11/30/2018

Fireblood by Elly Blake

It took a bit to get this book, but the waiting was absolutely worth it. This second part of the Frostblood saga was even better than the first one. And with that end, I am eager to get my hands on the third volume as soon as possible. Well, not sure if I will get Nightblood as UK edition or wait until the German edition comes out next April, but one thing is for sure: I will read it! And hope that Elly Blake was able to lift her story about Ruby and Arcus to another level that gives her readers even more pleasure in a positive way.

Fireblood*

by Elly Blake
Frostblood Saga #2
Publisher Hodder Paperbacks on September 7, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages 304
Format Paperback
Source Library
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶½

Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise my lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby´s powers and past … Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fireblood queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax – which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, how can Ruby decide whom to trust? The fate of both kingdoms is now in her hands.

Story

Ruby thinks that the only way she can help Arcus is to go to Sudesia, gain control over her powers and find the book that will tell her all the secrets about the throne as well as the Minax. Arcus isn´t happy and doesn´t trust Kai, the Fireblood who will give Ruby a ride with his ship to the faraway land of Sudesia. And the moment Ruby meets the strong and young Fireblood queen and hears the truth, she instinctively knows that not everything will go as planned.

Style

This novel was even better than the first book. To see how Ruby learns to control her powers, how she goes into her trials, and must learn that not everything in Sudesia is as thought – was one great reading pleasure. It was actually fun to watch her change and grow. How her naiveté changes from that of a teenager to a young woman who learns the truth about her lineage. It was fascinating how the author unfolded her inner conflict in a sensitive story with some very haunting scenes, great dialogues, and the main figure that still is in some ways a naïve young woman. The story is very diversified, and the author shows that not only the Frostblood kingdom is having some false information about the Fireblood kingdom. And vice versa.

What I liked a lot was that the author had given the novel some unexpected twists and turns that brought additional tension into the thrilling story. Well done, Elly Blake, well done.

Characters

Good, Ruby is still naïve and the intriguing Frostblood court isn´t making her life easier. And yes, she could be a bit more open about life there and that she has to choose her friends and allies very carefully. But it seems as if Ruby still isn´t able to stay calm and ignore the bitchy comments she must face every time she is among the court. But what made me shake my head was the fact, that Arcus wasn´t helping her either. He is there in more than one situation, where the people speak openly about their feelings towards Ruby and he sits there and just says nothing. What?! How can he? Or that he seriously believes that turning a century-long war between two kingdoms literally overnight into a peaceful situation would be easy. While reading about his plans and hopes I wasn´t sure which of them was more naïve. He or Ruby.

Conclusion

Fireblood contains adventure, action, passion, and intrigues who will turn your reading in one big pleasure. And with a queen who hides the biggest secret of her kingdom from the rest of the world without knowing it, was something else that made me turn the pages to find out how everything continued. Can´t wait to read Nightblood. So, yes, this one is a book I can highly recommend to all fantasy fans or Frostblood fans in particular.

Happy reading

*I read the German edition new release by Ravensburger on September 23, 2018

Elly Blake

Elly Blake loves fairy tales, old houses, and owls. After earning a BA in English literature, she held a series of random jobs before finding her ideal job as a writer and part-time library assistant. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids, and a lively Siberian Husky mix with definite Frostblood tendencies.

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/29/2018

Still Broken by April Dawson

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COVER – holy smokes! The minute I saw it I was hooked and praying that I would be among the lucky few who could get a copy from the publisher. The colors, the different fonts, the light, and the raindrop you see falling *sigh* And combined with the very intriguing sounding blurb, it promises you a romantic love story with a dramatic twist.  And the moment Max stepped into the setting, I literally saw Damon from the Vampire Diaries inside my head. His eyes …

Still Broken*

by April Dawson
Original Title Still Broken
Publisher LYX on October 26, 2018
Genre Novel
Pages 304
Format Softcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶½

A love that is worth everything …

When Nora falls in love with unapproachable Max at college, the most exciting time of her life begins. The feelings between them are passionate, real and so different from anything she´s experienced before – even if everyone warned her about Max. However, as they get closer, Norah feels more strongly that Max hides something from her – but also that her love is worth every fight, even if Max´ secret could turn her life forever upside down … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Norah is happy to finally be at the same university as her elder brother. She is a student with a clear goal. Get the best notes and share the easy and fun life of a student with her two best friends. Passion or love is not on her list. She´s still struggling with the failure of her last friendship. But when she spots Max and sees his hard eyes focused on her, she´s lost. 

