6/14/2021

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Reading a book of the Bridgerton Series is always a wonderful thing to fill some time of your day or evening with something entertaining. I had my pleasure reading this one. But it wasn´t as hilarious and great as the three previous novels of that series have been. Nonetheless, I recommend it to you, if you are not familiar with the author or the series.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

by Julia Quinn
Bridgerton Series #4
Publisher Avon Books on November 24, 2015
Genre Historical Romance
Pages 432
Format Paperback
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for. . . well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him until she stumbles across his deepest secret . . . and fears she doesn't know him at all. Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. When he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide . . . is she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?

Story

Penelope Featherington faces a monotonous and abundantly gray future. As an old maid and as her mother´s companion. Terrifying, even if Penelope loves her mother. But her dream of life is different. Full of friends, love, and appreciation. But Penelope does not complain and enjoys her life unnoticed by the tone and in all silence. That changes when two things happen: Colin Bridgerton begins to notice her, something he has never really done before, and Lady Danbury, the horror of all members of the ton, puts a price on the discovery of Lady Whistledown´s true identity out. And while the whole tone tries with zeal and enthusiasm to get behind the secret of the society journalist, Penelope experiences an emotional rollercoaster of a very special quality. She meets a completely different Colin. One who is not only charming and amiable but can also get angry and abusive at times. The season is going to be more than exciting for Penelope and luck finally seems to be knocking on her door.

Style

The author Julia Quinn also wrote the fourth part about the Bridgerton siblings simply, clearly, and beautifully. The plot is varied and has a touch of tension as the tone sets off in search of Lady Whistledown´s identity. It was very enjoyable to watch. The only melancholy drop for me was that from about halfway through the plot Julia Quinn suddenly starts repeating some things more often (albeit in slightly different words, but the statement remained the same). Things that the reader is already familiar with from the first half of the book. I didn´t like it that much. Neither the series nor the author needs something like that. For this reason, I am only giving this volume four stars because I still found it relaxing and amusing to read.

Characters

Julia Quinn brought her characters to life with a lot of love, humor, and feeling. Your characters have strengths and weaknesses that harmonize wonderfully with each other and make the individual characters convincing and very effective. Above all, believable. Her main characters are profound and with a dash of self-irony and move easily and almost effortlessly through the amusing plot. Some of the secondary characters are depicted a bit flat and inconspicuous, but that doesn´t detract from the story. The main characters only win as a result.

Conclusion

On the one hand nice to read on the other hand Julia Quinn disappointed me a bit this time. Unfortunately, this fourth part does not quite come close to the first three volumes.

Happy reading

Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn started writing her first book one month after finishing college and has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than two dozen novels for Avon Books, she is a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges and is one of only sixteen authors ever to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

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6/13/2021

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #164 – Quiet Week

With the Weekly Book Wrap-Up, I give you a bit of an insight into all the new books that have arrived at my place. No matter if I won a giveaway, got approved for a reviewer´s copy, an ARC, or just bought one myself. Everything that I add to my shelves, in what way ever and read during the past week or am still reading, I will write about it. And maybe I tell you a bit about the upcoming things on Inkvotary, that is if I don´t forget it and have something to share with you *smile*

I am linking up with Caffeinated Reviewer and Reading Reality and hope you´ll have fun reading it and maybe get the one or the other book inspiration.

Stacking The Shelves #164

Was a good girl. No new books.

Sunday Post #121

It was kind of a quiet week. We had a bit of a mixed and very humid weather. One rainstorm destroyed my peony, another hit me by surprise when I was at the local supermarket. I didn´t get wet but had to wait a few minutes before I could walk back home again. Working in the garden has become a bit of a sweaty job and I stopped planting new things. It is just to hot back there when the sun is shining all day long and no tree is providing shadow. I apologize for the a bit blurry picture. I was very exhausted after almost five hours in the garden digging out holes for the new plants and almost forgot to take a picture.

I wrote some new reviews, edited some covers and posts, downloaded some new covers, and began reading a new book. And noticed that I am not even half as productive as I used to be before Covid-19 hit me.

