Sophia Deanne



 So, being the bookworm that I am, I have read over 20 books these summer holidays - one per day if I can- and so far, these are the ones that have stood out to me. I have to admit, I cheated a little with the first one having read the first two books of the series ages ago, but I only finished the final book at the beginning of January.  So here you have some of my favourite summer reads this summer (duh Sophia, it was like it was going to be the 2013 summer haha!)
Oooh also I thought I would keep things a little simple and offer my opinion in dot-point form so it would be easier to understand my view on the book.

The Reason to Breathe Chronicles by Rebecca Donovan (Reason to Breathe, Barely Breathing, Out of breath)

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection while pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises - not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth - but at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide. 

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.”


But what do I think of this you may ask? Well…

-          All time favourite, for the first book to the last, it was an emotional roller-coaster
-          Finished the third book and was a perfect end to this heart-pounding breathtaking series that words just wont do it justice, like I could rave about this book forever.
-          It a magnificent great (tragic) story. Get your tissues out
This was a no-brainer, 10/10 hands down.

Girl online by Zoe Sugg (aka Zoella)

‘Penny has a Secret. Under the alias Girl Online, Penny Blogs her hidden feelings about friendship, boys, her crazy family and the panic attacks that have begun to take over her life. When thins go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets Noah: a gorgeous, guitar-strumming American. Suddenly Penny is falling in love – and capturing every moment of it on her blog.
But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny’s cover – and her closest friendship- forever.’



Thoughts?....

-          It was cute, fun, quirky and I loved the plot and love story. Just goes to show keeping things simple is amazing and will leave you extremely happe
-          Loved the new York/brighton setting
-          Made me happy and I was generally satisfied with everything!
-          I am aware that this was ghostwritten, but so what, a good book is a good book. It was a bit hard to get into at the beginning but by Chapter 4 (p.36) I was sold and offers a good lesson about friendship.

I give this a 4/5

The Shatter me chronicles by Tahereh Mavi (Shatter me, Unravel me, Ignite me)

“I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior”



And what did you think?....

-Really enjoyed this one, the whole super-powers were badass.
-Loved the love story and character development throughout the books especially Juiliette and Warners characters in Ignite Me.
-A good thriller, post-apocolyptic, with really good descriptions of the settings (as I noticed a lot throughout the series haha!)

Definetly a 4.5/5.
Elixir by Hilary Duff

“Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures”



So??...

-Well I loved the plot, where the story was going and the characters of the entire series
-Hilary duff was my childhood dream to grow up and be like her so reading this series was a no brainer, and I wasn’t disappointed!
- Have to admit I was strongly disappointed that we didn’t find out what happened to her father in the final book which I thought ended abruptly. Howver, the love story was pretty good. I think by now its obvious I love me a good love story hahaha!
-Still the first two books were amazing with the whole immortality story and elixir of life is intruiging and well thought out so good job!

3.95/5…the last book was a let down
Tape by Steve Camden
“Record a voice and it lasts forever…

In 1993, Ryan records a diary on an old tape. He talks about his mother’s death, about his dreams, about his love for a new girl at school who doesn’t even know he exists.

In 2013, Ameliah moves in with her grandmother after her parents die. There, she finds a tape in the spare room. A tape with a boy’s voice on it – a voice she can’t quite hear, but which seems to be speaking to her.

Ryan and Ameliah are connected by more than just a tape.

This is their story”



Hmmmm….

-         -  Adorable cover
-       -    Adorable blurb
-          - Disappointing book and lack of character development, like the blurb had nothing to do with a book
-          The cover is still simple and gorgeous and probably the only good thing about this book

   Sorry but it's a  1/5 from me...

   Thank you for reading! (in both reading this post or even giving one of these books a go!)

Have a lovely day/night and don’t forget to let me know what your favourite summer or winter book is so I can read it also!

Blogging off
Xoxo
Sophia

Currently loving: PIES!! (potato pies preffebly)

Currently listening: Guys im still hooked on Years and Years. All their songs are literally amazing. I don’t want to sound like a typical girl her but I just can’t, I can’t even deal.



*just a bit of a disclaimer...all the blurbs are from the back of the books courtesy of Good Reads*

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Hello Everybody! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, ate so much you couldn’t move and got spoilt rotten because how else would it be considered Christmas if not for all those things.

Today is another part of my holiday adventures and this time it is something I absolutely adore doing, in fact it has always been my lifelong dream to be a profession figure skater, however, since I live in the tropics where there is no ice rink, and feels like summer everyday, this makes my dream a little hard to accomplish. But this doesn’t stop me from going ice skating at every chance I get.  You know how you get a little overwhelmed when you finish a really good book, or stupendously (is that a word?!) excited when you’re about to travel to a new place like Italy, Paris, New York? Well that is exactly how I feel when I’m Ice Skating, I feel like I’m flying across the ice, and sure the rental skates are a little rough, and the ice isn’t as smooth as you wished it would be since there is no Zamboni involved (you know, that big machine that cuts the ice and makes it all shiny and smooth), but I am loving every minute of it.