Style

The story runs over a time frame of about eight years and shows mainly Norah´s life at University. It is written from her point of view and only during the last third, you get the views from Max and some other characters as well. The last third of the novel is about her life during her twenties and later. Somehow, I couldn´t really get access to the story, or the figures. Sure, the romance factor is high, and Max does many lovely things to show Norah that life isn´t all about learning until your head smokes. But what irritated me was the flat tone and style April Dawson uses to bring her story to the reader. Many things happen, and a bunch of figures shows up during the ongoing plot. You get bits and pieces of who they are and what they have to do with Norah. But nothing out of the ordinary. What I also noticed after a little while, was, that April Dawson seems to have a favor for using the same word constellation or sentence repetition again and again. And the author uses sometimes very long sentences in which you can easily see that a dot would have done a much better job. It didn´t make me happy while reading about a man who obviously had a dark secret, where the mafia was apparently involved, a long-hidden family secret came to light and Norah has to mourn a huge loss.

In other words, the story seemed to be a bit overloaded. The other thing I had my problems with was, that the author digs deep into the stereotyped crate. Not only with Max and Norah, but also with some of their dialogues and scenes. For my taste a bit too much.

Characters

The author lets you see her figures more through the way how they act and speak. In Norah´s case, it means that she partly acts way too detached for an eighteen-year-old student. And then there are scenes, in which she can barely defend herself when she meets her ex-boyfriend and acts with him as a girl without any self-confidence. She has a real hand in getting herself in situations where thinking before acting would have been much better. On the other hand, she is enjoying life to some extent and is studying as if there would exist nothing else in her life but books and her classes. I wouldn´t call her a nerd, no, but normal studying and the life of an eighteen-year-old while living on the campus is something else. 

Don´t get me wrong. I do know that a first-year student is happy beyond anything else to be away from home and eager to test how life outside the family universe is working. And that parties, hanging out with friends and eat whatever they like and when they like it, is one of the many positive things you can experience while away from home. Here it looked more like Norah was trying to prove something to herself and her family. Max reminded me very much of Damon. You remember, the hot bad boy from the TV series Vampire Diaries? I don´t know the books, so can´t compare to that, but whenever April Dawson gave me a scene where Norah and Max were in it, I literally saw Ian Somerhalder as Damon right in front of me. Do I need to say more?

Conclusion

After finishing this novel, I felt kind of depressed and didn´t know what to think of it. Oh yes, without any doubt, the author shows you great love and that passion, real passion, can be groundbreaking and heartbreaking if you screw it up. But sadly, I didn´t feel the pain her figures were going through. Though she shows many scenes where her central character and her friends struggle with loss and tragedy. I wasn´t emotionally involved, except for the awkward feeling I felt after I had read the last line at the end of it. For me, sadly, this book was filled with many things I felt had been too much for the novel. Some of them were not of interest to me while others simply only stretched things a bit. But let me also be clear about this. If you are a fan of novels who don´t go deep but show you some pain and drama, in the setting of a student´s life, this novel might hit you in a positive way. 

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. When and if this book will be published in the English language was at the time of review not known.

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

April Dawson

April Dawson is a “hot” discovery from the circle of LYX storyboard authors. She lives with her family in Kematen, Austria. She already has ten years of writing experience and prefers to write romantic books packed with a bit of action, a little drama, a touch of humor and a lot of feeling. 

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/28/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #79 – The Cows by Dawn O´Porter

is a weekly event that was 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.

There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

Am I seeing it right, that the cover shows some yellow lips touched by a finger? Or am I wrong? I stumbled across it while searching through the new releases catalog on the publishers´ website and after some seconds decided that this would become one of my Waiting on Wednesday picks. The blurb sounds hilarious and serious at the same time and I hope it will turn out as a good read.

                           

The Cows

Author Dawn O´Porter
Publishing Date February 27, 2019
Publisher S. Fischer
Format Paperback
Goodreads

Three women. A whole world of judgment. Tara, Cam, and Stella are very different women. Yet in a society that sets the agenda, there´s something about being a woman that ties invisible bonds between us. When one extraordinary event rockets Tara to online infamy, their three worlds collide in ways they could never imagine – and they discover that one woman´s catastrophe might just be another´s inspiration. Through friendship and conflict, difference and likeness, they´ll learn to find their own voices.

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

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/23/2018

Zuckerküsse Und Lamettaglitzern by Candis Terry

Tangled up in Tinsel was so much fun! I was cracking up while reading. Hot, steamy, and with hilarious dialogues and scenes. If you love a good romance novel, with a bit Christmas spirit in it – this is your book. I usually don´t like starting a series in the middle. It always gives me the feeling that something is missing – mostly the stories of the other characters who are showing up in the book I am holding in my hands. This is no exception. But since I´ve only missed two, it isn´t a drama. And to be honest, when I saw the German cover of parts one and two, I wasn´t very impressed by them. They look kind of unimaginative.