Our library has changed the rules again. I no longer need to book an appointment to go there but I am still not happy going there at all.

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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6/12/2021

Der Fall des Präsidenten by Marc Elsberg

The summary on the publisher´s website to this thriller (you could translate it The President´s case) sounded so intriguing that I simply had to have it. It turned out to be a solid thriller with a few minor flaws and some things I wasn´t really happy with. But that is only my opinion.

Der Fall Des Präsidenten*

by Marc Elsberg
Publisher Blanvalet on March 01, 2021
Genre Thriller
Pages 604
Format Hardcover
Source Blanvalet
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Dana Marin, a lawyer, would never have believed she would actually experience this day: During a visit to Athens, the Greek police arrested the ex-President of the USA on behalf of the International Criminal Court. Diplomatic hectic immediately breaks out. The incumbent US president is campaigning and cannot afford a scandal. The White House is threatening the International Court of Justice and all states of the European Union. And for Dana Marin, a fight against overwhelming opponents begins. Just like for their most important witness, whose testimony can finally bring down the once most powerful man in the world, and whom the US secret services are already hot on the heels. Meanwhile, a task force is preparing the violent liberation of the ex-president … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

All Dana wanted was to give all those with no voice exactly that. A voice. It was never part of the plan that she would become the famous face of the plan to accuse the former president of the US of war crimes. Now the entire world knows her face and Dana gets to feel the entire force behind it.

Style

On the one hand, it was a typical Elsberg thriller, on the other hand, the book lacked that certain something. No question about it, I had a lot of fun with it and absolutely enjoyed some scenes and chapters - in terms of reading. But the many pages where political strategies were presented and where an infinite number of characters were brought into play, only to disappear a short time later, never to be seen again, was a tad too much for me. Less would definitely have been more. Sure, when it comes to the action, the reader is offered the full range of possibilities. And the resemblance to a former president, in terms of character, made the ex-president figure in this thriller smile. But then I could have safely done without the corona pandemic, which has been mentioned again and again. We are still in the middle of this, but in the book, it is already a thing of the past. That was a bit too much for me.

Marc Elsberg has remained true to his language and writing style. There are a lot of scenes and dialogues that are very entertaining, and the main character shows strength and perseverance that is nothing short of impressive. I was very happy that it was a woman or several who had the courage here to stand up to a once-powerful man and to show what was going on. Legally, of course.

Characters

Dana is a woman who is very familiar with the suffering of war, crime, and a new beginning in a foreign land. She knows what it means to have to integrate and learn to cope with the new reality. Giving up is a foreign word for them. Respect for a person's celebrity, yes, but not at any cost. She believes in the law and applicable laws and is ready to fight to bring former criminals to justice. If necessary, also by mobilizing all the resources available to it.

Conclusion

That was an entertaining thriller that gave me one or two enjoyable reading hours. Unfortunately, there were too many scenes with endless political strategies for my taste, and it felt strange to read about the corona pandemic in the past tense when the reality is still very different. If you don't mind such little things, you will find reading pleasure here. It bothered me a little, hence only a rating of four instead of five.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language and kindly provided to me by Blanvalet in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Einerseits war das ein typischer Elsberg Thriller, andererseits fehlte dem Buch doch das gewisse Etwas. Keine Frage, ich hatte durchaus mein Vergnügen damit und hab so manche Szene und Kapitel absolut genossen – lesetechnisch. Aber die vielen Seiten, wo politische Strategien dargestellt und wo unendlich viele Figuren ins Spiel gebracht wurden, nur um kurz darauf auf Nimmerwiedersehen wieder zu verschwinden, das war mir dann doch einen Tick zu viel. Da wäre weniger eindeutig mehr gewesen. Klar, was die Action angeht, wird dem Leser die volle Palette des Möglichen geboten. Und die Ähnlichkeit mit einem ehemaligen Präsidenten, so vom Charakter her, war bei der Figur des Ex-Präsidenten in diesem Thriller schon zum Schmunzeln. Doch auf die immer wieder erwähnte Corona Pandemie hätte ich dann doch getrost verzichten können. Wir stecken noch mitten in dieser, aber im Buch ist sie bereits Vergangenheit. Das war mir dann doch etwas zu viel.

