Book & Movie Review ~ The Last Song

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Blurb: A drama centered on a rebellious girl who is sent to a Southern beach town for the summer to stay with her father. Through their mutual love of music, the estranged duo learn to reconnect.

Usually I read a book first then see the movie, but I did it the other way around this time...

The movie: I found Ronnie in the movie to be quite pouty and annoying. Then suddenly she takes an about turn when the turtles show up and becomes caring and passionate. The dad on the other hand I like straight away and love his parenting attitude when faced with his surly daughter. Of course his parenting choices become clearer near the end when we hit a bump in the road. I liked the movie, it had a few deeper issues than just teen rebellion and I love teen movies about first love. I'd give this movie a 3 out of 5.

The book: You expect a sad ending when you read a Nicholas Sparks novel. This one delivered but with a happy twist as well. I love the journey of Ronnie, a surly teen, as she gets to know her father again, finds out the truth of what happened between her parents and falls in love. The book scores slightly higher than the movie with a 3.5 out of 5.

The Movie vs Book (spoilers): The book, as usual, provides a heap more details than a movie ever could. Why the father left the mother is explained in the book, which I would have liked to know in the movie (and I would have liked the father even more!) The book gave Ronnie much more reason for her bad behaviour and explained much more about Marcus and Blaze. I liked both book and movie for different reasons. I'm a sucker for seeing lovey dovey stuff on screen and first kisses. If you liked the movie, give the book a go, you won't regret it!

It's This Week! It's This Week!

Do you ever get so excited about something, you're counting sleeps days before the event?

Well...

Pure Blood comes out this week! In like three sleeps!! (And yes, I've been counting for a while :))
February 16th - kiwi time is my release date and I'm kinda excited... just a lil' bit :)

It will be so cool to have all three books out there. Now everyone can finally see if Gemma and Harrison are going to make it.

It's been interesting preparing Pure Blood for release. Black Blood is actually my favourite out of the three, so I've been having major doubts over how good Pure Blood really is. But then my mind wanders over all the little links finally connecting and the very explosive ending and I realize that Pure Blood does indeed rock... at least I hope that's what you'll think :)

If you'd like a chance to win e-copies of the entire trilogy, an Amazon gift voucher and e-copies of Pure Blood then please check out my giveaway on my Melissa Pearl Blog.

I have also featured the Pure Blood Trailer.

Oh yeah - and here's the cover :)

Thanks Amanda - you have yet again done a fantastic job. And thank you to my gorgeous models - Camilla and Ben. You guys rock :)

It has been a really long journey getting to this point (3 years), but I've loved every minute of it and to hear that people are enjoying Golden Blood and Black Blood has made every minute of effort worth it.

Can't wait to hear what you guys think of Pure Blood.

Have a great week everyone. You'll be hearing from me again soon - SQUEEE!!!!

Friday Favourites - Trailers

I have been thinking a lot about movie and book trailers lately. Last week on my YA Indie Carnival post, I discussed whether or not book trailers were a good or bad thing. I've also just put together a book trailer for Pure Blood (Book #3 in the Time Spirit Trilogy).

Personally, I LOVE trailers for both movies and books. Usually once a week I'll log on to Apple Trailers and down load a bunch of goodies.

What is it about trailers that are so inspiring?
I often feel goosebumps popping over my skin if it's a really good one.

Take the Hunger Games trailers for example. Now those are awesome!!

Have you seen any trailers recently that have made you desperate to see the movie or read the book?
Off the top of your head, what's your favourite YA trailer?

Because I've just talked about Hunger Games, I'm gonna go with that.
And for your viewing pleasure...

Friday Favourites - Girls Who Can Kick A Little Butt

I don't know what it is, but there is something so ultra cool about a girl who can kick some butt. I love watching movies or reading a book where the girl is physically very capable and doesn't need a guy to rescue her.

I guess that's why I wrote Gemma the way I did... and man, was it fun! I love the way she can take care of herself. Because I'm totally biased, I'd say she was my fav.

However there are many girls out there to be celebrated. So I'd also like to include...

Katniss from the Hunger Games series. She is awesome and I can't wait to see her on screen later this year. Excitement!!!

I also quite like Cammie Morgan from "I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You". Her friend, Rebecca Baxter, can be pretty fierce too. Lots of fun :)

And I feel like I can't ignore the one and only, Hermione Granger. Now there is a girl who knows how to cast a decent spell.

So - who are your favourite kick ass girls?

Do you keep a diary or journal?

Do you keep a diary/journal?

I do (yes even as a mum and wife) and although I don't write in it as much as I did when I was 15, it still contains almost all my secrets and important events! Other than my bestie and hubby, it was the first to know I was pregnant :-)

I was reading through my teenage diary last week, and it was all about my friends and boys. Love it. For some reason I blacked out some bits that I obviously didn't want my adult self to read (lol).

Anyway the reason I brought up diaries is, when Melissa and I decided to write our book Forbidden Territory, we got to know our characters by getting them (Mica and Lexy) to write in their diaries. Not only was it super fun, but it totally helped us learn who the girls were, what they wanted out of life and how they thought.

What sort of things do you tell your diary? And, do you think some day, if you have kids, you'll let them read your diary? I'm still undecided!

Book Review - Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. 

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed. 

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. 

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.


This is the second book in the Heist Society series and I really enjoyed it. The writing was tight and filled with humour. I really loved Kat's journey. She is one independent chick and it was nice to see her FINALLY learning to rely on those around her.


Hale, is once again gorgeous and charming while the rest of the cast provide the well timed humour and tension in the story. I liked the growth in the relationship between Kat and Hale too. 


I also liked the villain this time, she was one clever lady and a great opponent for Kat. 


I don't want to give anything away, so I'm keeping the review brief, but if you're looking for an entertaining story that will keep you guessing, this is a great choice.


Oh - and you have to just LOVE the cover, don't you? It's GORGEOUS!!!


Happy reading :)

Friday Favourites ~ Point of View

Melissa and I were blessed with a few days away from our older kids and husbands this week. We spent the time hanging out, looking after our babies and writing. I LOVED it. Anyway with all the writing it got me thinking about point of view. (Definitions below)

First person - the story is narrated by a character, who reveals the plot through their eyes.
Second person (I don't actually remember having read one from this POV) - the narrator refers to one of the characters as 'you', making you feel part of the story.
Third person - the story is told basically by a God-like figure who can see everything and know what everyone is thinking!

Usually I'm a third person POV writer but I've been writing first person POV this week and it's so much fun getting into one characters head so thoroughly. When it comes to picking a favourite though, I struggle.

When I'm reading I really love being able to get into a characters head in first person POV, but if I don't actually like the protagonist, it can be suffocating being stuck in that characters head. Third person POV on the other hand is fun as you get to see what all the characters think but it doesn't hold much mystery.

What is your favourite to write and to read?