Zuckerküsse Und Lamettaglitzern*

by Candis Terry
Sunshine Creek Vineyard Series #3
Translation Gabriele Ramm
Original Title Tangled Up In Tinsel
Publisher MIRA Taschenbuch on October 1, 2018
Genre Novel
Pages 363
Format Paperback
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶½

As if the holidays weren´t stressful enough, Parker has his hands full with the opening of his new restaurant. It has to be finished before Christmas because his big brother wants to celebrate his winter wedding in the rebuilt barn on the winery. And although Parker has not looked for a cook, Gabriella suddenly stands in front of him and applies as a chef. The beautiful half-Italian woman does not give up. She suggests a rehearsal for him. If it does not taste good, she promises, she will leave him alone. Parker knows he should not agree, but he can not resist … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Parker does not know what to do first or next. His head is full of a terrible long to-do list for his new restaurant and his elder brother isn´t helpful either with all his visits to see how much progress he´s already done. And when Gabriella shows up at the site, he knows that he´s in trouble. Because the Gabriella knows what she wants and how to get it. And soon Parker is not only in hot and steamy heaven with her but also in a terrible dilemma. 

Style

While reading I was cracking up. Witty dialogues, steamy scenes, brothers who behave like cavemen and use a language that isn´t from this world – it was one hell of reading pleasure. Candis Terry uses a soft writing style, but her language is straight. She writes with style, but forthright and uses words I didn´t even know that existed. I loved every minute! Sure, it bugged me, that there were obviously parts in this novel I couldn´t follow, like the fact that Parker´s dad had left his family with some financial problems and in this novel, you won´t find out where that came from or the why. To figure that out, it seems obvious that I will have to read the other two books as well, to get the entire picture. But back to this book. The story itself is set in a short time frame. Christmas is coming up and we get to see how the stress is turning Parker into a man who doesn´t know where his head is. His conflict and the rest of the family is brought to the reader´s eye in a very sensitive and warm way. You can literally feel the love this family has for each other and that there is a dark thing that doesn´t let them heal. 

Characters

You won´t get much of a figure description from the author. Some words how they look sure, but the rest you´ll see through their acting and behavior. It was lovely to see how the brothers were trying to involve their sister Lily and how they were treating her and the youngest family member. 

Parker is no man who does things the easy way. With drugs and alcohol during a troubled teenager´s time, his past has shown him that not everything is as it seems. He knows only too well that love isn´t for granted and that a working marriage isn´t something you get for free. What he wants is getting his restaurant up and running and bring his family´s business back on track. A woman let alone a wife isn´t on the plan. Casual sex without any commitments is what he prefers. And that´s exactly what he tells Gabriella. Only one night, that´s all.

Conclusion

This was my first but for sure not my last, Candis Terry novel. Hot, steamy, sexy, and with a bunch of great characters as well as hilarious scenes, this book was a great reading pleasure. Good, I don´t understand why the German edition had to get this title, which could be translated into Sugar kisses and tinsel glittering, but well … If you love novels where it can become very hot and you like to read about families and how they act, this could be your book.

Happy reading

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

*This book was published Tangled up in Tinsel by Avon Books on September 26, 2018.

Candis Terry

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She´s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push-and-pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily-ever-after.

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/22/2018

Du Bist In Meiner Hand by Mary Higgins Clark

Sad to say it, but this book was one big disappointment for me. I missed the authors´ usually brilliant psychological finesse among other things that normally work best for me when presented by MHC. For many years, I am a huge Mary Higgins Clark fan and still read her books within no time. But I´ve Got My Eyes On You wasn´t at all what the author usually gives her fans.

Du Bist In Meiner Hand*

by Mary Higgins Clark
Translation Karl-Heinz Ebnet
Original Title I´ve Got My Eyes On You
Publisher Heyne on October 1, 2018
Genre Thriller
Pages 318
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶

The party ended at the bottom of the pool…

18-year-old Kerry takes advantage of her parents´ absence to celebrate a big pool party. The next morning, she is found dead at the bottom of the family pool. Kerry´s older sister Aline wants to find out what happened. Not only is Kerry´s friend suspicious, he argued loudly the day before. Even a neighbor boy behaves strangely. The deeper Aline researches in her sister´s environment, the closer she gets to the killer. And he will stop at nothing to stop her. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Kerry is dead. Found at the bottom of the pool by her elder sister Aline. From now on, the lives of many people change. There is Kerry´s friend who soon becomes the main suspect and is all the sudden cut off from everything. Or the disabled neighbor who is forced by his mother to keep his mouth shut. And what is about Valerie? What is she hiding?