Seinem Sprach- und Schreibstil ist Marc Elsberg treu geblieben. Da gibt es viele Szenen und Dialoge, die einen gut unterhalten und die Hauptfigur zeigt eine Stärke und Durchhaltevermögen, das einfach nur beeindruckend ist. Hat mich sehr gefreut, dass es eine Frau war bzw. mehrere, die hier die Courage hatten, einem einst mächtigen Mann die Stirn zu bieten und zu zeigen, wo es lang geht. Rein rechtlich gesehen, natürlich.

Charaktere

Dana ist eine Frau, die sehr vertraut ist mit Kriegsleid, Verbrechen und einem Neuanfang in einem fremden Land. Sie weiß, was es heißt, sich integrieren zu müssen und zu lernen, mit der neuen Realität zurechtzukommen. Aufgeben ist für sie ein Fremdwort. Respekt vor der Berühmtheit einer Person ja, aber nicht um jeden Preis. Sie glaubt an das Recht und geltende Gesetze und ist bereit, dafür zu kämpfen, dass einstige Verbrecher zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden. Notfalls auch unter Aufbietung aller ihr zur Verfügung stehenden Ressourcen.

Resultat

Das war ein unterhaltsamer Thriller, der mir doch die eine oder andere vergnügliche Lesestunde beschert hat. Leider waren für meinen Geschmack zu viele Szenen mit endlosen politischen Strategien vorhanden, und es hat sich seltsam angefühlt über die Corona Pandemie in der Vergangenheitsform zu lesen, wo die Realität doch noch ganz anders ist. Wen solche Kleinigkeiten nicht stören, der wird hier sein Lesevergnügen finden. Mich hat es ein wenig gestört, daher auch nur ein Rating von Vier statt Fünf.

Marc Elsberg

Marc Elsberg was born in 1967 in Vienna, Austria. He was a strategy consultant and creative director for an advertising in Vienna and Hamburg as well as columnist of the Austrian daily newspaper “Der Standard”. With his international bestsellers BLACKOUT and ZERO, he also established himself as a master of the science thriller. Today he lives and works in Vienna.

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6/11/2021

Nur Augen Für Dich by Marie Force

Not every book of this series is a hit. This one is. I had such a great time reading it and am glad that there was a long-missed couple involved that made me laugh tears while reading their story. Good, the story about Amanda and Landon is a bit different, but nonetheless a good read and with the sometimes hilarious dialogues you will find your fun as well.

Nur Augen Für Dich*

by Marie Force
Lost In Love- Die Green Mountain Serie #11
The Butler, Vermont Series #5
Translation Lena Kraus
Original Title All My Loving**
Publisher Fischer TB on April 28, 2021
Genre Novel
Pages 492
Format Paperback
Source Fischer TB
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

Landon Abbott can hardly believe it: Amanda, the woman of his dreams, seeks shelter with him. But how can he confess his love to her after everything that happened to his twin brother Lucas? After Amanda nearly perished in the fire at the Admiral Butler Inn, she sees the world in a new light. She is determined to feel true love for once in a lifetime. And Landon makes her heart beat like crazy. But do their feelings for one another also exist when they are tested? (personal translation by © Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

After experiencing a dramatic fire situation at the hotel, she was staying in while in Butler, Amanda knows that nothing will be the same anymore. She is shaken to the core and tears seem to be her new self. For Amanda, a new situation. And when Landon and his family offer her shelter and a way to deal with everything, Amanda is grateful for their help – and love.

Style

Lots of emotions, disturbing scenes, delicious dialogues, and two main characters serve pretty much everything that the family´s palette of emotions has to offer. In any case, it won´t be boring with Amanda and Landon. Marie Force has stayed true to her style. The reading speed is brisk and the characters well worked out. And in individual scenes, you get to see almost the entire Abbott clan. Just having Cameron and Will so close again was an experience.

