1/31/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #61 – The Queens Of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

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

For whatever reason Jill is not blogging since August 2016 but her meme is still going on. Hope everything is ok and she will be back soon!

Until then, I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

1/27/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #52 – Wrapping Up January

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*

1/26/2018

Herz In Scherben by Kathrin Lange

That trilogy is one heck of a great read. And if you are in for some young adult mystery thriller, then this is for sure your book! In English, this book could be titled Heart in shards. Again, the combination of a fictional story and an interesting curse based on elements of a ship´s tragedy that actually happened in 1884 is woven together by the author in a very fascinating way. And that curse is the base for all the pain and desperation that brought David and his father to the point where they are now.

Herz In Scherben*

by Kathrin Lange
Herz Trilogy #2
Publisher Arena on January 13, 2015
Genre Mystery-Thriller
Pages 377
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶½

Come closer to me, and you´ll regret it. A shot resounds in David´s head. Suddenly the memory is there, and he does not know if it has something to do with Charlie´s death and the terrible events on Martha´s Vineyard. Five months have passed since then, but now a dark idea draws David with power back to the island. His girlfriend Juli follows him full of concern. But against all fears, it is not the island curse that makes life difficult fort them, but the arrogant Lizz. She does everything she can to drive Juli out of David´s side. When suddenly a girl´s body appears, Juli begins to doubt. What really happened on the cliffs in winter? And what role did David play in this? (personal translation)

Story

Juli is shocked when she realizes that her boyfriend David is drawn back to Martha´s Vineyard. For the past six months, she enjoyed a normal life with David and her father far away from the Bell´s family estate Sorrow. And lived an illusion. Because David´s nightmares never stopped. In fact, they are getting worse. Only his return to Sorrow seems the only solution to the problem. But back on the estate Lizz appears again and makes Juli´s and David´s life a living hell.

Style

Again, the combination of a fictional story and an interesting curse based on elements of a ship´s tragedy that actually happened in 1884 is woven together by the author in a very fascinating way.

And that curse is the base for all the pain and desperation that brought David and his father to the point where they are now.

A bit melancholic and with a slightly old-fashioned sounding style – that´s the way how Kathrin Lange has written this second part of her Heart-trilogy. The writing style is calm, sometimes almost gloomy, although there are some violent scenes where it is not only verbally loud.

The horror that shaped Juli´s winter stay on Sorrow – and from which she had nearly six months of peace and quiet in Boston – beats again and seems to be even crueler this time. By varying lengths of chapters, the author skillfully builds the tension and underscores this by mysterious hints in the dialogues and reflections of Juli and the ever-stranger behavior of David. The end is a breathtaking cliffhanger!

Characters

Even more desperation, pain, agony, hatred and, jealousy form the foundation of this figural constellation. A network that connects Kathrin Lange with an almost morbid tendency to self-torture and a sophisticated cat-and-mouse game that is played in a relentless grueling war of nerves. The fascinating thing here, the interaction of the individual characters is so convincing and more or less profound that it gives the plot even more fuel. And the contradictory behavior of David compared to Juli makes the special kick of the story. A life-threatening confrontation shakes not only the reader and brings you near a heart attack – the characters are not spared from it either.

Conclusion

A youth thriller, with a wonderful shot of mystery, which ensure the very special thrill. A great elaborated mind game and the beautiful landscape of Martha´s Vineyard offer pure reading enjoyment.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Kathrin Lange

Kathrin Lange was born in Goslar in 1969. Although she initially had plans to join the police dog squad, her love for books then won the day and she first became a bookseller and then a writer. Today she is a member of the International Thriller Writers and writes bestselling novels for adults and teenagers. She lives with her husband and two sons in a small village near Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, Germany.

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1/24/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #60 – The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty

is a weekly event originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. For whatever reason Jill is not blogging since August 2016 but her meme is still going on. Hope everything is ok and she will be back soon!

Until then, I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

I started loving this author´s books when I read her Night School series. Her style, her way to describe things and to create tension thrilled me and still does. This new book sounds very much like a haunting mystery thriller, and though I am not too happy about the cover, its summary got me somehow. Maybe it will look totally different when I hold it live in my hands, who knows *smile*

The Echo Killing

Author Christi Daugherty
Harper McClain Series #1
Publishing Date March 13, 2018
Publisher Minotaur Books
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