Style

I do understand, that it isn´t easy to write every year a book that not only thrills your boss who will publish it but also fulfills the high expectations your readers are having. And usually, the author has no problem with it. Correct me, but can it be, that she lost her brilliant style? In I´ve Got My Eyes On You I saw figures I wasn´t interested in at all and who, at least from my point of view, were not important or necessary for the story itself.  The other thing I didn´t like was, that within a few pages I knew without a doubt who the evil person was. That isn´t a bad thing per se. Not at all. Because if a crime novel or thriller is set that way, it usually means, that you can watch how the investigator or whoever is hunting that person, does her/his job. You can see how they gather information, how they find out new evidence and you also get a look into the evil person´s thoughts. And you always know a bit more as the investigating person does.

Not this time. What you see the most is the elder sister of the dead girl who risks her new job to help the police. Yes, there are a few scenes, in which the real killer shows up. But they are as harmless and pale as the rest of this figure. The entire story is foreseeable. Sadly. But what made me literally angry was the fact, that every mother in this book didn´t trust her child. Instead of backing them up and being there for them, they all believe without a doubt, that it was their child who did the unthinkable. 

Characters

It is absolutely rare that Mary Higgins Clark presents her readers with such pale and sometimes unnecessary figures. And the main figure, Aline, wasn´t at all the successful; and in a good job working young woman her books usually show.

Aline is the elder sister of Kerry, the dead girl. She moves back in with her parents to be there for them during the painful time after Kerry´s sudden death. All she wants is to find the real killer. And while doing everything she can, even risking her new job, she also has to fight her mother´s overhasty judgment. I was literally stunned to see how Fran, her mother, was arguing why she thought what she thought. Good, a mourning mother is far from being reasonable. But what Fran did? Sorry, no words.

Conclusion

This novel couldn´t convince me. I´ve Got My Eyes On You is probably the worst book the author has ever written. It is absolutely sad to say it, but there was no thrill between the pages, no tension during the story and the single figures were as pale as wax. And because I know that the author can do way better than she did with this book, it is so sad to admit that this novel isn´t a good one. But read it and judge for yourself.

Happy reading

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

This thriller was originally published I´ve Got My Eyes On You by Simon & Schuster on April 3, 2018. 

Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark, born in 1928, in New York, lived and worked in Saddle River, New Jersey. She sold her first story 1956 for $100 to a magazine. After the sudden death of her husband in 1964 she wrote her first book, a biographical novel about George Washington. Her first suspense novel Where are the Children from 1975 meant a turning point in her life and career: He became a bestseller. She was #1 international and New York Times bestselling author, has written thirty-four suspense novels; three collections of short stories; a historical novel; two children´s books; and a memoir, Kitchen Privileges. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. She is the most successful thriller author worldwide.

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/21/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #78 – Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

is a weekly event that was 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.

There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

I saw this book for the first time over at Tressa´s blog Wishful Endings and was immediately hooked by the cover. It looks dark and yet beautiful with the silver sword, the gold, and the dark background. And after reading the blurb I was literally fascinated. It sounds sooooooo good. And promises even more. It will be my first Robin LaFevers book, and I am already looking for the other books of her series, though I got told that this one is the first of a new dilogy written by the author.

                     

Courting Darkness

Author Robin LaFevers
Courting Darkness Duology #1
Publishing Date February 7, 2019
Publisher HMH Books For Young Readers
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

When Sybella accompanies the Duchess of Brittany to France, she expects trouble, but she isn´t expecting a deadly trap. Surrounded by enemies both known and unknown, Sybella searches for the undercover assassins from the convent of St. Mortain who were placed in the French court years ago. Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she no longer knows who she is or what she´s supposed to be fighting for. When she discovers a hidden prisoner who may be of importance, she takes matters into her own hands. As these two worlds collide, the fate of the Duchess, Brittany, and everything Sybella and Genevieve have come to love hangs in the balance.

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

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/20/2018

Nur In Der Dunkelheit Leuchten Die Sterne by Marieke Nijkamp

The cover of the German edition of Before I Let Go looks beautiful and cold. But its real meaning became only visible to me while reading. There is one scene that tells you the entire novel in only a few sentences. Shocking sentences. The author shows a story about two girls, who have to realize, that no matter what they do, one of them will never be a part of the village. But the reason behind it, and who the parents of one of the girls were a part of it all, that was the most shocking thing of this novel. How could you do that?!

Nur In Der Dunkelheit Leuchten Die Sterne*

by Marieke Nijkamp
Translation Mo Zuber
Original Title Before I Let Go
Publisher Fischer FJB on October 24, 2018
Genre Novel
Pages 345
Format Softcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶

A small town in Alaska: Corey and Kyra have always been inseparable in their hometown of Lost Creek. As Corey moves away, she promises Kyra to stay in touch and visit her for the next vacation. But Kyra is dead. And Corey has to figure out what happened to her friend. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Kyra is bipolar. And since she and her parents know that, her life has changed for the worse. Only her best friend Corey is the reason why Kyra is still among them. She wants to go to another place, learn things, see the world. Lost Creek is a dangerous place for her, she knows that by instinct. After her death, Corey has to learn that the village has not only turned against her but also been a threat to Kyra. And when she finally discovers the truth, she is frightened to death and knows that she has to leave Lost Creek for good.