In general, emotions are very important in this novel. Amanda is inundated with feelings that she thought she had long since forgotten. Something that has been repressed for a long time comes up and gives her a lot of trouble. The inner conflict that arises in her is presented in a sensitive way by the author. Well, if you are looking for a dispute with a potential rival for Amanda in the “fight” for Landon, you will look in vain. The few scenes that go along with it are so tiny and insignificant that they could be overlooked. As a kind of opponent for Landon, a different situation arises here, if you want to call it that. And this makes it clear to Landon and Amanda what really matters in life.

Characters

The author lets her main character Amanda deal with an old trauma that is practically brought back to the daylight by experiencing a hotel fire up close. After a few conversations with a wide variety of women in the Abbott family, Amanda quickly realizes that she has to come to terms with her past and learn to live with her feelings. The author shows the way in which she does it in a very varied manner, albeit a bit sad in places.

Conclusion

Reading a novel from the Lost-in-Love series is always a pleasure. At least, most of the time. This time the author offers her readers a wonderful story again. With a few minor blemishes, but still beautiful to read. So if you are still looking for reading material for a nice sunny afternoon on the beach or in the garden at home, this book is well advised. Clear reading recommendation from me.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer TB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Viele Emotionen, aufwühlende Szenen, köstliche Dialoge und zwei Hauptfiguren, die so ziemlich alles bedienen, was die familiäre Gefühlspalette zu bieten hat. Langweilig wird es mit Amanda und Landon jedenfalls nicht. Marie Force ist ihrem Stil treu geblieben. Das Lesetempo ist zügig und die Figuren gut ausgearbeitet. Und man bekommt in einzelnen Szenen fast den ganzen Abbott-Clan zu Gesicht. Allein Cameron und Will noch mal so nah dabeizuhaben, war ein Erlebnis.

Überhaupt werden Emotionen in diesem Roman großgeschrieben. Amanda wird von Gefühlen überschwemmt, die sie längst vergessen glaubte. Da kommt lange Verdrängtes nach oben und macht ihr sehr zu schaffen. Der innere Konflikt, der dadurch bei ihr entsteht, wird von der Autorin auf feinfühlige Weise dargestellt. Gut, wer hier die Auseinandersetzung mit einer potenziellen Nebenbuhlerin für Amanda im „Kampf“ um Landon sucht, der sucht vergeblich. Die paar Szenen, die es dazu gibt, sind so winzig und unbedeutend, dass man sie glatt übersehen könnte. Als Art Gegenspieler für Landon tritt hier eher eine andere Situation auf, wenn man es denn so nennen will. Und diese macht Landon und Amanda klar, was wirklich im Leben zählt.

Charaktere

Die Autorin lässt ihre Hauptfigur Amanda ein altes Trauma verarbeiten, dass durch das hautnahe Erleben eines Hotelbrandes praktisch wieder ans Tageslicht geholt wird. Amanda begreift nach einigen Gesprächen mit den unterschiedlichsten Frauen der Abbottfamilie schnell, dass sie ihre Vergangenheit aufarbeiten und lernen muss, mit ihren Gefühlen zu leben. Die Art und Weise, wie sie das macht, zeigt die Autorin sehr abwechslungsreich, wenn auch stellenweise etwas traurig.

Resultat

Es ist immer ein Vergnügen, einen Roman aus der Lost-in-Love Reihe zu lesen. Meistens zumindest. Dieses Mal bietet die Autorin ihren Lesern wieder eine traumhaft schöne Geschichte. Zwar mit ein paar kleinen Schönheitsfehlern drin, aber trotzdem wunderschön zu lesen. Wer also noch Lesestoff für einen schönen sonnigen Nachmittag am Strand oder im heimischen Garten such, der ist mit diesem Buch gut beraten. Klare Leseempfehlung von mir.

