10/31/2016

October Wrap Up

I can´t believe that October is over, the world goes crazy about Halloween and that I will only have a few weeks left to get my reading schedule done. During this past month, I´ve managed somehow to read eleven (!) books and am very surprised that I did it again. Well, my TV isn´t on very often, radio is no option and so what else can someone – better said a book crazy person like me – do if not reading books or listen to one? The book fair in Frankfurt around the middle of October had spread its wings all over me.

Never before did I receive so many emails and letters (yes, some publishers still send letters out to the reading folks) with book offers inside or a review request and so my schedule for the next few weeks and months gets more and more filled. Guess, I am well prepared for next year when I do another New Release Challenge. The ongoing 2016 New Release Challenge was - or better said is still - so much fun, I see no reason why I shouldn´t do that challenge next year again

I had a fire alarm going on at my place and spend some nerve-wracking minutes with a pounding heart and ringing ears trying to get that damn thing quiet again – all on a late Saturday evening where you are actually supposed to be relaxed, enjoy a good book, movie or whatever you prefer doing. Smashing a broomstick against a yelling fire alarm above my head isn´t one I consider a pleasant evening activity. And after that, I wasn´t relaxed at all - so much to that.

I won a giveaway by surprise from a German author and got a lot of nice swag with that. And from another author the approval to receive an ARC from her. Oh yes, my TBR keeps growing and growing *sigh*

So, yes, this past month has left its marks on me, one way or the other *smile*

Best wishes & Happy reading

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10/29/2016

Stacking The Shelves #28 - Bought, Borrowed & Bagged #12

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga´s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! I am also connecting with Bought Borrowed & Bagged in homage of Barron´s Books & Baubles from Karen Marie Moning´s smash hit series, Fever, hosted by Braine at Talk Supe.

Recently I bought the eBook, now I won the print book of Blanche-Die Schlacht AND IT IS EVEN SIGNED! Together with it came a lot of swag (lots of beautiful bookmarks & postcards) and a big card which says (written by hand!): All you need is love.

How great is that!?

I´ve got the great news out of the blue, right after I had received some other fantastic news. I got approved for an ARC. The US author is sending me a print book of her newest novel, which will be published in December. You can imagine how I freaked out. Since the ARC´s are a bit different from the reviewer´s copies we get here in German from the publishers, this one will be my very first ARC and I am looking absolutely forward to its arrival.

So said in books, this past week was a good one.

Bought Books

Won Giveaway

Reviewer Copy

Happy reading

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10/29/2016

Crown Me by Geneva Lee

After the first two books, I clearly had to read this last one about Clara and Alexander as well. Luckily I got them without asking from the publisher. And so after I had finished the second book I could go straight to this one. And it was really worth it. Fine, it wasn´t as much dark and erotic as I would have wished for, but the change in the relationship between Clara and Alexander and the change in the tone of the novel itself was nonetheless very entertaining. So I had my moments reading it and, though, it wasn´t as dark as the others, it was fun too. 

Crown Me*

by Geneva Lee
Royals Saga #3
Publisher Westminster Press on February 10, 2015
Genre Love-Women-Erotica
Pages 328
Format Paperback
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

As the world tried to tear us apart, Alexander fought for me, claiming me as his own. I belong to him – body, heart, and soul. I found strength in his dominance. In his control. In his love. Still, I could always feel it: the darkness creeping toward our joy, threatening to overcome us. But I never imagined it would end like this. To my independence. To us I was wrong. Ripped apart by tragedy, fighting for love, Clara and Alexander face their darkest hour.

Story

Clara should be on cloud number seven. But she is not. Not only that she´s struggling with the constant refusal the royal family is showing, but her own isn´t much better. Her mother tries to control her daughter´s life to forget about her own marriage problems and the fact that Alexander relegates her very clearly isn´t making the situation easier.