A city of antebellum architecture, picturesque parks, and cobblestone streets, Savannah moves at a graceful pace. But for Harper McClain, the timeless beauty and culture that distinguishes her home´s Southern heritage vanishes during the dark and dangerous nights. She wouldn´t have it any other ways. Not even finding her mother brutally murdered in their home when she was twelve has made her love Savannah any less.
Her mother´s killer was never found, and that unsolved murder left Harper with an obsession that drove her to become one of the best crime reporters in the state of Georgia. She spends her nights with the police, searching for criminals. Her latest investigation takes her to the scene of a homicide where the details are hauntingly familiar: a young girl being led from the scene by a detective, a female victim naked and stabbed multiple times in the kitchen and no traces of any evidence pointing towards a suspect.
Harper has seen all of this before in her own life. The similarities between the murder of Marie Whitney and her own mother´s death lead her to believe they´re both victims of the same killer. At last, she has the chance to find the murderer who´s eluded justice for fifteen years and make sure another little girl isn´t forever haunted by a senseless act of violence – even if it puts Harper in the killer´s cross-hairs ….

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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1/20/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #51 – Hurricane Friederike´s Aftermath

1/19/2018

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

I am not sure which cover version I like more. The one the German edition is showing or the one, the English edition has. Anyway, after I had read the first book, I HAD to read the second one as well. The end of Three Dark Crowns was just too thrilling, and I NEEDED to know how things would continue.

One Dark Throne*

Author Kendare Blake

Three Dark Crowns Series #2

Publisher Harper Teen on September 19, 2017

Genre Fantasy

Pages 464

Format Softcover

Source Purchased

Goodreads

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before – ones that put those around her in danger she can´t seem to prevent.

Thoughts

That they would continue the way they did in One Dark Throne, wasn´t foreseeable, at least not for me.

1/18/2018

Bossman by Vi Keeland

One of the many beautiful surprises I received last year. This book you shouldn´t judge by its cover because you will find so much more in this novel. My first Vi Keeland book, but for sure not the last.

Bossman*
Author Vi Keeland
Translation Babette Schröder
Publisher Goldmann on November 20, 2017
Genre Novel
Pages 380
Format Softcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads

Reese Annesley, young, pretty, ambitious, is experiencing the worst date in her life when she sees him for the first time: Chase Parker. Again, and again her gaze wanders to the incredibly attractive man at the other end of the restaurant. Suddenly he gets up, sits down at Reese´s table, pretending to be old friends and saving her evening. And when she starts her dream job a few weeks later, the company´s CEO is none other than the stranger from the restaurant she could not forget. (personal translation)

Thoughts

This book I got by surprise. When I asked for it I never would´ve thought that I would get it.

1/17/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #59 – Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

1/13/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #50

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 Tynga´s Reviews and Caffeinated Book Reviewer and hope you´ll have fun reading it and maybe get the one or the other book inspiration.

Stacking The Shelves #50

Thanks to a price drop for English hardcover books I was able to get some books I either only had a German edition or an audiobook. Besides them, I am still waiting for some others to arrive at my place. A few will be sent over from Canada, so it takes them a few weeks to get here. Looking forward to those arrivals. My first time that I bought books from that seller, so I am very curious about how everything will be.

Bought Books

(click on the cover and you can read my reviews)

Sunday Post #7

I am not happy with the way how my daily life looks at the moment. Making plans is almost impossible and though I found the style I want for my posts it is very time-consuming to change everything. Therefore, my reading time is limited, and I feel that I am not happy with that. And right in time for the weekend where I would´ve had time to work on those changes, I got sick and ended up in bed – sleeping most of the time. Well, well …

But I can say that I made some progress on my eating issues. I want to change during 2018 some of the bad habits I have in that field and it seems that I am successful. Let´s see how this will keep going over the year *smile*

I am reading

Posts up on the blog

Follow Friday #32 Your First (Audio) Book 2018
Waiting On Wednesday #58 Auf Ewig Mein
Soldier by Julie Kagawa

Happy reading

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1/12/2018

Follow Friday #32 – Your First (Audio) Book 2018

Launched by Sonja of A Bookshelf Full Of Sunshine, continued by FiktiveWelten with a new logo.

The blog action is for lively communication between bloggers, a good network and should be fun. Duration of the question: Friday to Thursday. Rules. No registration required.

This week the FF wants to know what (audio) book I read first this year or listened to it. Well, to be honest, I am doing both. Or did. I just finished a printed book AND I am listening for many weeks to an audiobook which I will finish soon.

1/10/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #58 – Auf Ewig Mein by Eva Völler

1/06/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #49

1/05/2018

Soldier by Julie Kagawa

A beautiful to look at the cover, that´s for sure - the German edition. The mix of warm and cold colors is beautiful and for every Kagawa fan, you might consider this a must-read. Well … As you will see at the end of my review, I wasn´t really thrilled about this third book of the authors Talon Saga. I don´t know whether it´s just me or if the author changed something, but this book was for me only an a-bit-above-average read. Though I LOVE the cover. But a cover isn´t everything, is it?

