9/11/2019

Waiting On Wednesday #108 – A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty

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.

My Waiting On Wednesday this time is the German edition of A Beautiful Corpse. The second book in Christi Daugherty´s Harper McClain series. I am absolutely thrilled that the German publisher uses the original cover for it. And I hope they will continue doing so.

I started reading Christi Daugherty books when she was writing her Night School YA books and had a great time with them. When the author turned to write adult books, I was eager to get to know them as well. And the first Harper McClain thriller was a pure reading pleasure for me. So why should this one be any different?

Die Schöne Tote

Author Christi Daugherty
Harper McClain series #2
Publishing Date October 15, 2019
Publisher rororo
Format Paperback
Goodreads

For a woman being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.
With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah´s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face. Only twenty-four-years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott´s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he´s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney´s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?
With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Some familiar and very dangerous.
Someone who told her to run before it´s too late …

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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9/08/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #82 – Cold Autumn

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 Reviewer and hope you´ll have fun reading it and maybe get the one or the other book inspiration.

Stacking The Shelves #82

This week I had two books in the mail. Thank you Ullstein TB for making me smile. The other I pre-ordered. It will come out a bit later this month, shortly before my birthday and with only -.99-cent and THAT cover, I simply couldn´t resist.

Bought Book

Giveaway Books

Sunday Post #39

Last week I wrote in my Sunday Post #38 that I probably had won a giveaway. I wasn´t really sure at that time because the email I had received a few days later didn´t look like an email you can take seriously. Sure, it had a signature from the social media team the Ullstein publisher is having, in it. But the rest looked kind of weird. The style was plain and very simple. But it is true. I WON the giveaway. Woohoo! On Thursday I received the books and a beautiful key chain. Finally, after days of bad news coming in, the first good one. It cheered me up again and I absolutely appreciate that. It seems that the autumn this year will be a cold one. Despite the weather forecast which keeps telling us, that we will have rain, it is not raining at all. Instead, we had our temperatures dropping from one day to the next and now, I am walking around with socks on my feet because it is freaking cold. It is crazy.

Happy reading

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9/07/2019

Tribute by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts isn´t called the Queen of Romance for nothing. Her way of writing about love, family and the ties that bind us with her, is unique. And when she combines it with a bit of the thriller genre and give it a touch of the contemporary, the result is a thrilling contemporary romance you barely can put down.

Tribute*

by Nora Roberts

Publisher G. P. Putnam´s Sons on July 8, 2008

Genre Contemporary Romance

Pages 451

Format Hardcover

Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶✶

Cilla McGowan, a former child star, has found a more satisfying life restoring homes. So she comes to Virginia´s Shenandoah Valley to save the dilapidated farmhouse of her grandmother – a legendary actress who died of an overdose there more than thirty years ago. Plunging into the project with gusto, Cilla´s almost too busy and exhausted to notice her neighbor, graphic novelist Ford Sawyer. Determined not to carry on the family tradition of ill-fated romances, Cilla steels herself against Ford´s quirky charm, though she can´t help indulging in a little fantasy. But it´s reality that holds it share of dangers for Cilla. A cache of unsigned letters found in the attic points to a mysterious romance in her grandmother´s life and may be what sparks a frightening, violent assault. Now, if Cilla and Ford are unable to sort out who is targeting her and why, she may, just like her world-famous grandmother, be cut down in the prime of her life.

Story

Cilla, a former TV star and granddaughter of the legendary Janet Hardy, has bought her mother´s neglected country home and begins to renovate it with much love and money. She changes and designs everything the way she wants it to be in her future home, moving on the painful traces of her own family history and that of a woman who was a celebrated star of her life and is now a legend. But not everyone in the place seems to like what happens to the half-decayed country house and the property because when Cilla finds old love letters from her grandmother, strange incidents happen shortly thereafter. When even parts of the already completely renovated house fall victim to blind destructive rage, it is clear that a person is ready for the utmost and Cilla is in danger.

Style

Cilla experiences in her dream conversations with her famous grandmother who are so wonderfully ironic, witty and soulful, that one almost forgets when reading that the protagonist is talking to a dead person. The reader is always in the picture where he is at the moment and experiences a lot of things together with the main character. Besides the thoughts of Cilla, the reader gets an insight into those of Ford and Steve too. That way, the novel becomes a varied and very entertaining touch.

