Relaunch!

Hello Readers!
It's been a while, but I've finally got around the the relaunch of Loaded Shelves, hurrah!
So what comes with the sparkly new look? Stuff.
Like, actual content.

Content will be posted on Sundays and Wednesdays (and maybe a little in between ;))

I already have a few pre-written blogs to go up over this week as i'm working very hard at real life things, boo. The reason i'm launching now amidst last semester mayhem is so that the month of May can run smoothly and take me straight in to summer with a working plan/schedule! :D

Please share the link to Loaded Shelves to any book lover that may be interested in reviews etc. I'd also love for people to guest blog!

Look out for Wednesdays blog post!

Keep Reading xo

Help needed!

I'm in the process of sorting out this book blog and along with it's new upcoming content i'd love a new background/layout! If anyone knows how to do them on Blogger i'd be eternally grateful for any help. My HTML is rusty and I can't figure it out on here!

Just drop me a comment if you're willing and able :) I just want something simple. Thanks x

Mini Book Haul

I still haven't had chance to mess around with my setup or anything but whilst I was in town this morning, I picked up a couple of second hand books that I wanted to share :)

Changes..?

I'm in the process of figuring out a new review layout.
The way I do it now looks so messy and loose and i'd like to tidy it up if possible!
There's a TON of reviews that I still haven't done so I think that once i've decided how i'm going to set things out, i'll just review a couple of them :)

Also, I would love to get more followers for this blog! Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could do that? I'd really appreciate it. I know that I need to upload more regular/consistent content but I feel less motivated to do it when nobody is reading it ;)

Goodreads Challenge 22/50

Review // Catching Fire & Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

If you haven't read these books, I urge you not to read the blurbs as they give a lot away!


Catching Fire - Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are still alive. Katniss should be relieved, but now there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped to create. As the nation watches Katniss and Peeta, the stakes are higher than ever. One false move and the consequences will be unimaginable.






Mockingjay - Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But she's still not safe. A revolution is unfolding, and everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - everyone except Katniss. And yet she must play the most vital part in the final battle. Katniss must become their Mockingjay - the symbol of rebellion - no matter what the personal cost.







Books 2 and 3 of The Hunger Games Trilogy were not a disappointment. Admittedly, it took a while for me to get interested in Catching Fire because of the love story that seemed to be the main focus. Whilst I love a good romance just like everybody else, I felt (and still do to a degree) that there was too much focus on the relationships between Katniss/Peeta/Gale. Just a few chapters in though and I was hooked once again! The Capitol and the Districts really interest me and dystopian novels are definitely right up my street just lately.
Mockingjay definitely impressed me more than Catching Fire but for different reasons. The imagery and certain scenes depicted in Mockingjay were truly disturbing and unexpected. It was hard to say goodbye to characters that i'd grown to love and feel protective of but with the release of the movie this weekend, I have a feeling that The Hunger Games are here to stay and are about to become even bigger :)

Goodreads Challenge 15/50
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 4/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5

Review // The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely re-written.

The Fault in Our Stars is the book of the year! Nerdfighter, Vlogbrother and spectacular author John Green has created a masterpiece with Hazel's story. From the first page, Green grabs your attention and the voice and character of Hazel was identifiable to me. We are told at the beginning (not a spoiler because it's in the blurb!) that Hazel has terminal cancer and so we immediately know that this story is going to be a journey of some kind. I never expected that journey to be mine though.

There are some beautiful and thought-provoking quotes within this book that I would love to share with you guys but i'm honestly one of those people who believe you should discover things like that yourself as words have different meanings to everyone. In true Green style, this heart-warming and heart-wrenching story that follows Hazel is also incredibly funny. Hazel, Augustus and Isaac have wonderful sense of humours that add to the wonderful characters that they are. They take on a life of their own and the words on the page become so much more than that. I urge all readers to experience this book and please let me know what you think of it.

Goodreads Challenge 15/50
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 4/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5

I'm back.

Apologies for the lack of posts on here. I wasn't sure if I was going to continue this blog due to other circumstances but here I am.


I have a few reviews coming up in the next few days to get myself back on track. If anyone has any suggestions of things you'd like to see here then please leave a comment!

World Book Day!

It has now turned midnight which means it is 1st March - World Book Day! Possibly the best day of the year for a nerd like me.

A while ago I blogged that I wasn't going to buy any more books until i'd read at least 10 that I already own. I should have also said that didn't include today. Every year I buy a book for World Book Day and that was never going to change.

So with that said, this year I picked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson.
Hopefully i'll get to start it at some point today but right now i'm reading a book called Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain. It's one that has been sitting on my loaded shelves for a while now and I picked it up earlier. I'm not very far in but so far so good! Definitely has my attention :)
Who knows -- if the day goes as boring as they usually do, I might even get them both finished before the day is out. I won't be holding my breath.

Let me know what your World Book Day choice is!

Review // Zombicorns - John Green

Zombicorns by John Green was never written to be a published thing. From what I remember, it was written for charity. This book is not available for sale but it can be found online for free. I don't have time to look for the link right now but if you can't find it, i'm willing to send it by email. Just ask in the comments.

I didn't enjoy this story as much as I do the other books he has written but I think that's because it's so short and I didn't get into it enough. However, I DID still like it and it is some powerful writing.

Green makes some beautiful comments on society and what it means to be a person. Although in true John Green style, it's not overloading at all and humans are compared with dogs in an amusing but thoughtful way.

Another of my personal favourite moments is when Caroline shouts, “LEEERRROOOY JEEENNKKIINNNSS!” Despite the fact that two teenage girls are literally fighting for survival in a world gone mad, there are still huge elements of fun. (Leroy Jenkins being a video that went viral.)

Zombicorns successfully shocked me towards the end and its twist (if that's the right word to use) came out of nowhere for me. That doesn't happen very often.

This should be a definite read for any nerdfighter and zombie lover and also for those who just want a quick short read :)

Goodreads Challenge 12/50

Chick Lit Challenge 0/5
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 3/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5

Review // The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

This isn't the cover of my version.

I barely know where to start with this review, hence why it has taken a while to put it up here.
The Hunger Games has changed my way of reading. I've always enjoyed reading YA and Dystopian novels but believe it or not, this is one of the first YA Dystopian books I have read and putting my experience into words is going to be difficult.

As a person who reads a lot of books consecutively, it is difficult for me to really get attached to a book. I move on from one book to the next so fast that the love I hold for a particular character is immediately cast aside. The Hunger Games was different though. After every couple of chapters I had to put the book down to seriously think about what was happening and to keep my emotions in check. I was genuinely terrified for Katniss, Peeta and Rue and also everyone back in District 12. I was holding on to the bed, anxious to know what was going to happen next! It's been a long time since a book made me feel that way.

The only downside I have of The Hunger Games is what happens in the caves. (No spoilers!) The rest of the book was filled with excitement and an uncertainty and then it dulled too much. I realise that for the ending to fully work, there needed to be a respite of sorts but this was too much. I didn't like the way that the book became focused on relationships, love and emotion. It just didn't feel right and was a little uncomfortable. It didn't effect the overall story though so that's all I will say!

I wish that more people had read this book and I can't wait to see the film production next month :)

Goodreads Challenge 10/50

Chick Lit Challenge 0/5
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 2/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5