Book-Vent Days Seven, Eight & Nine

Days Seven - Nine

On the seventh, eighth and ninth days of Christmas our true love gave us... Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. 

Chances are you've heard of these books, read these books or watched the first movie. With a mixture of opinions this trilogy has been pretty hit or miss in some cases. Personally the stories and concepts are well thought out, show emotion in a pretty heartless situation but they're not captivating enough for me to go back and re-read them. 

• The first book in the series is called Hunger Games, this book was released back in 2008. 

It become popular incredibly fast. I think after the Twilight movement this was a breath of fresh air, a concept similar in that it tells the story of young love in an unusual situation but there are no vampires or werewolves. The main character is a young lady called Katniss Everdeen who gives herself up as a tribute in place of her younger sister in the annual Hunger Games. 

The games consist of at least one girl and one boy from each of the twelve districts of Panem. The aim of the games is to fight to the death, the person who wins of course is rewarded as are their district. The games themselves are vicious, scary even but throughout this battle for survival Katniss finds love... or does she? 

• The second novel is called Catching Fire and this was released in 2009. 

After Katniss and Peeta won the Hunger Games they return back to their districts as champions, champions who have spread hope among the districts. Although they won the evil President Snow isn't falling for their love and demands that they convince all of the districts and most importantly him that their love is genuine and true. If they can't then there will be major consequences for both themselves and their district. 

During their tour of all districts they try to prove that they're love is true. Peeta asks Katniss to be his wife and marry him but this isn't enough for the President. District 11 start an uprising and the Quarter Quell which is the 75th anniversary draws Katniss once again into the scary world of the arena and the games. Will she survive?

• The third and final novel in the trilogy is Mockinjay, this was released in 2010. 

Katniss does in fact escape the Quarter Quell arena and decides to take up her role in the uprising at District 13 as the Mockinjay. Peeta at this point has been kidnapped by the Capitol (where the President and those who arrange the games stay), tortured for information on the rebels Peeta doesn't give up any information - he doesn't have any for a start.  

The rebels break in to free Peeta and a girl called Annie from President Snow's mansion. Katniss is incredibly happy to see Peeta but are the feelings mutual? 

As a trilogy I recommend giving it a read, to get the full effect of what the author's trying to show you will need to read all three books. They can be purchased at all good book shops and also Amazon of course. Hunger Games costs £3.85 here, Catching Fire costs £3.85 here and Mockinjay costs £3.85 here. These prices include p&p - fab bargain huh. 

Have you read any of the novels? what are your thoughts on this series? 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

Book-Vent Advent Day Three

December 3rd 

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me.... Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. 

The Twenties Girl is like no other Sophie Kinsella novel let me tell you that straight off the bat. It tells the story of Lara who is the main character, she finds herself crying over her life, romance and well, basically everything - her life is not going how she planned it. 

Without going hugely into the story, mainly because it's a story worth reading and I really don't want to give too much away, Lara's great-aunt Sadie pops into the story in ghost form looking for a missing necklace. Lara's the only one that can see her so debates if she might be loosing her mind. Great-aunt Sadie decided to return looking like her twenty three year old self and all that being a flapper girl brings. 

There's a lot of laughs along the way as Sadie tells it as it is, honestly I want to be her friend! she's a hilarious or as some say 'amazeballs' She grabs Lara's life by the horns and shakes it up - Sadie's demands on Lara are infuriating of course but as a reader I can only imagine the cheekiness of Sadie and feel the empathy that she has for her great-niece. As much as she's a pain in the butt she's a caring pain in the butt and that's OK - isn't it? 

Along the way both ladies lives change but not in the traditional sense that you maybe thinking of right now. Sadie is a book form comic-act and Lara not so much, the two characters definitely bounce off each other in the right way so that neither grate on you. I know it's so frustrating when a character stands out for the wrong reasons or there doesn't seem to be chemistry at all. 

Fully recommended for comedy lovers or those just looking for an easy read to brighten up your day. 

You can purchase this over on Amazon here. It's currently only £3.85 including postage which is an amazing bargain in our opinion. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

Book-Vent Advent Day Two

December 2nd 

Day too kicks off with a PR team favourite - The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff. If you're a fan of supernatural stories with a storyline that borders on romance without the sappiness then you're going to love The Replacements. If you're a fan of the rom-com genre or chick-lit then it's not going to be romantic enough. There's a definite storyline to this and it is aimed at the YA reader but any book worm will tell you YA books are fantastic for all ages, especially if you're just trying to get back into reading or want to ignite that imagination. 

So, what is a Replacement? 

Replacements are fey that have taken the place of a human baby; human babies were being stolen by the naughty fairies and taken to the fey underworld of Gentry which was known as Mayhem. Mackie Doyle is a replacement. 

Mackie Doyle became a replacement sixteen years ago when he took on the life of a stolen baby in the small town of Gentry - Mackie's real home is the fey world which consists of tunnels, dark and murky waters and trash. That world is run by a group of living dead girls that are ruled by a little tattooed princess - it all sounds very nice but it's not, it's a horrible way to live which is why most of the fey want to be replaced. Mackie's fey blood has given him fatal allergies to iron, blood and consecrated ground and slowly but surely is dying in the human world. He just want to be a normal human being, play the guitar, live quietly and spend time with his crush Tate.  

Tate's baby sister goes missing and Mackie has a feeling he knows where she's been taken too - The fey underworld. To help his crush get her sister back he's drawn back to his old abode back in the underworld of Gentry where he must face those dark creatures to rescue the child. 