Soldier*

by Julie Kagawa
Talon Saga #3
Publisher Harlequin Teen on May 1, 2016
Genre Young People 13+
Pages 380
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶½

When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She´s lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the former enemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side. As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundation of dragons and dragon-slayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon´s new order rises.

Story

Ember has joined Riley and fights with him against the apparently overpowering organization Talon. But she has to do exactly what she does not want: killing. A fact that more and more upsets her and inevitably changes her. And when Ember learns from the Chinese Dragon Jade what Riley really is for her, the rollercoaster of emotions really starts.

Style

No doubt, the author has a great fantasy. She knows how to create a setting, figures who catch your attention and what make the reader stick to a book. The writing style is soft, quiet and in a very sensitive way shown to the reader.

And still I was missing the pleasure, the excitement, the thrill the other books had when I was reading them. Good, the story has to continue somehow and without surprises and some unexpected twists, there wouldn´t be the next book.

Characters

Ember is in some kind of turmoil. Her feelings for Garrett aren´t very helpful at the moment. And with Jade, she sees a side of the Dragon´s she´d never imagined. I liked to watch her, she brought some drive into the story, humor and a hilarious freshness that made me laugh out loud.

Yes, no doubt, the author is giving Ember a hard time. To change sides, to fight for what you think is right and to stand up against your own people and brother is never easy. But what Ember has to experience in this novel is far beyond that.

Conclusion

This story is a nice read, yes, but I missed the special something that was shown in the first two books. No doubt, if you are a Kagawa-fan or a Talon-fan, in particular, this book will still bring you some reading pleasure. I am curious how the next book in this Saga will be.

Happy reading

*Was published as German edition Talon- Drachennacht by Heyne fliegt on October 31, 2016

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, CA. She moved to Hawaii at the age of nine. There she learned many things; how to bodyboard, that teachers scream when you put centipedes in their desks, and that writing stories in math class is a great way to kill time. Her teachers were glad to see her graduate. Julie now lives in Louisville, KY, with her husband and furkids. She is the international and NY bestselling author of The Iron Fey series.

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1/03/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #57 – Reign Of The Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

1/03/2018

The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter

I AM FLASHED! How Will Trent is solving his cases, how he´s doing his job, notices what others don´t – unbelievable. It was haunting and very bloody watching him in his first case and since then I am absolutely thrilled when it comes to this figure and his working style. What a man!

The Kept Woman*
Author Karin Slaughter

Will Trent Series #8*

Publisher Harper Collins on September 20, 2016

Genre Thriller

Pages 480

Format Hardcover

Source Publisher
Goodreads

With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop. Studying the body, Sara Linton – the GBI´s newest medical examiner and Will´s lover – realizes that the extensive blood loss didn´t belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim – a woman – who has vanished … and who will die soon if she isn´t found. Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city´s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful and politically connected athlete protected by the world´s most expensive lawyers – a man who´s already gotten away with rape, despite Will´s exhaustive efforts to put him away. But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will´s troubled past to the case … and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends – and even the suspects he pursues.

Thoughts

I am reading this series, since a couple of years. And thought long about publishing this review on Inkvotary, since I usually don´t like to start a series in the middle.

1/02/2018

2017 New Release Challenge – Wrap-Up

We are already in 2018 and I´d almost forgot to wrap-up the New Release Challenge I´ve done the past year. But before I do my last post for the 2017 New Release Challenge, a post that is required to sum it up, I will give you a bit insight in my reading numbers and tell you a bit how I handle things in this challenge. After going through the excel sheet where every book I´ve read and reviewed is listed, I can say that I´ve reviewed seventy-six (76) new releases the past twelve months. Which makes me a

New Release Veteran *YAY*

Originally, I had signed up to achieve the second level and becoming a New Release Pro. I knew that I had many new releases on my list, and since I am a fast reader I thought I aim for it. Somewhen during the past year, it became clear, that I could expand that goal and go for the New Release Veteran which meant that I had to have sixty-one to one-hundred (61-100) new released book reviews published on my blog. I changed my priorities a bit, and MADE IT!

My reading contains English originals as well as German editions. Therefore it can happen that you´ll find books on my blog or in the Link-up over on Lexxie´s blog (she is hosting the challenge) at (un)Conventional Bookviews, that show the cover of the German edition that came out in 2017 though it´s English edition was already being published the previous year or earlier the same year. It depends if I got the book from a publisher or bought it myself. In my reviews, you´ll always find a "*" right beside the book title (in the book data section on the right of the cover) that leads you to the end of my review where I tell you if I read the German edition new release or not.