The language of Nora Roberts is direct, simple and fits exactly to the respective characters. A novel that is read in an uncomplicated way and touches your emotions.

Characters

The figures are created with wit, charm and a dash of self-irony. Cilla conjured Nora Roberts onto the paper as an outwardly strong-looking woman who can grab and face the challenges in life. But tormented internally by fears and negative questions and thoughts, that she is really sympathetic from the first moment. She fights a fight she has nothing to do with. But since she is the granddaughter of the legendary Janet Hardy, her fight from the outside world is now made the fight of the granddaughter. Although Cilla has a very different idea of life.

Conclusion

An absolutely dreamlike novel. A refined and exciting storyline offers many surprises and captivates the reader from the first to the last word. One of the best novels by Nora Roberts. Highly recommended.

Happy reading

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Cilla erlebt in ihren Träumen Gespräche mit ihrer berühmten Großmutter die so herrlich ironisch, witzig und gefühlvoll sind, dass man beim Lesen fast vergisst, dass sich da die Protagonistin mit einer Toten unterhält. Der Leser weiß immer, wo er sich gerade befindet und erfährt eine Menge Dinge zusammen mit der Hauptfigur. Neben den Gedanken von Cilla erhält der Leser auch einen Einblick in die von Ford und Steve.

Charaktere

Die Figuren sind mit Witz, Charme und einem Schuss Selbstironie angelegt. Cilla hat Nora Roberts als eine, nach außen, hin stark anmutende Frau auf das Papier gezaubert, die zupacken kann und sich den Herausforderungen im Leben stellt. Aber innerlich von lauter Ängsten und negativen Fragen und Gedanken gequält wird, dass sie einem vom ersten Moment an richtig sympathisch ist. Sie kämpft einen Kampf, mit dem sie eigentlich nichts zu tun hat. Da sie aber die Enkelin der legendären Janet Hardy ist, wird deren Kampf von der Außenwelt nun zum Kampf der Enkelin gemacht. Obwohl Cilla eine ganz andere Vorstellung vom Leben hat.

Resultat

Ein absolut traumhafter Roman. Eine raffinierte und aufregende Handlung bietet viele Überraschungen und fasziniert den Leser vom ersten bis zum letzten Wort. Einer der besten Romane von Nora Roberts. Höchst empfehlenswert.

*This book was published as Mass Market Paperback by Berkley on March 31, 2009

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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9/06/2019

Simon Thorn And The Shark´s Cave by Aimée Carter

Good, the cover of the German edition was not really mine. I am no fan of sharks, but on the other hand, I didn´t have to see that very often with my nose stuck in the book. And it does not harm the fact that the story was a pure reading pleasure and literally an overnight read. Again, the author has managed it to show a world where not everything is as it seems and where rules are to obey.

Simon Thorn And The Shark´s Cave

by Aimée Carter

Simon Thorn Series #3

Publisher Bloomsbury USA Childrens on February 6, 2018

Genre Fantasy

Pages 288

Format Hardcover

Source Library

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

Simon Thorn has only recently discovered that he´s an Animalgam, a member of a secret race of people who can shift into animals and found a home where he truly belongs. But not everything is as good as it seems. Simon´s evil grandfather, Orion, is bent on taking over the entire animal kingdom, and to do so, he´ll need to gather the pieces of a terrible weapon – one that could shred the very foundations of the Animalgam´s world … unless Simon can gather the pieces first. So, when Simon´s dolphin Animalgam friend Jam is summoned home to the underwater kingdom´s headquarters, Avalon, Simon sees it as an opportunity to secure another piece. But as soon as he and his friends arrive in Avalon, their search is complicated by Jam´s strict family – and a potential traitor. Can they locate the piece before it falls into Orion´s hands and puts the entire underwater kingdom at risk?

Story

When Simon finds out, that his friend Jam has to go home to Avalon during their Christmas vacation, he is absolutely thrilled. That means that he has a wonderful opportunity to find the next pieces he needs to put back together one of the dangerous weapons that could destroy everything he knows.

9/05/2019

OXEN Das Erste Opfer by Jens Henrik Jensen

Over the first few chapters, I was tempted to just drop it and call it a DNF. The start was tough as leather and not much really happened. But then – holy cow! The author fires up a story where you never know what comes next, where the main figure shows that he still knows how to read between the lines and where the powerful are not willing to see others what they have in mind.