**The book was published in the English language All My Loving by HTJB Inc on June 23, 2020. 

Marie Force

Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. She writes series as well as stand-alone novels. While her husband was in the U.S. Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland, and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island.  

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5/30/2021

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #163 – Welcome Summer

With the Weekly Book Wrap-Up, I give you a bit of an insight into all the new books that have arrived at my place. No matter if I won a giveaway, got approved for a reviewer´s copy, an ARC, or just bought one myself. Everything that I add to my shelves, in what way ever and read during the past week or am still reading, I will write about it. And maybe I tell you a bit about the upcoming things on Inkvotary, that is if I don´t forget it and have something to share with you *smile*

I am linking up with Caffeinated Reviewer and Reading Reality and hope you´ll have fun reading it and maybe get the one or the other book inspiration.

Stacking The Shelves #163

Guess, I was a good girl this week. No. New. Books.

Sunday Post #120

I was not sure if I would write a Sunday Post today. The past week went by in a blink and was kind of uneventful. We had mixed weather and only the last two days were sunny and warm days with very cold nights between.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday went by in kind of a blur. My day and night rhythm are complete upside down and I started to listen to some music during the night because I cannot sleep. And listening to an audiobook or reading a printed book isn´t working either. So, music it is. The range goes from Within Temptation to ADYA and back to Bon Jovi.

I planted some Jupiter´s beard, sedum, and a gorgeous looking Cape rain daisy somewhen between Monday and Wednesday. My kitchen table is filled with sage in silver-blue, English lavender, and some daylily that I will have to bring out next week. Or otherwise, those plants will die. Despite the gorgeous sunny weather, we had during the last three days, I couldn´t make myself go into the garden and do some work there. My lack of energy is huge and is annoying me.

Peony update

Today I went into the garden and took this picture. My peony is now having six fully opened blooms and another one is about to open.

   

Yesterday I got out some weeds and bulbs from the front yard and started to dig out some of the plants there to plant them in the backyard. That way I found out that we´re having some beautifully looking garden forget-me-not there. I LOVE them. Hopefully, they will be happy with their new place and grow there.

Today, Sunday, I had to delete a lot of pictures from my google account (and still not done with it). Seems that every time I take a picture with my cellphone, that picture goes straight into my google account, which I don´t want, to be honest. With the new rules, Google has from June 2021, space will be limited there, and if I need more, I will have to pay about 24 euros a year. But I don´t want to pay for the big space only because google is breaking a promise it gave its customers years ago.

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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5/23/2021

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #162 – Long Pentecost Weekend

With the Weekly Book Wrap-Up, I give you a bit of an insight into all the new books that have arrived at my place. No matter if I won a giveaway, got approved for a reviewer´s copy, an ARC, or just bought one myself. Everything that I add to my shelves, in what way ever and read during the past week or am still reading, I will write about it. And maybe I tell you a bit about the upcoming things on Inkvotary, that is if I don´t forget it and have something to share with you *smile*

I am linking up with Caffeinated Reviewer and Reading Reality and hope you´ll have fun reading it and maybe get the one or the other book inspiration.

Stacking The Shelves #162

I was a freebie-one-click girl the past week. Please check them out if they are still for free in case you want them, too.

Freebies

   

                        

Sunday Post #119

The past seven days we had a mix of sunny but cold and windy weather with occasional rain. The week went by in a blink and today (Sunday while writing this post) I noticed that I had not made any notes for this post. Thanks to my daily paper calendar, I call it my “timer”, I saw that I was Monday to Saturday in the garden, ripping out weeds, taking care of the already planted plants and flowers, and preparing a new flower bed. Some of my seeds have grown so beautifully and in such a huge number, that I need to pick out some of them to give them more space. You can see it in the picture below.

 

I am thrilled as heck that my peony is about to bloom. The picture is a bit blurry, sorry. It was a windy Saturday afternoon when I tried to take a picture. I didn´t expect the peony to bloom at all this year. Because normally when you take the plant out from the old spot, part it in half, and replant it in another spot, the plant needs up to three years before it builds new flower buds. Guess I did something right.