I have to obey some rules I can´t ignore, so, again, I only counted and used the reviews I posted here on my blog.

And here we go. A list of all the books I read & reviewed for the 2017 New Release Challenge. They are not in the order I really read and posted them, but all those books fit the rules this challenge requires. To keep things simple, I list them with their English title first, no matter if my review shows the cover of the English edition first or not.

1. A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
2. Legacy Of Kings by Eleanor Herman
3. The Hope Chest by Viola Shipman
4. Saving Mercy by Abbie Roads
5. The Darkest Part Of The Forest by Holly Black
6. Buried Lies by Kristina Ohlsson
7. For 100 Days by Lara Adrian
8. Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen
9. The Sins That Bind Us by Geneva Lee
10. The Hawkweed Prophecy by Irena Brignull
11. All Dressed In White by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
12. High Season The Polo Season by Nacho Figueras
13. Die Bestimmung des Bösen by Julia Corbin
14. Deathline-Ewig Dein by Janet Clark
15. Good As Gone by Amy Gentry
16. Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan
17. The Kiss Of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
18. I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force
19. The Secret City by C.J. Daugherty
20. Into The Water by Paula Hawkins
21. Alles Oder Nichts by Simona Ahrnstedt
22. Mios Blues by Kristina Ohlsson
23. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
24. The Sprite Sisters How It All Began Flame and The Power Of Fire by Sheridan Winn
25. Kingdom Of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas
26. The Cosy Teashop In The Castle by Caroline Roberts
27. The Last Ever After by Soman Chainani
28. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
29. Sleepless In Manhattan by Sarah Morgan
30. Steadfast by Sarina Bowen
31. Water & Air by Laura Kneidl
32. Sunset In Central Park by Sarah Morgan
33. Burning Moon by Jo Watson
34. The Heart Of Betrayal Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson
35. Wild One The Polo Season by Nacho Figueras
36. Die Goldene Stadt by Sabrina Janesch
37. Leave Me by Gayle Forman
38. Perfect Days by Raphael Montes
39. Roar by Cora Carmack
40. Auf Ewig Dein by Eva Völler
41. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
42. Nachtmahr-Das Vermächtnis Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert
43. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
44. Ride Free The Polo Season by Nacho Figueras
45. Last Breath by Karin Slaughter
46. The Forever Court by Dave Rudden
47. The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
48. Successor´s Promise by Trudi Canavan
49. Lyrebird by Cecelia Ahern
50. Tale Of The Shikanoko The Emperor Of The Eight Islands by Lian Hearn
51. Paper Princess by Erin Watt
52. Cell 7 by Kerry Drewery
53. Ivory And Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
54. Broken Prince by Erin Watt
55. Traitor To The Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
56. Twisted Palace by Erin Watt
57. Carlotta-Internat Auf Klassenfahrt by Dagmar Hoßfeld
58. All By Myself, Alone by Mary Higgins Clark
59. King´s Cage by Victoria Aveyard
60. Bird And Sword by Amy Harmon
61. The Sprite Sisters The Power Of Four by Sheridan Winn
62. Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
63. Soul Cage by Tetsuya Honda
64. The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
65. Magonia by Maria D. Headley
66. And I Love Her by Marie Force
67. A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
68. It´s Only Love by Marie Force
69. I Know A Secret by Tess Gerritsen
70. Die Fabelmacht Chroniken by Kathrin Lange
71. Susannah´s Garden by Debbie Macomber
72. Ain´t She Sweet by Marie Force
73. Christmas Comes To Main Street by Olivia Miles
74. The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza
75. Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber
76. Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

Happy reading

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Challenges 2019

1/31/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #61 – The Queens Of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

1/27/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #52 – Wrapping Up January

1/26/2018

Herz In Scherben by Kathrin Lange

1/24/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #60 – The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty

1/20/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #51 – Hurricane Friederike´s Aftermath

1/19/2018

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

Thoughts

1/18/2018

Bossman by Vi Keeland

Thoughts

1/17/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #59 – Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

1/13/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #50

1/12/2018

Follow Friday #32 – Your First (Audio) Book 2018

1/10/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #58 – Auf Ewig Mein by Eva Völler

1/06/2018

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #49

1/05/2018

Soldier by Julie Kagawa

1/03/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #57 – Reign Of The Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

1/03/2018

The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter

Thoughts

1/02/2018

2017 New Release Challenge – Wrap-Up

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