OXEN Das Erste Opfer

by Jens Henrik Jensen
Danehof Trilogy #1
Original Title De Haengte Hunde
Publisher dtv Premium on September 8, 2017
Genre Thriller
Pages 459
Format Softcover
Source Library
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶½

Niels Oxen, a highly decorated but heavily traumatized elite soldier, retires to a forest on the Danish mainland. In the loneliness of Jutland, he hopes to escape his inner demons. The opposite happens when, after a nightly visit to the nearby Nørlund Castle, he becomes the prime suspect in a murder case: Hans-Otto Corfitzen, former ambassador and founder of the influential Think-tank, was apparently tortured to death at that castle. Oxen begins to investigate the matter, together with the clever, unadvised intelligence officer Margrethe Franck. The two, sharing a similar fate, only gradually trust each other … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Niels Oxen wants nothing more but to find his inner peace again and to get rid of the demons. Together with Mr. White, his dog, he lives in the forest from what nature provides. An impulsive idea, to go and take a closer look at a castle he would like to get to know better, brings him into serious trouble. The same night he is there, the owner gets killed and in an instant Oxen is the main suspect.

9/04/2019

Waiting On Wednesday #107 – A Wedding In December by Sarah Morgan

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.

I love reading Sarah Morgan books. They are always full of romance, the heart on the right place mentality and you can easily relax while reading them snuggled up in a cozy blanket or while enjoying a cup of coffee. And you can read them at any time during the year. No matter where the setting is, you feel always good while enjoying them. Sure, I didn´t love all the books I read by her the same way, but I am still looking forward to the publishing day.

Good, I admit, I am not always happy with the cover design, the German publisher is giving Sarah Morgan books, but it is the novel inside, that counts, right? If you scroll a bit further down, you will see the cover and publication date of the UK edition.

A Wedding In December

Author Sarah Morgan
Publishing Date US September 24, 2019
Publishing Date UK October 31, 2019
Publisher Harlequin
Format Hardcover/Paperback
Goodreads

In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie´s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride´s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter´s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret of their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland. Rosie´s older sister, Katie, is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself! If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans …
Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiancé but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived – how can she tell them she´s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget!

UK edition

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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9/03/2019

Meine Hand In Deiner by Marie Force

Here Comes The Sun was great to read. All Abbots were showing up in this novel, and the story itself was very entertaining. Absolutely fantastic to watch the Abbots again, to hear what they think and how they feel about each other. And with all the hilarious scenes and quick-witted dialogues, I was having one heck of a great time.

Meine Hand In Deiner*

by Marie Force
Lost In Love-Die Green Mountain Serie #9
The Butler, Vermont Series #3
Translation Lena Kraus
Original Title Here Comes The Sun
Publisher Fischer TB on August 28, 2019
Genre Novel
Pages 411
Format Paperback
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

A blizzard rages in Butler as Wade Abbot drives home after a rescue mission. He barely dares his eyes: Mia Simpson, shivering with cold, sits in front of his little hut in the woods. Namely the Mia, whom he met two years ago on a yoga retreat and in which he fell in love immediately. Wade has not heard from her for a long time, yet no day has gone by that he did not think about Mia. And now, in the middle of storm and ice, Mia asks Wade for a favor: she asks Wade to marry her … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Wade doesn´t hesitate one second when Mia asks him to marry her. The moment he knows why, he gets into the action, despite the worries of his big family. Within days he discovers bit by bit a truth that is not only shocking and shows him that trust is something he needs in a relationship but also that his wife has gone through a nightmare. But he is convinced that with his love and the love of his family, everything will turn out good.

Style

With this novel, the author presents a haunting and diverse story with some very erotic parts in it. Good, the actual story, the reason why Mia had come to Wade in the middle of a blizzard, was more of a background story, but that didn´t harm the story.

I like the soft tone the author uses although her figures do not hesitate to speak out what they think. In this book the author went back to the writing style she used during the first books of the Green Mountain series (the name the series is called in Germany) and I am absolutely thrilled, that the quick-wittedness is absolutely blunt and hilarious. A feast for the eyes.