Style

With a clear and simple writing style wrote the author this third book of her Royal Saga. Written from the personal point of view by Clara and Alexander, the reader gets again involved in a very emotional story. Not as dark and erotic as the first two books have been, but beautiful and sensitive. Despite that, I couldn´t get rid of the feeling, that there were some scenes that no other purpose but to fill some additional pages.

Alexander is kind of surprised when he has to see that Clara is not willing to play the part he wants to have her in his life and when Clara tells him some things very clearly, he is shocked. No matter what scenes you are going through in this novel, the author never gets kitschy. Sure I would have wished that some scenes were handled a bit different and that the author would have accentuated some thinks a lot better. And that there were so many questions unanswered in the end was sad, too. But despite that, Crown Me is a real reading pleasure.

Characters

A king who misjudges his family, especially his sons, so completely, a grandmother who is as cold as the arctic ice and a best friend who has to learn the hard way that she can´t keep continuing to tell her best friend what to do, when and how.

Clara has changed. She is no longer willing to let others tell her what to do and when and how. She still has to fight her eating problem, has to set an alarm clock to know when she has to eat and yet she manages her life quite well. 

Alexander is dominant by nature. The public doesn´t know much of this side of him, but that doesn´t change that he is who he is. The fact, that a bourgeois shows him that he can´t control everyone and everything, is totally news to him and hits him like a rock.

Conclusion

No doubt a beautiful novel. I only missed the dark and the erotic elements that were so typical for the first two books. Despite that, a wonderful reading pleasure and for all Geneva Lee fans, a must-read. Clear recommendation.

Happy reading

*I read the German edition new release by Blanvalet on May 16, 2016

Geneva Lee

Geneva Lee was since always a hopeless romantic, who prefers fantasy to reality – especially fantasies involving powerful, dangerous, and sexy men. With her Royals Saga, the love-story between the English crown prince Alexander and commoner Clara, she hit into the heart of the reader and took the international bestseller lists by storm. Geneva Lee lives with her family in Kansas City.

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10/28/2016

Halloween Tag

Actually created by NeylaKunta for Nomnivors #Halloween-Wochen, this tag was now handed over to me by Patricia from FiktiveWelten. The questions are all Halloween related and since I have only great memories of my Halloween time in the US – imagine me elbow deep cutting out pumpkins – I am going to do this thing here.

So thank you, my friend, for asking me to do this fun thing.

1. What is your favorite Thriller/crime?

Ad hoc I´d say The Search by Nora Roberts

2. If you´d be part of such a book, which part would you like to be? (Killer, investigator, victim)

Guess, I would like to be the investigator.

3. How far do you think would you come?

I would solve the crime – what else did you expect *laugh*

4. What is your favorite horror movie?

I don´t watch them, so I can´t name one.

5. Did you ever play a horror video game? And if yes, which one?

No. I didn´t and still don´t play such games. Sorry, no answer here.

6. What are you afraid of? And why?

Spiders - I just don´t like them; way too many legs ….

7. If you think about Halloween, what comes first into your mind?

Pumpkins.

8. Do you like Halloween at all?

Yes. During my time in the US, I got fascinated. All the spooky costumes, some of them were handmade and with a lot of fantasy created, others bought. But the kids loved it. And to hear them call “trick or treat” and see their shiny eyes had something magical.

9. Your best Halloween costume

I went as a magician with a long black wig, a blue coat with golden stars on it and gray silk pants. No one recognized me, not even my mother, so I had one hell of a great time *laugh*

10. Are you frightened easily? Or do you rather frighten others?

Good question. Well, guess I can say if you want to make me scream hold a big fat spider right in front of my face *yikes I am getting goosebumps already even thinking about it. And sometimes I like to frighten others, yes. Revenge is best-served cold *smirk*

11. What is creepier?

a. Werewolves or vampires?
Neither. Actually, I like them both.

b. Ghosts or zombies
Definitely zombies.

c. Dolls or clowns?
Clowns with ugly grimaces.

d. You in the morning, when you slept badly or in the evening after work/school
I am a night owl. But after a sleepless night or bad sleep, I am not creepy but grumpy.


