you read The Hunger Games? 

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Book Review: Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

The second in a four part series see's Tally Youngblood as a full blown Pretty.  Not only is she pretty, she's a member of the bubbly-making Crims, reunited with her best friend Peris and dating Zane, leader of the clique.  But with this visual perfection comes a price, being pretty minded.  As Tally is met with her past and given a letter with the 'cure', she turns to Zane.  After curing their brains, Tally and Zane plan to leave New Pretty Town and return to the Smoke but complications arise and as usual the Specials get involved.  Will Tally and Zane make it to the Smoke?

I really enjoyed the sequel, Scott left Uglies on a real cliffhanger and Pretties was the same, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.  The language takes a while to get used to, you wouldn't think by adding 'making' onto the ends of words would be as confusing as it is!  If you love book series like Twilight, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner you will love these too.  Uglies is also being made into a film to be released sometime this year.  Overall I give this book a 4 out of 5.  

Currently reading: The Hunger Games

Would anyone like to see a Kindle review as I've had it for about two months now?

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