Characters

Wade is a down to earth kinda guy who loves to eat as clean as possible and yoga. He is responsible for the drugstore part in the family business and the fact that he and others will soon be learning how to present and sell sex toys is a horror for him. I was literally laying on the floor laughing tears while reading the scenes where he and his other family members get all the necessary information from a woman. Holy smokes!

Mia is a woman who has tried to get out of a bad relationship for a long time. But not before she was able to do something, she felt important to do. The fact that she risked her life to keep others safe and sound, impressed me very much. That woman has heart and courage.

Conclusion

What a fantastic novel! If you like the mountains of Vermont, the landscape and feeling you feel while being there, then this is your book. I could literally picture the little sea they were going to just to have a good time with the rest of the family. And it was absolutely wonderful to see his parents again or Cameron from the first book. Yes, this one is one of the best books of the Green Mountain/Butler Vermont series.

Happy reading

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

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Trotz des ernsten Themas hat die Autorin mit diesem Roman eine herrlich unterhaltsame und köstliche Geschichte verfasst. Fast die gesamte Abbott Familie hat vergnügliche Auftritte und kommt mit schlagfertigen Dialogen und sagenhaften Szenen vortrefflich zur Geltung. Da bleibt kein Auge trocken und die abwechslungsreiche und hoch spannende Geschichte wird zum absoluten Lesevergnügen.

Charaktere

Hier kommen wieder die unterschiedlichsten Charakterzüge der Abbott Familie zum Vorschein. Jeder hat seine ganz eigenen Vorteile und Art sich im Leben zu bewegen und zu behaupten.

Wade liebt Yoga, einen ausgewogenen und ausgeglichenen Lebensstil und seine Arbeit in der Firma. Seine Liebe zu Mia scheint aussichtslos und trotzdem kennt er kein Wenn und Aber, als diese ihn um Hilfe bittet. Seine Entschlossenheit, wie er alles regelt und darauf vertraut, dass seine Familie ihm vertraut, das hat mich sehr beeindruckt.

Resultat

Endlich mal wieder ein fantastischer Abbott Roman, der traumhafte Unterhaltung und genial gute Figuren präsentiert. Einfach nur SUPER!

*The book was published Here Comes The Sun by HTJB Inc on January 23, 2018

Marie Force

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

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9/02/2019

Heaven´s End-Wen Die Geister Lieben by Kim Kestner

This book is completely different from the other one, I´ve read so far by Kim Kestner. In this one you will find the funniest ghost story, you can imagine. Set in Scotland and with figures that present and show all kind of characters, your eyes see a world where danger and magic live close together.

Heaven´s End-Wen Die Geister Lieben*

by Kim Kestner
Heaven´s End Trilogy #1
Publisher Fischer KJB on July 24, 2019
Genre Children 12+
Pages 473
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

Where the sky ends, the world of spirits begins.
In Heaven´s End, a small Scottish coastal town, 15-year-old Jojo lives with her family – the living and the dead. Because Jojo can see ghosts and lives with a whole horde of crazy ancestors under one roof. Nobody is allowed to know anything about their special ability. Not at all Zack, the school swarm, whose sparkling eyes make Jojo stupidly quite tingling. But in the idyllic Heaven´s End, weird things are going on. How long can Jojo still keep her secret? And what lurks beyond the world of the living? (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

While the entire town is preparing for the one night, where ghosts come as close as they can to the normal world, which actually nobody really believes, strange things start to happen all around. But Jojo is not allowed to share her secret with others. But when she sees the ghosts that are living at the castle where Zack lives, she knows that she has to change something. No more secrets. If that is a good idea?

Style

While reading the description of a scene with Jojo, I was literally on the floor laughing tears. This one was cracking me up especially. Apparently, Jojo read that on a paperweight and presents the reader with her very own interpretation:

"…Carpe diem. Unless he is shit then use the next one, I found".

This novel is full of such fantastic things. The irony the main figure shows, her humor, her way of thinking and acting – one huge entertainment for the reader.

Kim Kestner writes in an easy to read and understand style. Her words read like pure fun but with a very serious and dark background story. And although that one is as dark and horror-like as you can imagine, it is absolutely great combined with the actual story.

Characters

Jojo is not like other teenagers her age. While she can see ghosts and talk with them, others can´t. And that is exactly why she has to keep her secret or better said that of her family, for herself. Not easy when you have ghost animals sitting on your shoulders while going to school and a mother who does not allow you to have your friends coming over. The way how Jojo handles her family and the secret is not only very impressive but also very entertaining.