Good, answering part is done.  Now it´s my turn and I am tagging:

Isa from Mikku-chan

But everyone who would also like to answer those questions can do so by leaving a comment here *smile*

Till next time & happy reading

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10/28/2016

Bannwald by Julie Heiland

Here is a typical example of a kind of nice to look at the cover, but that doesn´t mean anything. Bannwald is the first of three books from an author, who was when I read this book about a year ago, completely new to me. The blurb sounded interesting and the cover got my attention. Well, you can´t always judge a book by its cover, can you?! 

Bannwald*

by Julie Heiland
Wald Trilogy #1
Publisher Fischer FJB on May 21, 2015
Genre Children 14+
Pages 334
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads

✶✶

How all of this happened? How it always happens. The strong scent power and subdue the weak. We, the clan of the Leonen, are followers of the white magic. The magic of nature. We heal, we create, we do good. The others, the clan of the Tauren, have conspired to the dark magic. They rule cold-blooded, they destroy, they kill. Even us. But I will no longer allow it. 17-year-old Robin belongs to the clan of the Leonen, which has been suppressed by the clan of the murderous Tauren for generations. When Robin one day is hunted by the young Tauren Emilian, she expects her death – but it all comes differently. 

Story

Robin belongs to the clan of the Leonen, who live like the people of the Middle Age. No electrical power at all, no technical equipment like a washing machine or a computer. She and her folks live in the middle of the wood – as prisoners. But not a prison-like you are used to, this prison has no visible fences, no visible guards. Only an invisible border keeps the Leonen in their place. If they overstep that line, their dead are unavoidable. The Tauren are known for their barbarity, for their lust to kill – just because they can. They have the power, the technical equipment, money, and they keep the Leonen like slaves. And when one Tauren lets Robin escape for no obvious reason, a deadly cat-and-mouse game begins. One that threatens the lives of all Leonen and Tauren alike.

Style

One day, when Robin crosses by accident that invisible border, she´s cornered by Emilian, a Tauren. He is responsible for a certain part of Robin´s prison. But instead of killing her right away, he lets her run, and from now on she lives in permanent fear that her life could be over any minute, ´cause everyone knows that only death can make good, what she´d done wrong. The author shows in her novel Bannwald a cat-and-mouse game that unfortunately misses the real thrill. Her style is kind of dull. Her sentences are very staccato-like and the story reads very choppy, and in combination with some of her characters, it was really a bit strange and then annoying to read. Some scenes in this novel play in the world of today like we know her, others in the deepest Middle Age but no matter where the tone is kind of morbid and strange. But I have to say, that some of the scenes in the forest are really great. The author has a wonderful way of describing how it feels to walk over pure forest soil, to feel the connection with mother nature, to have her magic run through your veins and all the colors, noises, and animals – yes those scenes are really the best of this book. 

Characters

Strength, power, brutality, passion, and weakness – that and a lot more present the author in her figures. Nothing bad, not at all, but when it comes to her male characters of Robin´s folk; you can smoke some of them in a pipe! 

Laurin is one of those figures. He is protective, nice, helpful, and a really good friend to Robin. But watch him. Whenever he can he betrays her trust by running to her stepfather and telling him all her secrets, fears, and what she wants to hide from him. And that behavior brings her in serious trouble. Great friend, yes! You don´t need an enemy when you have such friends around you. 

And the rest isn´t any better. One of the men is so eager to become the next leader of the Leonen he does everything to undermine the power of the current one. But when it comes to the real deal, and he has to face the Tauren and to fight for the freedom of the Leonen, he is nowhere to be seen. Oh yeah, you can really say, the men of Robin´s folk are real wimps – and genius in being so.