Going back means that Mackie will ultimately find his rightful place - either in our world, or theirs. 

You can find The Replacement over on Amazon here. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

Now Released! - Chronicles of Astoria, Part II Epsilon

Five months after the release of Part I, I can  proudly say that Part II is NOW available on paperback and Kindle from Amazon.

I loved writing part two because there's so much action. Also, so many of the stories that were left unexplained or unanswered will now be brought to light - It's exciting stuff I promise you that. 

The story itself takes place three months after part one and continues each sub-story accordingly. My advice to anyone that has completed part one is to re-read it as it will make part two even clearer. Re-reading part one will definitely be worth your time and will only add to your enjoyment - especially if you love fast moving action. 

On its own this part stands strong. It has action right from the start and the sub-story details the trials that an aspirant must go through to become an Angel, and earn their prestigious armour. It's a case of the classic good versus evil theme; along with various other themes such as ' a hero that falls' and also an enemy that repents.

I cant wait for my copy to arrive. I like to detach myself from the fact that I've spent so many waking moments building on each of the characters personalities, working out the plot twists and really delving into the story. For me receiving the physical books enables me to read the story as if I wasn't the actual author and that in itself is a moment of pure bliss.Even though I've written the story I do feel that the characters take on additional personality traits and evolve into something I never quite imagined they would become. 

You can pick up Part II from Amazon here, do let me know your thoughts, likes and dislikes. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *



My First Book Signing

So I stand there in my living room, my newly published book gleaming in my hands, a grin across my face so wide, that it looks like I have attempted to eat a Cadbury's chocolate bar whole, and I am not talking about the standard bar either!

I get a message from my good friend requesting that I drop her a copy of my book. I take a look out the window and see that the snow is falling dangerously heavy, the roads look treacherous, and most of all, I haven’t gelled my hair. After much persuasion (well a whole seven seconds discussion with my inner monologue) I decide that this friend could very well be my first and only fan, snow or no snow, gel or no gel I would have to risk it. So off I went.

It would be fair to say that I try to keep physically fit, although with each laboured step I take, hauling my feet through snow as thick is treacle, I soon realise just the predicament I had got myself into. Nevertheless I persevere onwards, dragging myself through the blizzard. Cars pass me on the main road, spraying slush and ice like a tsunami against my face, freezing my little nose in the process and yet still I battle on. My legs quickly felt heavy, my muscles were pumping so hard that it was no longer possible to determine whether it was the snow, or sweat that had them soaked to the bone. My thoughts drift to the great Robert Peary and his journey to the north pole in the April of 1909, although I am not sure that my brown, suede, large Next jacket would compare to their snow specific thermals that I am sure they adorned back then, almost immediately I concluded that I had it worse than they did.

The miles felt like marathons, and when I finally reached my friends vehicle, I had no fight left in my weary bones. Doing something less than manly, I am pretty sure I fainted.

When I awoke, I found myself in this beautifully warm room. Within seconds of my arousal, a glass of the finest champagne was placed into my hand and I was being embraced and celebrated by all around me. My eyes darted around the room, the bright colours were dazzling but I could make out a family of happy, welcome faces that were greeting me with the finest hospitality. On the main kitchen bunker, there were thick cut, tender fillet steaks sitting there, looking succulent and divine and just waiting to be placed onto the grill. There were candles lit on the table and more glasses filled with delicious looking wine. I could hear the snaps of camera shutters, multiple sounds from multiple devices, all pointing at me.

A voice spoke softly to me, a familiar and very friendly voice. “Will you sign my book?” she asked. I take the pen in my hand and begin to write. What I scribbled remains a mystery to me even now, but she seemed happy with the outcome. I stood back up and I felt her hand at my back, I lifted my weary eyes and once more found myself in the firing line of another photo opportunity. I smile, not because I was asked to smile, but because I was so happy at where I had found myself. The flash hits my eyes and I am momentarily dazzled, the glare fills my vision and I half expect to wake up somewhere cold, outside and in the snow. As the glare fades I smile once more, I am exactly where I was...it really WASNT  a dream!

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

Chronicles of Astoria Now Available To Buy!

The new book is finished! I am so proud to have achieved this stage as I didn't think I would make it at certain points in the journey. Part I, Delta is available on Amazon now and I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to those who have already purchased my book. 

I appreciate each and every sale not for the monetary amount but because it warms my heart to know that you also will get to delve into Astoria like I have, I love that I get to share my vision with you and I hope you enjoy it. 

In the distant future, the world has been ravaged and reduced to a single inhabitable area... Astoria. 

A grand and beautiful city, its occupants righteous and peaceful, the Astorian’s are governed and protected by the Angels, a group of supernatural humans that possess powerful gifts and skills. 

Chance is Astoria’s favourite Angel, loved by all and an enemy to none. Fun, witty and most of all competitive she quickly finds herself in a game she can’t possibly win. The price of such a loss is banishment from the city along with the loss of her memory. 

With Chance out of the way and the rest of the Angels cast out on meaningless errands, the city falls into chaos Can her trusting protector Raphael help find her memory before a dark plot is fulfilled that will endanger the lives of the remaining population of the world

 You can find Part I, Delta here on Amazon or you can contact my PR on chroniclesofastoriapr@gmail.com to purchase your copy out with Amazon. 

Peace & Love 

* M.R Shields *

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