Conclusion

That book is awesome! Funny, haunting, full of hilarious scenes and dialogues and with the main figure to die for. And with that cliffhanger, I am literally looking forward to the next book to find out how things will continue. Laughing is guaranteed and I am convinced that you´ve never had a better ghost story in your hands. Read!

Happy reading

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

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Von Anfang an hat mir der verschmitzte Humor, die feine Ironie und der herrliche Sarkasmus einiger Figuren besonders gut gefallen. Da sind Lachausbrüche und breites Grinsen vorprogrammiert. Überhaupt versteht es die Autorin auf besonders vergnügliche Weise, ihre Leser mit einer Geschichte zu unterhalten, die an schlagfertigen Dialogen, köstlichen Szenen und schwarzem Humor nicht zu überbieten ist. Dass das Ganze dann noch mit ein paar Geistern gewürzt wird, gibt dem Roman eine ganz besondere Note.

Und mit der schlichten, aber herrlich formulierten Sprache ist „Heaven´s End-Wen Die Geister Lieben“ der absolute Lesespaß.

Charaktere

Jojo kommt aus den unmöglichen Situationen einfach nicht heraus. Im Gegenteil. Sie scheint eine besondere Begabung für Fettnäpfchen zu haben und mit ihrer unglaublichen Ironie bringt sie sich gerne mal zum falschen Zeitpunkt in Position. Dabei zeigt sie aber immer Herz, Mitgefühl und ihre Freundschaft und Loyalität sind einfach nur klasse. Mal eine etwas andere Hauptfigur.

Zack ist da ein klein bisschen anders. Ihm scheint absolut alles zu gelingen und auch wenn seine Familie alles andere als harmonisch und sympathisch ist, ist er doch mit Mitgefühl und dem Herzen am rechten Fleck gesegnet. Kein Wunder, dass sich Jojo in ihn verliebt hat.

Resultat

Das war Lesevergnügen pur! Mit Witz, Charme und viel Humor wird hier eine Geistergeschichte der besonderen Art in Szenen gesetzt. Und weil es nicht nur komödiantische Züge gibt, sondern auch tiefgründige Probleme und so manche heftige Szene, hat dieser Roman das Zeug zum absoluten Spitzentitel. Und ich hab keinen Schimmer, wie die Autorin das noch toppen will. Höchst empfehlenswert.

Kim Kestner

Kim Kestner, born in Gifhorn 1975, studied visual communication and managed a marketing-agency before she started writing. Since 2010 she works as a freelance author and has already published some novels. She has met many spirits on her travels in Scotland – but most of them were friendly. Kim Kestner lives with her husband and two children near Hamburg, Germany.

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9/01/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #81 – Hello September

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 Reviewer and hope you´ll have fun reading it and maybe get the one or the other book inspiration.

Stacking The Shelves #81

No new books have arrived during the past seven days. But I managed to decide which books I will buy in September. But today, no books.

Sunday Post #38

Last week I received an email that I won a giveaway, a publisher was and is still holding at his Instagram account. When I saw the books, they were putting up for grabs I went to the website and answered the question for that giveaway. Love the way how those paperbacks look. One is designed in silver-grey, the other in red. Both books are the first two parts of a new thriller series. Just not sure if that email is real. And I don´t wanna ask the PR team there, because I don´t want to look like a beggar – know what I mean? Guess, I will have to wait if that, what they told me would come, really arrives at my doorstep *fingers crossed*

The weather is driving me crazy. The humidity is huge, but no rain. At least not where I live. And I am hoping that with today the summer is finally over and we will get cooler temperatures and autumn. I am done with heat and sun.

Happy reading

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8/31/2019

Simon Thorn And The Viper´s Pit by Aimée Carter

In the second book of this beautiful series, the snakes are the ones Simon has to convince to give him what he desires. The scenes in the dessert are magnificent and reminded me very much of a place I´ve been to many years ago. All the fantastic colors you can only see there – magnificent. No clue why I waited so long to read this. Guess, that series will become one of my favorites.