Conclusion

What an odd and demure novel. I am wondering if this was about zodiac signs or the blindness of the world in the here and now. After I finished it I didn´t know at all what this book was about. Sad to say, but no recommendation from me here.

Happy reading

*At the time of this review, the book was only available in the German language.

Julie Heiland

Julie Heiland, born 1991, lives nearby Munich. She studied journalism. Parallel she made an acting and rhetoric apprenticeship and played in some TV films. 

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10/26/2016

Waiting On Wednesday #25 – Sanfte Rache (Mean Streak) by Sandra Brown

is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy.

This week I want to post about the thriller Mean Streak, which will be published in Germany later this year for the very first time under the title Sanfte Rache. I don´t know why that is, but for a couple of years now, I love to read Sandra Brown books. Well, to be precise I love her thrillers way more than the other genres she wrote about in her beginning as a writer. I think her thrillers are the right combination of tension, suspense, passion, and psychological finesse.

And besides that, I saw the cover and was like wow! That looks gorgeous. Good, you can´t compare it with the original, that is a completely different story, but the German edition is, at least in my eyes, one hell of a great cover motive. Alone the color mix is something I like very much. And the blurb is very promising, another good thing about it *laugh*

Sanfte Rache

Author Sandra Brown
Publishing Date December 12, 2016
Publisher Blanvalet
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her. While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce, “ Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself that captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won´t even tell her his name. She´s determined to escape him and willing to take any risks necessary to survive. Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can´t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law. Wrong becomes right at the hands of the man who strikes fear, but also sparks passion. As her husband´s deception is revealed and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer from those who wish her dead – and from heartbreak. 

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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10/26/2016

Für Immer Und Einen Weihnachtsmorgen by Sarah Morgan

OMG, this novel was soooooooo beautiful *sigh*. Heartwarming, romantic, full of passion, and written in an adorable style. Sarah Morgan, you´ve got a new fan! This is the very first time that I´ve read a book by Sarah Morgan, and it wasn´t for sure the last time. Her style is perfect and so romantic and she creates characters *sigh*.

Für Immer Und Einen Weihnachtsmorgen*

by Sarah Morgan
Puffin Island #3
Original Title Christmas Ever After
Publisher Mira TB on October 10, 2016
Genre Novel
Pages 376
Format Paperback
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶✶

Skylar Tempest has never understood Alex Hunter´s appeal. So what if he´s a world-renowned historian? He´s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she´s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright. Alex has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women – and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he´s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family´s festive chaos, Alec realizes there is far more to his blonde bombshell than meets the eye. With Christmas around the corner, Alec and Skylar return to Puffin Island, a tentative bond forged between them. Neither intends to fall in love but as the nights become darker, and the fire between them grows hotter, could this be the chance. 

Story

Skylar is in London to open her first exhibition and to meet with her boyfriend Richard. But when he surprises her with an unromantic proposal in front of everyone and she asks for a private talk, things get very ugly. Hurt, in pain and with a bloody head Alec finds her and though he isn´t happy about it, takes care of her. An embarrassing situation for Skylar, but she is too weak to say no. And so it comes that she ends up in the embrace of a loving and caring family, has to clear some misunderstandings and to change her plans completely.

Style

Für Immer und einen Weihnachtsmorgen (Christmas Ever After) is heartwarming, romantic, passionate, and with so many fantastic dialogues, it was a huge pleasure for me to read it. I know the author´s name for a couple of years, but somehow never got to read her books. The story takes place in London, moves to the countryside and then over to Maine, USA. The way how Sarah Morgan describes her scenes, how she builds right in front of the reader´s eye an amazing winter landscape and totally different characters were simply amazing. I loved every minute and will for sure get her other books as well. Her language is clear, her tone soft but not too soft, sensitive and she writes about love, about respecting each other. That love should never bind what you have inside but should free it. That someone who loves – really loves – should never feel incomplete with the other person. Yes, there are bad times, yes there are things that might be dark, difficult, and not as bright and glorious as expected, but love is the ultimate feeling that doesn´t require something. You either love unconditionally - and get it in return the same way - or you don´t.  Sarah Morgan expresses all that and so much more in an entertaining and very atmospheric way. There isn´t one single line or page where you get bored or where you wish for this book to end. In fact, I could have read it forever! Loyalty, friendship and the love of a caring family and what power such love can contain gets displayed in a well-written and very expressive way.