 I love the cold, and I always feel cozy in my over-sized jumper. After a while, you tend to not notice the cold, and are unaware that the blisters forming or that your feet are hurting.  I plug in my own music, either classical (Schindler's list theme) so I can imaging I am a figure skater doing all the tricks and spins (I cant do any of this haha!), or some nice upbeat music to find my own rhythm when I skate. Then I teach myself tricks that I learnt on YouTube (yes this is what I do in my spare time…don’t judge haha… I also watch Figure skating routines as well… I need a job…) and I stay there perfecting the trick until I get there. And I do! I have now learnt how to skate backwards; do forward crossovers, and slowly getting the hang of a simple spin. I love it. I just wish a rink was where I live so I could go every day, teaching myself the one sport I don’t terribly suck at. It also gets you out of that summer heat and trust me that is always a plus here in Australia! To me it’s all about finding the right balance, so if you are looking for something fun to do during the summer (or winter!) holidays just bend your knees and skate away!



Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed this other short post of my summer adventures. Let me know in the comments below when you get stupendously excited or overwhelmed or even your dreams and goals, I’d love to hear them!
Love ya
Sophia
Xoxo

Currently Loving: Mangoes and Cold Drink
Currently listening: Disney music…shhh… don’t tell me you don’t love Cinderella or Tangled!




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While it may be winter in the Northern Hemisphere (ie America, England, Europe), here in Australia it is hot and holiday adventures usually consists of swimming, the beach, or pressing yourself so close to the aircon until it feels like winter again. Now I'm not saying I don't love summer because I do, but I'm not going anywhere until closer to Christmas and that's where I'll get my tan on. But I thought,since then what adventures could I get up to (other than lying on my couch watching so much TV and YouTube videos until my brain hurts...don't lie we have all been there)

What I love about the summer holiday is spending time with friends. And while this heat keeps getting hotter, an easy way to cool of is going bowling. I personal have not been bowling in over 7 years and I actually went for the first time this week and found out that I am actually terrible at it. But regardless, eating the hot chips and cold slushies, laughing when your friends are almost as bad as you or watching the profession bowlers next to you lane, is to me what makes bowling so enjoyable and an amazing summer activity. 



I've actually learnt some tips and tricks that id thought I'd share with you. 

1) When aiming for the perfect strike always expect the unexpected and I find that using your hands or arms as the ball is already rolling down the aisle generally help sway the ball in the direction you want (but sometime the force from you hand is not enough...)

2) So you have almost got all the pins knocked over except for one in the corner. What I learnt when I went bowling  is that if the pin is in the corner you don't want to bowl directly in a straight line. You go to the opposite side and bowl, and with any luck it should curve and the bystanders will think your an expert (this doesn't always work though...) 

3) And my most important step is what you wear, if you can try and wear all white or bright colours because it looks so cool under the black light and puts you in the bowling mood, along with the music. 

Obviously, these tips and tricks will help in any bowling alley anywhere. And though I have said that I came last, that doesn't mean I was terrible... Ok it does... But I did pick up a few tips and tricks that helped. 

Thank you for reading! This was the first time that I've hung out with my friends these holidays and it was so much fun. So if your antisocial and don't really get out much, just go bowling because it's such a feel good activity. 
Let me know what you summer/winter holiday activities that you do with your friends.

Love ya
Sophia
Xoxo

Currently loving: Jack and Dean, Troye Sivan, Olly Alexander
Currently listening: blank space by Taylor swift,  JAMES BAY

Also I just wanted to let Sydney know that my thoughts and prayers are with the families who were held hostage by an angry man. Things like this doesn't happen in Australia. We are a peaceful country and no one deserved to die. My deepest sympathy to those affected. Xx

-Christmas is almost here-





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Hello there!

Haven't done a beauty post in a long time, but recently I have been loving the classic winged eyeliner for a night out or my daily Christmas Shopping (That's right, DAILY Christmas shopping because I always forget what I need to buy...). So today I thought I would recommenced one of my go to beauty products...and as you can tell it's in need of a sharpening!

This eyeliner is a high-end beauty product that is a little bit pricey, but I actually prefer it to a liquid liner as I find when using a liquid liner it tends to get on my outer eyelashes and doesn't let my Mascara (Maybelline cat eye, if anyone wanted to know) have its shining moment by making my lashes dramatic.  I also prefer a pencil liner as I find it easier to apply and if I was to make a mistake it would come off quite quickly. It also gives a lovely smokey eye effect in a short amount of time. But if you are going for a classic bold look with the red lips and all, I would definitely recommend a liquid liner.

I'm not one to use High End beauty products, I normally stick with Maybelline or Topshop but I found with Elizabeth Arden is that it is no hassle, dramatizes the eyes, and is an all-round great product and worth its value. You know how normally when applying a pencil liner it feels a bit, well not scratchy...I can't think of another word for it, but maybe some of you get what I mean. Anyway, with this Liner, in the shade Smokey Black, it was soft on the eyes and not heavy so it was like you weren't wearing liner at all. So to me it is a must for a makeup bag and comes close to being one of my favorite liners of all time, opposite Topshop.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this short post, and don't forget to let me know what/who is your beauty crush!

Love ya
Sophia
xoxo

Currently Loving: Toasted Cheese and Tomato sandwiches with pepper
Currently watching: Arrow season finale



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Since I been away for ages...... sarry..... I thought a little update was needed!

So I have finished year 11 with flying colours (YAY!)

and that's it.....
hahaha how exciting hahaha #holidaysareherefinally

But guys! I have decided- to make up for being absent- that I will be doing the 12 days of Blogmas (don't know if if this has been done since it's like 12 days of christmas and vlogmas just without the doves and camera).
Starting on the 12th of December, all the way to Christmas Eve stay tuned for Christmas events, tutorials, life, amazingness....eeee! get keen! I know I am!

Ok Love Ya
Byee

Sophia
xo

p.s. Down below is another post about my France Adventures Part 2 (It's about time, Sophia!) Enjoy!



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