Simon Thorn And The Viper´s Pit

by Aimée Carter
Simon Thorn Series #2
Publisher Bloomsbury USA Childrens on February 7, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages 304
Format Hardcover
Source Library
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Simon Thorn only recently discovered that he´s an Animalgam – one of a secret race who can shift into animals. Now, for the first time in his life, Simon has real friends to train and study with at the secret Animalgam Academy. The only missing part is his mother, held captive by his evil grandfather, Orion, who´s bent on taking over the animal world. To rescue his mom, Simon must head cross-country with his friends, battling rogue Animalgams and their own doubts and torn loyalties along the way. But if Simon´s going to succeed, he will need to keep Orion from gathering together the fragments of a terrible weapon, or the lives of everyone Simon loves will be at risk.

Story

Simon is knee-deep in the fight against his grandfather. That man is holding his mother captive and forces her to find the pieces he needs to put a scepter together. But not to do any good with it, no. With the help of his new friends, Simon travels across the US to get where he suspects the next pieces and has literally to pass the test of the snakes.

Style

This time, the author shows the reader the breathtaking beauty of the desert. What looks at first sight drab and dead is at second sight filled with life and a wide range of colors. The fact, that the author kept her easy to read and very simple writing style, is a wonderful addition for the story itself.

Characters

It becomes clearer page by page that Simon is, despite the fact that he is an Animalgam, still the same deep inside. He wants his family and friends to be safe and sound, takes care of his people and does nothing without passion and a strong will. He mourns the loss of his uncle and would do anything to free his mother, but he also is not willing to sacrifice another life to reach his goal.

The author shows in a very wonderful way, that the love of a family and friends is the best when you need support or a shoulder to lean on. And with the great instincts, Simon has, he always knows by instinct when he is right or in trouble. Life is not easy for after his uncle´s unexpected death. Yes, his other uncle Malcolm does everything to make Simon feel at home, but with Darryl gone, Simon feels that he´s lost his family. The conflicts he is facing are brought to the reader in a very sensitive and great way.

Conclusion

I enjoyed this book very much. It was an overnight read for me and brought back some memories I have. If you are already a Simon Thorn fan, this novel is definitely for you. For all the others I can only say: read!

Happy reading

Aimée Carter

Aimée Carter is the author of Simon Thorn along with two YA series The Blackcoat Rebellion and The Goddess Test, of which The Goddess Inheritance was a 2013 Cybils nominee. She started writing fanfiction at eleven, began her first original story four years later, and hasn´t stopped writing since. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys seeing movies, playing with her puppies, and wrestling with the puzzles in the paper each morning. She lives in Novi, Michigan.

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8/28/2019

Waiting On Wednesday #106 – Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton

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.

I am not exactly sure why I want this. Tessa Gratton isn´t unfamiliar to me, but so far, I´ve read only one of her books. But this one caught my eye when I saw it at another blog a few weeks ago. And to be honest, the summary does sound good. Okay, I will have to read the other book first, which would be The Queens of Innis Lear (guess that is a saga or trilogy?), but I guess that is doable *smile*

Lady Hotspur

Author Tessa Gratton
Publishing Date January 7, 2020
Publisher Tor Books
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

Strike Fast. Love Hard. Live Forever.
This is the motto of the Lady Knights – sworn to fealty under as struggling kingdom, promised to defend the prospective heir, Banna Mora. But when a fearsome rebellion overthrows the throne, Mora is faced with an agonizing choice: give up everything she´s been raised to love, and allow a king-killer to be rewarded – or retake the throne, and take up arms against the newest heir, Hal Bolingbrook, Mora´s own childhood best friend and sworn head of the Lady Knights. Hal loathes being a Prince; she´s much more comfortable instated on the Throne of Misrule, a raucous underground nether-court where passion rules all. She yearns to live up to the wishes of everyone she loves best – but that means sacrificing her own heart, and so she will disappoint everyone until the moment she can rise to prove those expectations wrong. And between these two fierce Princes is the woman who will decide all their fates – Lady Isarna Hotspur, the fiery and bold knight whose support will turn the tides of the coming war.

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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8/25/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #80 – Summer Is Coming Back

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

Stacking The Shelves #80

Bought only one book. But with that, my duo is now complete, and I can finally start reading. In the mail, I had a review copy from Fischer TB. Thank you for that.