This book is written in the personal perspective of Skylar and Alec. This brings a lot of fun, humor, and charm to the story. The reader sees both sides, gets to know how they see things, what they really feel, and the way how the author describes everything is adorable and makes you laugh and cry tears at the same time.

Characters

Skylar is used to be kind of ignored by her family. That they don´t approve what she wants or what she is. In fact, every decision she makes, they disfavor. But when she finds out, that behind her relationship with Richard was all along a plan and she finally gets to see his real face, she is shocked. And literally hurt. But not willing to give in. And with that decision, she shows from page to page a bit more about whom she really is and what she wants in life and from life. She is, despite the family, she grew up in, a fantastic woman who has the heart at the right place and knows exactly where to go when she needs time from her parents. Parents who are as cold as ice and only show interest in their daughter when she does as they say. 

Alec is handsome as hell, knows a lot about shipwrecks, and his house on Puffin Island means everything to him. So does his family. If they don´t try to get him involved with a new woman. No, thank you very much. Not after his disastrous marriage and the fact that he failed completely. So Skylar is for him like a red flag. But the more he gets to know her, the more she isn´t at all what he expected her to be, the more he´s lost. 

Conclusion

I am so thrilled! This novel was a fantastic read and together with those great characters a real reading pleasure. I will definitely read more by her and can highly recommend this book. 

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Mira TB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore you see the cover of the German edition first in this review. The book was published Christmas Ever After by Harper Collins on October 22, 2015.

Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan dreamed as a child of being a writer and although she took a few interesting detours along the way, she is now living her dream. She loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying. Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance with humor and sensuality. She has sold over 14 million copies of her books and was nominated four years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America which she won twice; in 2012 and 2013. She also won the RT Reviewers´ Choice Award in 2012 and has made numerous appearances in their `Top Pick´ slot. Together with her husband and children, she lives near London, England.

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10/23/2016

Saturday Sentence #4

This is a little book game that got started by Lesefee. Everyone who likes to participate can do that. It is easy to do. Just find your sentence in the book you are currently reading. Create your post, write a little something over it or not; and post it along with the logo (you can grab it over at Lesefee´s blog) on your blog.

My Saturday sentence this week will be more like a Sunday sentence and comes a bit late.

Yesterday I didn´t get as far as I would have liked with my blog work and when I thought about this post my laptop was already turned off and I had no drive to get up again and write it. Can happen *smile*

1. Take your current reading.

2. Go to page 158; find sentence 10, and share with us how your “Saturday sentence” reads.

Currently, I am reading Crown of Three. The Lost Realm, so my sentence this time is:

The door slammed behind Lady Vicerin and Sylva with a dull bang.  

This book is the second in J. D. Rinehart´s Crown of Three trilogy. I am reading the German edition and hope that I translated this sentence right. This trilogy is kind of a child version of Game of Thrones.

Happy reading

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10/22/2016

Stacking The Shelves #27 - Bought, Borrowed & Bagged #11

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga´s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! I am also connecting with Bought Borrowed & Bagged in homage of Barron´s Books & Baubles from Karen Marie Moning´s smash hit series, Fever, hosted by Braine at Talk Supe.