I am planning on replanting some of the wild primroses over the next few days, although I can´t remember what color they had while blooming in spring. But why should I buy new ones when I already have them in the garden? The rest of my time I was either reading, watching TV, or spending some money in our nearby garden center for new garden plants. I found sage that will bloom in silver-blue (I love that sight) and a great-looking Cape rain daisy I fell in love with because of its unique purple color.

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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5/22/2021

Searching Lucy by Christina Stein

I can´t even tell you what made me want this book. The cover for sure wasn´t the reason why I had placed a request. Guess, it was the intriguing-sounding summary I had read at the publishers’ website. It sounded very promising although it couldn´t live up to it in the end. But if you are looking for a solid thriller with a great main figure, this is your book.

Searching Lucy*

by Christina Stein
Publisher Fischer Sauerländer on March 24, 2021
Genre Thriller
Pages 283
Format Paperback
Source Fischer Sauerländer
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Until a few weeks ago I would have said that nobody can disappear without a trace. I know better today. First my dad, then Lucy. No ransom note, no corpses, no witnesses who saw anything. But definitely not a coincidence either. My sister is still breathing somewhere. Twin sisters sense something like this. But the police broke off the search: there are no suspects and no leads. And with each passing day, the likelihood that Lucy is still alive decreases. So, I break into as many houses as possible. To look for them. Because my sister is in one of these cellars. I know it. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Amber is desperate to find her twin sister Lucy. Only weeks after her father disappeared her sister didn´t come home either and Amber knows that she is out there somewhere, waiting to be found. But the police are doing nothing, at least that´s what Amber believes. So why not go and watch her next-door neighbors and walk around their houses? Her sister must be somewhere.

Style

This thriller is written in a fast youthful language and shows in often very dark scenes the pain and grief of a mother and her two children who deal in very different ways with the disappearance of their father/ husband and sister/ daughter. I was intrigued by how Amber, Lucy´s twin sister, dealt with the loss of her father and what she did to listen to her instinct. Her instincts were one of the best things in the book.

What I didn´t like was the way this book ended. After about three quarters of the story, the author suddenly not only changed her way of telling things, but also gave the thriller a completely different dynamic. All the wonderful build-up of tension that the author had been using up until then was gone. Not only did the author spend more than half of her book showing the reader how a teenager looks for answers when life changes from wonderful to sheer darkness in a matter of seconds. She also ruined it all within a few sentences. A previously highly exciting search was solved on just a few pages in a banal, almost ridiculous way and the reader was presented with a resolution of the events that could not have been more boring and unpretentious. I don´t even want to talk about the logic error at the very end. It´s a shame, but what was a straight five-star rating for me until then was only a four from then on. And that´s only thanks to the great main character.

The sudden whoop shouldn´t have been. The author gambled away a lot there. Completely unnecessarily playful. It´s a shame, just a shame.

Characters

Amber is a typical teenager if you ignore the fact that she walks around strange houses in search of her missing sister. For Amber, life has taken a bad turn, and nothing is as it used to be. With her mother becoming more and more addicted to alcohol, and a scared little brother, she is forced to take on the role of a mother and take care of everything. Not easy, when you are grieving yourself and not familiar with the pain and fears that come along when a family breaks apart due to a sudden tragedy.

I was very intrigued by how Amber was coping with her new situation. How she tried to keep the rest of what´s left together.

Conclusion

This is a solid thriller with no surprises or twists whatsoever. If you are looking for a fast read, with some thriller elements and a great teenage protagonist, this is your book.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language, and was kindly provided to me by Fischer Sauerländer in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Dieser Thriller ist in einer sehr schnellen Jugendsprache geschrieben und zeigt in oft sehr dunklen Szenen den Schmerz und die Trauer einer Mutter und ihrer beiden Kinder, die sich auf sehr unterschiedliche Weise mit dem Verschwinden ihres Vaters/ Ehemanns und ihrer Schwester/ Tochter befassen. Ich war fasziniert davon, wie Amber, die Zwillingsschwester der vermissten Lucy, mit dem Verlust ihres Vaters umging und was sie tat, um auf ihr Bauchgefühl zu hören. Ihr Instinkt war eines der besten Dinge in diesem Buch.