Bought Book

Review Copy

Sunday Post #37

The past week was a very quiet one. I am still trying to find out how I want my reviews to look like in the future, first images yes or no, and if, when will I put it in and which one? My Instagram creations or another one? The thought that Bloglovin is pulling always the first image of a post and shows it there is not very delightful. So, sorry for the mess my blog is at the moment.

I visited my library a few days ago. Had in mind to bring back some books I had no intention to read, though I had taken them home to do exactly that. When I placed them on the returning counter, one of our library ladies asked me about my opinion for them. When I told her, that I had not read them, she told me how they got them in the first place. The author is a local one and had brought them as a gift to the library. That info completed my guessing because our library usually does not have books like that. And when Mrs. B asked me if I would take them again and actually read them, I thought ok. Obviously, those books have been there for months now, but no one wanted to borrow them.

On the weather front, we are expecting another heatwave. Starting Sunday and going up day by day over the coming three days at least, the weather forecast says we will have a late summer with temperatures around 93°F. Well, as long as we don´t go back to the over 100° F, I am kind of ok with it *smile*.

Happy reading

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8/24/2019

Das Herz Aus Eis & Liebe by Renée Ahdieh

Smoke In The Sun is a novel I took my time to read and enjoy it. The novel itself is a bit less diverse as its predecessor had been, but nonetheless thrilling and sensitive written. And the cover *swoon* All the different blue tones, the white and black that gives it a sharp contrast but not too sharp. Love it! It was one reading pleasure to watch the main figure go through all the pain to do what she feels she has to do – great.

Das Herz Aus Eis & Liebe*

by Renée Ahdieh

Flame In The Mist #2

Translation Martina M. Oepping

Original Title Smoke In The Sun

Publisher One on June 28, 2019

Genre Young Adult

Pages 428

Format Hardcover

Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

Be water. Move with the stream.
The Black Clan has been spotted and Okami has been captured. Mariko knows that she now has no choice: she must follow Prince Raiden to the royal court. From now on, she plays the devoted bride to uncover the intriguer in the palace and finally find out who is behind all the lies and secrets that have cost so many lives. Wisdom and prudence are her strongest weapons. But how is she to succeed in freeing Okami and providing justice when she is under constant observation and conceals the next secret behind each revealed secret? (personally translated by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Life at the royal court is cruel and filled with intrigues. The emperor rules with an iron fist and his madness become more and more of a threat to everyone living at the imperial palace. Mariko knows that she has to be very careful if she will ever succeed and free Okami. But it is not easy to steal all the things she needs for her plan and when she fails one time after the other, she gets unexpected help from a person she never thought would help her.

Style

This time, the author shows the world inside the imperial palace and the town around it. The novel is not as adventurous and diverse as in book one, but still, you´ll find it haunting and very entertaining. I wasn´t absolutely happy with the end, for my taste a bit too cheesy and too soon, but maybe that is only my feeling about it.

From the beginning, the story is very bloody, brutal and cruel. The once calm looking emperor now turns into a maniac who sees everywhere and in all around him a threat. Something Mariko knows to use for her plans.

It still amazes me, how words can sound like music. Do you know the feeling when silk is gliding over your skin? Soft and like magic? I felt that when I read this story. Even during the cruelest scenes, it was there. No clue how she does it, but Renée Ahdieh knows how to capture and fascinate her readers.

Characters

Mariko stays true to herself. She does what she has to do to free the man she loves without compromising the man she is supposed to marry.

How Prince Raiden changes in this second book - I am still amazed. The view you get from him is that of an incredible man who sure needs his time before he starts to understand and see, but then – holy smokes!

There is a lot of rage, madness, desperation, and passion in this book. Shown by very well created figures. And they all are combined in a wonderful way that makes you want to get to know them more and better. Except for the emperor maybe. Him, I always pictured as a stubborn little child who jumps or stomps with his feet on the ground every time it didn´t get its will. That was sometimes very amusing, but mostly, considered the plot around it, a bit frightening.

Conclusion

The final scene was a bit too cheesy for my taste, but all in all this novel is a wonderful written one. The combination of action, intrigues, and passion are good, and you get some answers to questions resolving out of Flame in the Mist. If you haven´t already read it, do it.