Oh yes, I can see that we have the world´s biggest book fair going on right now and that new programs are coming up – like every year. During the past week, I almost found daily new books in my mailbox, my eMail account is stuffed with requests from publishers and on top of it all I, of course, couldn´t resist and bought some I wanted since a long time. Even an eBook is among them.  Guess I will be quite busy over the next couple of weeks to read all of them – or at least some *laugh*

Bought Books

Ronan McGuire loves women, loves his dog, loves his job - but when old flame Maddy Morgan moves into his jurisdiction, he can´t think about anything else. Ronan knows she´s way out of his league, but he´s determined to help Maddy live life to the fullest. With tragedy in her past, Maddy has immersed herself in work and swiftly made a name for herself in the hot New York City real estate market. She´s looking for safety, not love, but Ronan McGuire is as persistent as he is sexy, and his crooked smile is hard to resist. But all other concerns are wiped away when Maddy goes missing and Ronan and his bloodhound K-9 partner are tasked with finding her and bringing her home.

She is an assassin. He a demon. She needs help. He is her only chance. She doesn´t trust nobody. He wants her trust. Their love is strong and yet so fragile. Are you ready for Blanche? It is not easy to be a professional killer who has changed sides. Blanche is involved in Miceal´s cause and has herself a powerful enemy created with Saetan. He plans to take over her former orphanage to set up an army. That cries for patience, perseverance, good equipment and enough mantle shells. But Blanche has not only to fight against external enemies but also with her inner demons. The past threatens to catch up. She has to face her contradictory feelings, otherwise, she loses Beliar, the man who saved her – and who loves her. Blanche has to fight. For her survival. Her freedom. Her love.

Reviewer Copy

The kingdom of Toronia is being torn apart by civil war. The kingdom´s only hope comes in form of illegitimate triplets, who are prophesied to kill the king and rule together in peace. Separated at birth and scattered through the realms, the triplets face a desperate fight to secure their destiny. Will they survive long enough to rule? The resurrected King Brutan and his army of the dead control the city of Idilliam. Outside, Eloide and Tarlan are trying to hold their own army together and find a way to rescue their brother Gulph who is trapped inside the city. Or is he? Gulph has found a passageway to the lost realm of Celesties, which lies beneath Idilliam. There he is reunited with the mother he has never known – but she can´t remember him. If Gulph stays in the city, will he also forget those about ground whom he loves? Meanwhile, Tarlan and wizard Melchior set out on a quest to restore the wizard´s powers, leaving Eloide and her army to keep watch. But Eloide is betrayed, her troops slaughtered, and she is taken captive by Lord Vicerin, her former guardian, who is determined to use her to get to the throne. Seemingly further from the throne than ever, the triplets will need to use all their strength and abilities if they are to survive – let alone rule.

Skylar Tempest has never understood Alex Hunter´s appeal. So what if he´s a world-renowned historian? He´s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she´s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright. Alex has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women – and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he´s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family´s festive chaos, Alec realizes there is far more to his blonde bombshell than meets the eye. With Christmas around the corner, Alec and Skylar return to Puffin Island, a tentative bond forged between them. Neither intends to fall in love but as the nights become darker, and the fire between them grows hotter, could this be the chance. 

Happy reading

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10/22/2016

Traveler by Arwen Elys Dayton

After I had such a good time reading the first book of this trilogy, I surely wanted to read this one. The German cover, blue this time, looks so nice and I was eager to find out how things were going on after the dramatic end of part one. Well, it turned out, that Quin is now in a position, where everything can happen – and it does. But to be honest, this second book wasn´t as quite as good as the first one Seeker. But despite that, I enjoyed it anyway, had a good time reading and got some answers, I had remained from reading the previous book.