Style

The author´s writing style is fast-paced, well written, and in a soft tone. I liked reading it at first and was eager to find out what Corey wanted to know. The way how Marieke Nijkamp described the atmosphere, the scenes and showed me the world Corey had once called home, was fascinating though weird to a certain extent. But my feelings started to change the more I read. The psychological component here is huge. First only like a whisper, later it turns into a loud cry. My thought more and more that Kyra´s parents must have had something awful to do with their daughter´s death, and yes, my thoughts were right. And the reason behind all this? A brighter and better future and feeling for an entire village. This novel is probably one of those, I read during the wrong time. There is a darkness hidden between the pages, something utterly dangerous, that isn´t really helpful during the dark months of the year. You feel it as a threatening shadow but can´t name it until Corey speaks it out.

The story goes back and forth while Corey tries to find out, what leads to Kyra´s death. Sure, on top of each chapter you can see where exactly you are, but it was also a bit confusing. And why were there some pages that read like a script for a Broadway play? Should that tell me something?

Characters

Corey is baffled. She was only about seven months away and already is an unwelcome stranger in the village, she grew up and has lived all her life. She can´t understand how that happened or why. But when she has to learn the bitter truth that they literally let her rather burn to death instead of helping her find out the truth about her best friends´ death, she understands that Lost Creek is a village where nothing is as it seems. The peace she felt for years while living at her old home, is shattered the moment she sees the burned place. On the other hand, she becomes aware of her own strength, that she must do something to stay alive. The author describes Corey as a strong girl and later as a strong teenager. And Corey is, no doubt, very strong. And she sees things, and starts to understand, she´d better never seen. Her conflict, her struggle while being at her former hometown, is brought to the reader in a dark and mysterious way. Fitting.

Conclusion

This novel wasn´t for me. Sure, I kind of liked the hidden psychological finesse, and the truth behind all the drama was shocking. But I couldn´t connect with it to find it thrilling or a great read. And maybe that is the reason, why I am struggling to write this review. I still don´t understand how parents can do what Kyra´s did. And because of that, I suggest you read this novel yourself, judge for yourself if you like it or not. I can only rate it as average. Sorry.

Happy reading

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

The title was originally published Before I Let Go by Sourcebooks Fire on January 2, 2018.

Marieke Nijkamp

Marieke Nijkamp is the #1 New York bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends and Before I Let Go. She is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek. She holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies has served as an executive member of We Need Diverse Books, and is the founder of DiversifYA. Marieke Nijkamp speaks twelve languages and her first novel This Is Where It Ends was a surprise hit in the US and for over a year in the Top 10 New York Times bestseller list. She lives in the Netherlands.

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/16/2018

Pieces Of Her by Karin Slaughter

Not sure how to put it, but I can´t share the excitement, all the other readers have. In fact, this book was a disappointment for me. Or my expectations were way too high. Oh yes, the psychological finesse was there, but the figures? The plot? The author can do way better than what she presented here. It took me weeks to get this book into my hands. And I was so eager to find out what all the critics were so delighted about. But soon, after I´ve started reading, I became more and more annoyed. And knew within no time, that I wouldn´t get warm with the main character. 

Pieces Of Her*

by Karin Slaughter
Publisher William Morrow on August 21, 2018
Genre Thriller
Pages 480
Format Hardcover

Goodreads

✶✶✶

What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all …? Andrea knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she´s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she´s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she´s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don´t we? But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she´s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she´s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again. The police want answers and Laura´s innocence is on the line, but she won´t speak to anyone, including her own daughter. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail of her mother´s past. And if she can´t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them …

Story

Andy is playing her mother´s game, answering her questions though she doesn´t want to do it. When all the sudden bullets are flying around, and she becomes the shocked witness of a person who seems to kill a young man in cold blood. Who is this woman with the knife in her hand? And why does she want Andy all the sudden out of her life? Andy is desperate and starts to search for answers when she discovers that her mother has a secret that not only threatens her own life but that of her mother as well.

Style

Now, where do I begin? That I didn´t like the main figure, Andy, at all? That I couldn´t get access to the other figures? That for the first time I was not happy with a book by the author which usually is a safe bank for me when it comes to thrillers? Oh yes, the psychological finesse, as said before, was there and somehow enjoyable. But I simply couldn’t get warm with the rest. Nonetheless, it shows, that Karin Slaughter knows how to create figures who are able to get the readers´ attention. No matter how much I dislike them or not. And while reading the last few pages of this book, I started to see how Andy had become the Andy she was over almost the entire thriller. With a mother like hers, no chance to become a different person.