Was mir nicht gefallen hat, war die Art und Weise, wie dieses Buch endete. Nach ungefähr drei Vierteln der Geschichte änderte die Autorin plötzlich nicht nur ihre Art, Dinge zu erzählen, sondern gab dem Thriller auch eine völlig andere Dynamik. Der ganze wundervolle Spannungsaufbau, den die Autorin bis dahin benutzt hatte, war verschwunden. Nicht nur, dass die Autorin mehr als die Hälfte ihres Buches darauf verwendete, dem Leser vor Augen zu führen, wie ein Teenager nach Antworten sucht, wenn sich das Leben binnen Sekunden von wunderbar zu reiner Dunkelheit ändert. Sie machte das auch noch alles innerhalb weniger Sätze zunichte. Da wurde eine bis dahin hoch spannende Suche auf nur wenigen Seiten auf banale, fast schon lächerliche Weise gelöst und dem Leser eine Auflösung der Geschehnisse präsentiert, wie sie langweiliger und unprätentiöser nicht hätte sein können. Von dem Logikfehler ganz am Ende will ich mal gar nicht reden. Schade, aber was bis dahin für mich eine glatte Fünf-Sterne-Bewertung war, war von da an nur noch eine Vier. Und dass auch nur dank der großartigen Hauptfigur. Das plötzliche Hopplahopp hätte nicht sein müssen. Da hat sich die Autorin viel verspielt. Völlig unnötig verspielt. Schade, einfach nur schade.

Charaktere

Amber ist ein typischer Teenager, wenn man die Tatsache ignoriert, dass sie auf der Suche nach ihrer vermissten Schwester durch fremde Häuser zieht. Für Amber hat das Leben eine schlechte Wendung genommen und nichts ist mehr so wie früher. Da ihre Mutter immer alkoholabhängiger wird und ein verängstigter kleiner Bruder da ist, ist sie gezwungen, die Rolle einer Mutter zu übernehmen und sich um alles zu kümmern. Nicht einfach, wenn man selbst noch trauert und nicht mit den Schmerzen und Ängsten vertraut ist, die auftreten, wenn eine Familie aufgrund einer plötzlichen Tragödie auseinanderbricht.

Ich war sehr fasziniert, wie Amber mit ihrer neuen Situation fertig wurde. Wie sie versuchte, den Rest von dem, was noch übrig ist, zusammenzuhalten.

Resultat

Ein solider Thriller ohne großartige Überraschungen oder Wendungen. Wenn Du auf der Suche nach einer schnellen Lektüre mit einigen Thriller-Elementen und einer großartigen Protagonistin im Teenageralter bist, ist das dein Buch.

Christina Stein

Christina Stein, born in 1978 in Bonn, Germany, studied archaeology and art history and works in marketing at a large company. For her short stories and her first novel, she has received several awards.

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5/18/2021

Top Ten Book Titles That Are Complete Sentences

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week the theme is my Winter TBR.

I have not done a TTT in a while. But after I found out that I have already three books on my current TBR that actually HAVE a book title that is a complete sentence, I thought why not do this one. Some of them I´ve already read, some of them are still on my TBR.

The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus, begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore, and he remembers her name.

A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha´s clutches to return to the Spring Court – but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can´t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin´s people. Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms – and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future – and the future of a world cleaved in two.

The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

Iris Maynard lost her husband in World War II, her daughter to loneliness, and, finally, her reason to live. Walled off from the world for decades behind a towering fence surrounding her home and gardens, Iris has built a new family … of flowers. Iris propagates her own daylilies and roses while tending to an heirloom, garden filled with stars – and memories of her own mother, grandmother, husband, and daughter. When Abby Peterson moves to Grand Haven, Michigan, with her family – a husband traumatized during his service in the Iraq War and a young daughter searching for stability – they find themselves next door to Iris and are slowly drawn into their reclusive neighbor´s life where, united by loss and a love of flowers, Iris and Abby slowly unearth their secrets.