Traveler*

by Arwen Elys Dayton
Seeker #2
Publisher Delacorte Press on January 12, 2016
Genre Young Adult
Pages 388
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶

Quin Kincaid is a Seeker. Her legacy is an honor, an ancient role passed down for generations. But what she learned on her Oath night changed her world forever. Quin pledged her life to deception. Her legacy as a Seeker is not noble but savage. Her father, a killer. Her uncle, a liar. Her mother, a casualty. And the boy she once loved is out for vengeance, with her family in his sights. Yet Quin is not alone. Shinobu, her oldest companion, might now be the only person she can trust. The only one who wants answers as desperately as she does. But the deeper they dig into the past, the darker things become. There are long-vanished Seeker families, shadowy alliances, and something else: a sinister plan begun generations ago, with the power to end the legacy forever. The past is close. And it will destroy them all.

Story

Quin has to learn, that her relationship with John never existed the way she thought it had. The John she had to face on board the Traveler and in Hong Kong was not the same boy she spent many hours training with. And she knows that she has to do everything she can, to keep John from using the Athame and continue his revenge. But something else is bothering her. Where have all the Seekers disappeared? And why? The deeper she and Shinobu dig into the past of the Seekers, the more she gets to see that a long time ago something went badly wrong. And that the death of the dread wasn´t the solution. On the contrary, she now has to face three more than willing boys who try to kill her only to get what they think belongs to their master.

Style

From the perspective of some of the figures, the reader is thrown into a story where no one is safe. Quin soon has to face the truth that others want her dead only because they think she is a thief. The athame she possesses and the other things she uses to search for answers are some rare artifacts and highly sought by the Watcher. Arwen Elys Dayton has a wonderful language and a very nice writing style. But in this second book, I missed some of the great fantasy she used to show in Seeker. Yes, Traveler is in many ways a good book and, yes, you will have your good time with it. But it wasn´t as haunting and thrilling as the first book of this trilogy.

Characters

The author has created some really great and strong figures with Quin, John, and Shinobu. They have to go through a lot, have to face things they´d rather not, and have to learn that not everything they were raised to believe was right or good. 

For John means possessing his family´s athame everything. With that dagger, he will finally be able to get the revenge he promised his mother he would have. But using the athame the wrong way can do more harm than good. When he starts to realize with the unusual training the young Dread is giving him, that he was kind of wrong longing only for vengeance, he starts to change and becomes more and more a strong and very capable young man. 

Quin is in love. With Shinobu. But he is changing right in front of her and she doesn´t know how to stop that. The new artifact they are carrying with them doesn´t make things easier. But her will to find answers, to be able to see beyond the plan someone is obviously having is stronger and so she is willing to help Shinobu, not knowing how far things already have gone and that he is in a dangerous situation.

Conclusion

I had my pleasure reading it, no doubt about that. But it wasn´t as much fun or pleasure as I had with the first book, that is for sure. If it wouldn´t have been for the fantastic characters the author has created with Quin and John, I probably wouldn´t have finished it. But still, I am looking forward to the third one Disruptor.

Happy reading

*I read the German edition new release by Arena on June 14, 2016. Cover by Arena Verlag

Arwen Elys Dayton

Arwen Elys Dayton spends months doing research for her stories. Her explorations have taken her around the world to places like the Great Pyramid (which she explored by a single fading flashlight when researching Resurrection), Hong Kong and its many islands, and lots of ruined castles in Scotland. She enjoys creating complete worlds inhabited by characters who charm, frustrate or inspire. Arwen lives with her husband and their three children on the West Coast of the United States. 

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10/21/2016

Follow Friday #7 – Book Fair

This is a Friday meme now hosted by Patricia of FiktiveWelten. Every week she asks a question that you can answer. Everyone who would like to participate, just answer her question, link to her blog, and write a comment under her post to let the others know that you are participating. The entire rules you can find here.

This week Patricia is asking if I ever was a guest at a book fair or if I would like to be one. Well, to be short: I haven´t been yet on a book fair.

Not on those two we have every year here in Germany nor on one abroad. Currently, the world is to guest at the world’s biggest book fair in Frankfurt, which is about a two hours drive away from where I live. The other we have is a bit smaller and takes place in Leipzig usually around spring.