Characters

Andy is, at least for my taste, way too passive. Her way of not saying a word at all when it would have been better to speak drove me nuts. To see her all the time in some sort of shock, unable to act, unable to speak but always able to think the right questions – who in the world does that? 

Is her mother so dominant, that her daughter can´t open her mouth and say a single word? And why has Andy all the time the need to go to bed and sleep? The moment she stepped into her room to get her things, and the author describes the scene, I was disgusted. She is messy! I literally saw the chaos, the uneaten pizza, the dirt, the smelling laundry, and god knows what she had in that room too. 

Yap, you might argue now, that the author has done an excellent job by describing those scenes, by showing the reader what kind of person her protagonist is. And no, I am not impressed. I am annoyed. 

Conclusion

All in all, I have to say, that I wasn´t as happy with this thriller, as I´ve been with the author´s other books. Pieces of Her just couldn´t live up to my expectations. Maybe there were too high after reading all the critics, or I am just used to the fact, that Karin Slaughter normally is a guarantor for high thriller quality. Not here. Sad, but true.

Happy reading

*I read the German edition new release by Harper Collins Germany on August 1, 2018 

Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter, born 1971, is from Atlanta, Georgia. In 2003 her debut novel Blindsighted was published and went straight to the top of the international bestselling list and catapulted her onto the Thriller-Olympus. She is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the Will Trent and Grant County series and the instant New York Times bestselling standalones, Cop Town and Pretty Girls. There are more than 35 million copies of her books in print around the world.

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/15/2018

Frostblood by Elly Blake

My first Elly Blake novel, but for sure not my last. Though I am not sure which edition I like the most, they all look wonderful in their very own way. But reading the novel was a pleasure and I am now looking forward to the next book. I don´t know how many times I was holding this book at the library in my hands only to put it back on the shelf after a few seconds. The cover fascinated me somehow but reading it was another thing.  

Frostblood*

by Elly Blake
Frostblood Saga #1
Publisher Hodder Paperbacks on May 4, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages 384
Format Paperback
Source Library

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

Ruby is a Fireblood. In a land ruled by frost, her very existence is a crime. She´s spent her whole life in hiding. Until the day Frostblood soldiers raid her village and kill her mother. The day she swears to avenge her people. She must travel deep into the heart of the enemy, to the court of the Frost King, with only the mysterious warrior Arcus – a Frostblood rebel – by her side. But with alliances between flame and ice strictly forbidden, is Arcus friend of foe? Ruby will only have one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who took everything from her. But she has no idea just how hot her fire will burn …

Story

Ruby is a Fireblood. And her ability to control fire is dangerous for her. The king´s soldiers are hunting every Fireblood in the kingdom and none of them ever came back. So, it is very normal for Ruby to deny her ability. But without any control, she is a threat to herself and others. Can Arcus or the monk help her, gain control over the fire and use it to destroy the king?

Style

I like the soft, easy to read style the author has, a lot. The book contains some very brutal and bloody scenes but always told in a very readable manner. My head-cinema was turned on immediately when I was with Ruby in her small hat, later in the cold prison or at the abbey where she got taught by the elder monk. Is it only me, or was there a message behind the entire novel? Not sure about it, but while reading I always had the feeling that Elly Blake was trying to tell her character Ruby and me as well, something that was not only important for the novel, but also for me to understand her characters. Not only because there were so opposite to each other, but also to nature itself. The rough mountains, the dry desert, or the green woods. And that Ruby discovers in the end who the real reason behind all the despair and cruelty was. Which I somehow had known all along, but to read my thoughts then black on white, that was one of the wow-moments I had while reading.

Characters

As much as I liked reading about Ruby and how she made her way from that small hut to the icy castle, I wasn´t happy with the way how she acted. It seemed that whenever she came into a critical situation and her power was needed, she was completely incapable of using her ability. Like she was frozen inside and under the whim and will of someone else. And no matter how hard she tried to gain control of the fire or a situation, she couldn´t manage it. As if she was her worst enemy. The one person that denied her access to her own ability. I am still not sure if I pity her or if I am still annoyed by the fact that Ruby has something deep inside her, that makes her as helpless as a baby when she needs her power the most. What fascinated me was the comparison between the different figures. Ruby is not able to concentrate enough or long enough to gain control over her fire. At some point, she literally gives up and I am damn sure that is the result of her mothers´ way to raise her. 

On the other side is Arcus. The man who not only seems to be made of stone but also has a self-control – holy smokes. He is, with all means, ice. There is nothing he seems to desire, but his love for the monk, his will to control himself and everything around him made me curious to the moment where I was able to look behind his façade. 