Happy reading

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Die Geschichte ist um einiges blutiger, grausamer und gewalttätiger. Und trotzdem klingt jedes Wort wie Musik. Es erstaunt mich immer wieder, wie ein Autor es schafft, die Sätze und Wörter auf dem Papier wie in Seide gekleidete Musik klingen zu lassen. Das hat sich beim Lesen angefühlt, wie kühle Seide, die über nackte Haut gleitet. Herrlich!

Der Roman ist nicht ganz so abwechslungsreich und abenteuerlich wie Band eins war, doch das nimmt der Geschichte weder den Unterhaltungswert noch die Faszination. Das Leben am kaiserlichen Hofe ist für Mariko nicht einfach. Da werden Intrigen gesponnen, sie wird jeden Tag aufs Neue getestet und die kaiserlichen Launen machen es auch nicht leichter.

Ein kleines Manko allerdings gibt es. Das Ende kam mir zu schnell und war, für meinen Geschmack, ein bisschen zu kitschig.

Charaktere

Mariko bleibt sich selbst treu. Sie muss oft Rückschläge hinnehmen und lernt, ihr wahres Gesicht zu verstecken. Sie tut, was sie tun muss, um sich, ihre Liebe und den Mann, den sie heiraten soll, nicht zu entehren oder gar zu beleidigen.

Wie sich Prinz Raiden verändert hat, das hat mich echt erstaunt. Er gewährt dem Leser Einblicke in sein Inneres, wie er denkt und fühlt, das hab ich so nicht erwartet. Er bildet den perfekten Gegenpol zu seinem Bruder, dem Kaiser.

Die Figuren zeigen in diesem Band viel Wahnsinn, Verrücktheit und Leidenschaft. Alles von der Autorin zu einem sehr unterhaltsamen und spannenden Netz verwoben, das die einzelnen Charaktere gut zeigen. Da bekommt man beim Lesen noch mehr Lust, diese noch besser kennenzulernen. Na ja, alle bis auf den Kaiser. Ihn hab ich immer als trotziges Kleinkind vor Augen gehabt.

Resultat

Die letzte Szene war mir ein bisschen zu kitschig. Aber im Ganzen gesehen war das ein wundervoller Roman, der mich sehr gut unterhalten hat. Die Kombination aus Action, Intrigen und Leidenschaft ist absolut gelungen. Zudem erhält der Leser Antworten auf noch offene Fragen. Absolut empfehlenswert.

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

The book was originally published Smoke in the Sun by G.P. Putnam´s Sons on June 5, 2018.

Renée Ahdieh

Renée Ahdieh is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. She is passionate about all kinds of curry, rescue dogs, and college basketball. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds. She lives in Charleston, North Carolina, with her husband and their tiny overlord of a dog. She is the author of The Wrath and the Dawn.

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8/18/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #79 – Are We Back To April?

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

Stacking The Shelves #79

I don´t know why, but I haven´t bought any books during the past week.

Sunday Post #36

The week has been a pretty uneventful one. We have weather like in April and it feels weird. The fields are bone dry, at least in some areas of Germany, and with the very low water levels there it seems almost clear that the prices for vegetables, fruit, and salad will increase again next year. I LOVE strawberries, but this year they were insanely expensive. Not to mention the grain.

I am a bit behind with writing and posting my new release reviews. Next week I am hopefully able to finish all my drafts and get them out in the open. At least I was able to read some more chapters while my laptop was installing his update on Friday – took over five hours until it was done.

Happy reading

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Challenges 2019

9/11/2019

Waiting On Wednesday #108 – A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty

9/08/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #82 – Cold Autumn

9/07/2019

Tribute by Nora Roberts

9/06/2019

Simon Thorn And The Shark´s Cave by Aimée Carter

9/05/2019

OXEN Das Erste Opfer by Jens Henrik Jensen

9/04/2019

Waiting On Wednesday #107 – A Wedding In December by Sarah Morgan

9/03/2019

Meine Hand In Deiner by Marie Force

9/02/2019

Heaven´s End-Wen Die Geister Lieben by Kim Kestner

9/01/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #81 – Hello September

8/31/2019

Simon Thorn And The Viper´s Pit by Aimée Carter

8/28/2019

Waiting On Wednesday #106 – Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton

8/25/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #80 – Summer Is Coming Back

8/24/2019

Das Herz Aus Eis & Liebe by Renée Ahdieh

8/18/2019

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #79 – Are We Back To April?

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