Love Show Ist Deine Liebe Echt? by Britta Sabbag

Seventeen-year-old Ray is the biggest reality TV star in the world - without knowing it. When she doesn't behave the way the show's creators want it, a young actor is smuggled into her supposed reality to make her fall in love. The plan is working. Maybe a little too good. But can their love be real? And what happens if it turns out that Ray doesn't have a "real" life?

Till There Was You by Marie Force

Lucas Abbott and his identical twin grew up sharing everything - including a reputation for funny, idiotic behavior. But now that Lucas is ready to shed that lovable-idiot image, grow up and have a real, adult relationship, the joke’s on him. He and his twin have fallen for the same woman. Crushed and hoping a few days on the slopes will work out his frustrations, he heads for Stowe, Vermont. All thought of fun and relaxation flies away as a car spins out in a snowstorm, and his firefighter/paramedic training kicks into high gear. Danielle Rowson is hoping to pick up the pieces and build a new life for herself and her daughter in Vermont. Winding up in a ditch in the middle of a blizzard isn’t part of the plan - and neither is the kind, sexy rescuer whose strong hands pull them to safety. Lucas has been a little kid, a big kid, and now an adult - and he discovers that adulting has more than one advantage. Especially when it comes to sharing with Dani and Savannah the one thing that’s his and his alone: his love.

The Last Piece Of My Heart by Paige Toon

A successful travel journalist, Bridget has ambitions to turn her quirky relationship blog about the missing pieces of her heart into a book. But after a spate of rejections from publishers, she accepts an alternative proposition. Nicole Dupré died leaving behind a bestselling novel and an incomplete sequel. Tasked with finishing the book, Bridget is thankful to have her foot in the publishing door, even if it means relocating to Cornwall for the summer and answering to Nicole´s grieving husband, Charlie …

A Very Large Expanse Of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

It´s 2002, a year after 9/11. It´s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who´s tired of being stereotyped. Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She´s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments – even the physical violence – she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So, she´s build up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James. He´s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her – they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds – and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she´s not sure she´ll ever be able to let it down.

Der Fall Des Präsidenten by Marc Elsberg

Dana Marin, a lawyer, would never have believed she would actually experience this day: During a visit to Athens, the Greek police arrested the ex-President of the USA on behalf of the International Criminal Court. Diplomatic hectic immediately breaks out. The incumbent US president is campaigning and cannot afford a scandal. The White House is threatening the International Court of Justice and all states of the European Union. And for Dana Marin, a fight against overwhelming opponents begins. Just like for their most important witness, whose testimony can finally bring down the once most powerful man in the world, and whom the US secret services are already hot on the heels. Meanwhile, a task force is preparing for the violent liberation of the ex-president …

Vortex-Die Liebe, Die Den Anfang Brachte by Anna Benning

After Elaine has lost not only her powers but also Bale, everything threatens to fall apart. The army of the Red Storm is advancing further and further, and the peaceful world Elaine has dreamed of seems to be a long way off. But when Elaine suddenly comes across Bale in occupied São Paulo, hope sprouts in her: Maybe she can still save the boy she loves. Because Elaine knows only together can they protect the original vortex. Only together can they travel deep into the past. To where it all began …

The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A queen. A dragon rider. A magician. They can only cope with the ancient enemy if they work together. Should Queen Sabran of Inys die childless, the dragons will return. Because their family is the only obstacle that holds back the beasts. But assassins are getting closer and closer to her. Fortunately for her, her maid, Ead, is actually a mage from the Order of the Secret Tree who protects her. At the same time in the far east of Seiiki, where dragons are worshiped like gods, a young dragon rider, Tané, saves the life of a shipwrecked man – and thus damned herself.

Happy reading

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