Conclusion

An action-filled and diversified novel with beautiful scenes (as awkward as it might sound) and some great dialogues. I enjoyed almost every minute while reading and had some sort of fun watching how the figures were acting with each other. Yes, this book is a good recommendation. 

Happy reading

*I read the German edition new release by Ravensburger on February 18, 2018 

Elly Blake

Elly Blake loves fairy tales, old houses, and owls. After earning a BA in English literature, she held a series of random jobs before finding her ideal job as a writer and part-time library assistant. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids, and a lively Siberian Husky mix with definite Frostblood tendencies.

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/14/2018

Waiting On Wednesday #77 – Der Klang Der Täuschung by Mary E. Pearson

is a weekly event that was 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.

There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

We will finally get the German edition of Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson. A few months ago, I received an email for a cover voting and am happy that the publisher chose the cover I voted for. The motive is very different from the original cover, yes, and some will probably wonder (again) about the cover choices some German publishers are making, but I say that it looks better than the other covers they presented us in the email. The reason why I am looking forward to this book? I LOVED her books from The Remnant Chronicles. At least the first two I have read so far. But if Dance of Thieves is only half as good as the other books were, then I will have again some reading pleasure lying ahead of me.

Der Klang Der Täuschung

Author Mary E. Pearson
Dance Of Thieves #1
Publishing Date January 31, 2019
Publisher One
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty´s resentment and anger. At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions.

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

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »

11/13/2018

Blog Tour: Never Let Me Fall by Abbie Roads

Today is my turn in the blog tour for NEVER LET ME FALL by Abbie Roads. The third book of her Fatal Dreams Series and available for purchase on all retail outlets! Please note: This post DOES NOT CONTAIN any affiliate links, though you will find some links to certain bookshops at the end of this post. 

If you don´t know the author or her work yet, I suggest you go and get her books ASAP. Especially if you are a fan of the dark contemporary romance genre with a hint of the paranormal. Abbie Roads doesn´t write in the way other authors do. But more to that a bit later. 

As I said above. Abbie Roads writing style is different from the one, other authors have. Maybe it is because she works in her day job as a mental health counselor and listens to things you don´t get to hear elsewhere. 

And the fact, that no matter what she tries and how hard she tries, she ends up writing about dark, haunted souls who have a huge portion of a good heart while trying to do something good in their life, is what impresses me the most. That makes her authentic and that is something, every author should be.

Never Let Me Fall

Author Abbie Roads
Fatal Dreams #3
Publisher Sourcebooks on November 6, 2018
ISBN 978-1-4926-558-79
Pages 320
Format Paperback

Goodreads

Thomas Brown can't see color, but he can see people's true souls. His abilities allow him to work with criminal investigators and deliver justice to families of the wronged. And he's starting to accept that his life will forever be in black and white...

Then he encounters Helena Grayse, and everything changes. She brings vibrant color to his world, and he brings acceptance and belief to hers. But Helena's past is quickly catching up with her, and Thomas is in the crosshairs. As an enemy hidden in plain sight threatens their every move, they'll have to rely on their love to beat the darkness.

I know, without having read Never Let Me Fall yet, that this book will be a good one. Sure, there will be some very dark moments in it, and I will find a captivating tone and plot that will have one way or the other some sort of impact on me.

No matter which of her books I´ve read in the past, I always felt deeply touched by what I´ve just had read and had literally to take a moment to get myself together again. Her books are nothing I call an easy read. There is always a haunted soul, some sort of abuse her figures had to endure in their past and none of her characters would say that they´ve had an easy life. Easy in the meaning of loving parents, an intact home and no worries whatsoever. They all know pain only too well, but still, they do some good through their work. They are not hopeless or desperate.

And that is, what I love about her books. As dark and as emotional they can be, you know that at the end of the novel there is hope and light.

EXCERPT

She dropped her arms from their defensive position. Even though it was dark, starlight reflected off the snow, providing enough illumination for her to see him. His face was ravaged with some emotion she couldn’t name. The scar on his cheek blazed bright, somehow looking painful. There were no words to utter, so she cupped his damaged cheek.

He sucked in a breath as if her touch pained him, but when she tried to withdraw, he grabbed her wrist and held it in place. He wanted her skin on his.

Their eyes met. The impact devastating and healing at the same time. She tumbled into his gaze like a free fall. Enjoying the freedom, fearing the fall. And then he broke the connection and let go of her wrist and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Why did you run from me? I would never hurt you.” Truth twined through each of his words. “I was worried out of my head when you weren’t at the hospital.” He shook her, emphasizing his words. “You know how stupid it was for you leave there without a coat, or gloves, or boots?”

She nodded, couldn’t help it. Her body had been screaming that same message thirty seconds after she’d walked out the hospital doors.

“Why would you do that? You could’ve frozen to death out here.”

Not thinking, she shrugged.