And yes, who wouldn´t love to go to such an event, see authors you like or love live, and maybe have a chat with one or the other? Get your books signed, buy new ones, and just feel the atmosphere?

One day I will take the time and see all that with my own eyes, but for now, I will have to turn on the TV (late at night, of course!) and see what they report from this event.

How is it about you?

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10/21/2016

Bay Of Sighs by Nora Roberts

I am a huge Nora Roberts fan that is for sure. Yes, some of her novels are not that good and her style has a bit changed over the years, but still, with this new trilogy, or at least this second book, she got me again. I was really curious to read how she will develop Annika further, and how the story about the Stars would continue. And after the first book, I was a bit disappointed because the way all the characters were was something I don´t bring in connection with Nora Roberts. 

Bay Of Sighs

by Nora Roberts
The Guardians Trilogy #2
Publisher Berkley on June 14, 2016
Genre Novel
Pages 338
Format Paperback
Source Purchased

Goodreads

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To celebrate the rise of their new queen, three goddesses of the moon created three stars: one of fire, one of ice, one of water. But then they fell from the sky, putting the fate of all worlds in danger. And now three women and three men join forces to pick up the pieces … Mermaid Annika is from the sea, and it is there she must return to after her quest to find the stars. New to this world, her purity and beauty are nothing less than breathtaking, as is her graceful athleticism, which her five new friends discovered when they retrieved the Fire Star. Now, through space and time, traveler Sawyer King has brought the guardians to the island of Capri, where the Water Star is hidden. And as he watches Annika in her element, he finds himself drawn to her joyful spirit. But Sawyer knows that if he allows her into his heart, no compass could ever guide him back to solid ground … And in the darkness their enemy broods. She lost one star to the guardians, but there is still time for blood to be spilled – the mermaid´s in the water and the traveler´s on the land. For she has forged a dangerous new weapon. Something deadly and unpredictable. Something human.

Story

Annika is in love with Sawyer. But as a mermaid, she has to stay quiet. Can´t let him know that she feels what she feels for him because he has to do the literally first step. It has to be his choice if he wants to be with her or not. And with the fight against Nerezza, there are some other things she has to focus on. And to know that she will have to go back into her natural environment, the sea, when the fight is done, doesn´t make things easier for her. But Sawyer is not moving any step further towards her, though she can see and feel that he wants her, too.

Style

This novel is written in the personal perspective. This time it is the turn of Annika and Sawyer. The mermaid and the time traveler. The reader gets to know her thoughts, her way of thinking, and what she would like to do as much as Sawyer. So the tone of this novel is in many ways darker because of the scenes between Nerezza and Andre Malmon. You will also find a very interesting tension that comes along with Annika´s purity, her light brightness, her innocence, and that she refuses to handle any kind of weapon. Nora Roberts combines evil with the innocence of a child, with the sunlight Annika brings because of how she is into the lives of the others. That combination is really beautiful and shows that not everything has to be dark and complicated. 

Characters

Okay, maybe some of her readers need to get used to the fact, that all kind of fantasy figures are created in a Nora Roberts novel. Like me. Because you actually don´t expect the author to use such figures as a mermaid, a Lycan, or an Immortal. Usually, she is not using such fantasy elements as her characters or in a novel at all. In her The Guardians trilogy she does, and with Annika and Sawyer, she created two figures which couldn´t be more different than they are. Where Annika is light, bright, and very easy going, Sawyer is quite the opposite. He feels a lot for Annika, but thinks that because of the situation they’re in, he has to be a real gentleman. And exactly that behavior brings him into trouble with himself. Because he wants to lay his hands on her, wants to have her, and knows that her time is limited.

Conclusion

I was entertained, enjoyed it very much, and had my reading pleasure. Yes, this second book was in my eyes better than the first one and I am looking forward to seeing how things between Riley and Doyle will develop. For every Nora Roberts fan, I can only say: read it.

Happy reading

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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