He grabbed her face in his hands. His fingers warm and rough and perfect against her skin.

The world fell away, leaving only him and her. He stared into her. Warming her from the inside out. She no longer felt the coldness of the snow against her backside. All she could feel was him. Inside her. Around her. Over her. He was the air she breathed. The heartbeat in her chest. He was her whole world. And she never wanted this impossible moment to end. She wanted to stay right here. Right now. Forever.

“Don’t you do that.” His tone was deep. His volume soft. “Don’t you ever act as if your life doesn’t matter. It matters.” His thumbs brushed over her cheekbones, sending pleasurable tingling along her nerve endings. “It matters to me.”

Her ears heard his words, but her brain had a hard time translating them.

“Yes, you.” Again, he seemed to be answering the question she didn’t ask. “You matter to me.” He spoke with heartbreaking sincerity. “How could you think otherwise?”

Because I’m Helena Grayse. She slammed her eyes closed.

“Stop that.” The irritation in his tone startled her eyes open. “Stop hiding from me.” His expression was tense, but one thing didn’t change—his kind eyes. “Good God. You’ve got to be freezing to death.” He moved away from her and stood, then grabbed her hands and pulled her to standing. He took off his coat and placed it over her shoulders. The inside warmth soothed her cold skin, and his scent rose up, surrounding her like a hug. He helped her thread her arms through the sleeves and then zipped the coat up under her chin.

The backs of her eyes burned, and she felt the beginning of tears forming. Damn it. She wasn’t going to cry every time he was nice to her. That was just stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“Come on. Let’s get you back to the house and get you warmed up.” He held out his hand in invitation, giving her the opportunity to decide her fate.

Her feet shackled her in place. She shouldn’t go with him. She should follow her plan and go find a room for the night. She squeezed her hand holding the ziplock bag, just to make sure she hadn’t dropped it. The more time she spent with him, the harder it was gonna be when he found out her real identity. All he had to do was peek at her ID card.

Logic dictated she walk away. Her soul told her to stay.

She reached out to him. He turned her hand over and examined the gash that had been there just yesterday but had since healed. She’d always been a fast healer, but even for her, that was record time.

His gaze flicked up to her eyes and he smiled, an upturning of the lips that contained satisfaction and truth and happiness. The scar on his cheek completed him, making him more breathtaking, in the same way, that a flower’s delicate imperfections only made it lovelier.

Together, they trudged through the snow toward the house. Winter didn’t seem quite so cold with him holding her hand. His skin against hers infused her with a heat that traveled up her arm, across her shoulders, and down into her belly, causing warm tingles of arousal to stir.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye to see if she affected him the same way he affected her. He didn’t seem fazed by the chill temperatures. Not at all. In fact, he acted as if they were out for a stroll on a pleasant spring evening.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t at the hospital when you woke.” He glanced at her, then back through the woods in the direction they were traveling. “Tonight was my sister’s wedding, and I couldn’t miss it. Evanee’s been through some bad times, and this meant a lot to her.”

They broke through the forest and started across the lawn, following a line of tracks that led to his back door.

“I told her—my sister and her husband—about you. They were excited.” The corner of his mouth tilted upward.

Her mouth went dry, and a stone lodged itself in her throat. Denial looked exactly like this. It looked like a woman and man holding hands while they walked in the snow. It looked like everything was all right on the surface. But underneath…it was all a lie. A lie that had started with him accidentally calling her Helen. A lie she’d perpetuated because she’d never corrected him.

She thought about yanking her hand from his and running, but he would catch her and demand to know the reason. Ugh… How did she go from her plan of getting a hotel room for the night to deciding to go back home with him? She was powerless to resist temptation.

If you like, you can participate in her Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY*. A $10 Amazon Gift Card, a Painting by Abbie and a Necklace are up for grabs. Good luck!

*Please note, this giveaway is not sponsored, administered or endorsed by Inkvotary.

BUY 

Amazon   Apple Books   Nook   Kobo   Google Play  Target

(No affiliate links)

About Abbie Roads

Abbie Roads loves Snickers Parfaits and acrylic pour painting. It’s her new obsession. The pour painting. Not the parfaits. Though the parfaits would qualify as an obsession too. She spends her days a mental health counselor always looking on the brightside, but at night she likes to write dark and dangerous things—with kissing and sexy times. She loves reading inspirational quotes and stories about serial killers. She is married to her favorite fellow and they have two cranky old rescue dogs that are not spoiled. Not at all. Okay. Maybe a little. Alright, the dogs are terribly spoiled, but they do give lots of cuddles and kisses in return.

Facebook BookBub Twitter Instagram Goodreads

Till next time & happy reading

Follow

Twitter ❀ Instagram ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook ❀ Bloglovin ❀ Tumblr ❀ Pinterest

Read more »