11/29/2020

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #141 – Happy First Advent

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 #141

I had Tailspin in my mailbox this week. Thank you Blanvalet for the wonderful surprise. On the left the cover of the German edition.

Review Copy

  

   

Sunday Post #98

We had cold but beautiful weather all week long. I was almost every afternoon in the garden and am making huge progress with the roots. The big bush in our garden corner is now out and I started to pave the new way we will have in the garden and to fill it with bark mulch. Hopefully, my neighbors will like it. 

On Wednesday we said our final goodbye to my biological mother from afar. I had received a letter from a Bavarian court that day which contained her last will and some other legal papers and information. Yes, you read that correctly. It was a court that informed me and my dad. Not my younger sister or her many brothers or her sister, my aunt, had bothered to inform us. Not when it happened and not later. Due to the pandemic rules and my dad´s health we cannot drive to her grave. It feels very odd. Good, we haven´t been very close over the past twenty years, but still, I had thought that they at least would have the decency to call us.

So, this holiday season will be the first in the knowledge that she is no longer among us. My stepmom shot a picture of her Advent wreath and texted it to me wishing me a happy first Advent. I did the same with mine.

Thursday and Friday, I tried to write some reviews (I am so overdue with them) and to visit some other blogs but discovered that my internet was broken. A new neighbor in the house had moved his internet plugin from one side of the living room to the other and as a result, had ripped out the wiring in the wall and cut that way the internet for the rest of the house. Applause to that! 

On Saturday, my shopping trolley broke. On the way home, I was probably fifty meters away from the supermarket's entrance, one of its wheels said goodbye and I had to carry the full trolley all the way home. I was completely done when I got home. Ugh! But anyway, I went again into the garden and finished at least one part.

I have not read much during the past week despite the HoHoHo Readathon still going on. And I know that I will close the HoHoHo with only one Christmas themed book read but no review about it online on my blog. I have to write and publish a review for another book first because I got it from a publisher who is waiting for the review for weeks now. But the HoHoHo was fun anyway and I will probably do it next year again. Thank you, Kimberly, for hosting.

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.

Happy reading

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11/22/2020

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #140 – Only One Week Until Advents Season Starts

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 #140

I received thanks to Fischer TB a book by Marie Force. 

Review Copy

Sunday Post #97

All week long we had beautiful weather. One day it is warm, the next freezing cold. Not sure if we will get a normal winter. But on the other hand, what´s normal during these times? As you might have heard on CNN or other international news, our Corona numbers are exploding and in some areas of Germany, hospitals are on the edge of being overwhelmed. Considered the fact, that Germany has one of the world’s best healthcare systems, it is quite scary to hear that. Yesterday it was all over the news, that we might get into an extended lockdown with even stricter rules until December 20th. Because of our high numbers. Not everybody in Germany is happy about that. Next Sunday we will have our first advents weekend and it feels strange that there will be no big family Christmas this year. 

I am still working on getting all the roots out in the garden but for most of last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I was kind of knocked out. So, no garden work for me. But I already made huge progress and see it. But no writing reviews or blogging either. I managed to read two books, one for the Readathon, the other a review copy I am kind of overdue with. But other than that, my head is not in the reading game. Others have read tons of books while in lockdown, I barely managed to get one done. During this second lockdown, things have not much changed on that front. My TBR for this year contains three books I have to read, review, and publish on my blog by December 31st, so hopefully, I can do that. *fingers crossed*

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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11/19/2020

Grab Your Books The HoHoHo Readathon 2020 Has Started!

Today started the HoHoHo Readathon. During the #HoHoHoRAT, hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer, you can listen to any holiday and winter-themed book. No matter if audiobook, ebook or physical book. The readathon runs from November 19th at 12:01 am to November 30th, 2020 at 11:59 pm in your time zone. That means twelve days of reading with two weekends in-between. Enough reading time for a book or a few, don´t you think?

My list of planned books for this readathon is short. And although we have still two weeks left of our second lockdown; I know that I will be lucky if I am able to read only one of them. 

The Books I Am Planning To Read

   

-When posting to social media use #HoHoHoRAT so other participants and hosts can spot your updates, comments, etc

-Follow our lovely Elves and Host

-Any Holiday or Winter Setting from any genre, including horror. You can listen to audiobooks or read physical books, ebooks, graphic novels. No length requirements. Re-reads are permitted. 

Challenges

Below you will see the Elven hosts. They have prepared fun challenges for you to take part in. Each will offer you the chance to win some goodies!

Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer “Santa’s Scavenger Hunt“

Maureen @ Maureen’s Book Blog “Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles“

Carla @ Carla Loves To Read “Mini Challenge! Christmas Baking“

Carol @ Carol’s Notebook “Holiday Songs Crossword“

Angela @ Simply Angela “Holiday Bingo Card“

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer “Ho-Ho-Ho Instagram Challenge“

The HoHoHo Readathon Instagram Challenge

                          

Happy reading

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11/15/2020

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #139 – National Day Of Mourning

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 #139

I received thanks to Fischer Scherz a book by Anne Mette Hancock. And my bought book arrived also.

Review Copy

Bought Book

Sunday Post #96

The past week we had a mix of sun, rain, and cloudy sky and I discovered that writing this post here is not easy at all. While I was able to read and write some reviews and publish them during the week, today I am struggling to get this one done. Germany commemorates a National Day of Mourning today. It is Volkstrauertag. Usually a day most of the Germans don´t really see as that because the past that lays behind it is no easy one. But today, with The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall being here for the first time to commemorate this special day with us due to the 75th anniversary of it, it somehow feels different. We had beautiful weather all day long and it just does not feel like a day of mourning.

Ah well. The rest of the week I also tried to get some further roots out of the garden and had some wonderful book mail in my mailbox. Other than that, my week was uneventful. The lockdown feels strange, people behave weird sometimes and we have one mask sale after the other. 

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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11/13/2020

Fatal Affair-Nur Mit Dir by Marie Force

I know the author from her Green Mountain series and Butler Vermont series and wanted to know how her style is when she writes in a bit different genre. The cover caught me first and when I discovered that this novel had been published already under two different names and by another publisher, I thought I´d give it a try. And to be honest, this was almost an overnight read for me. And pure reading pleasure. 

  

Fatal Affair-Nur Mit Dir*

by Marie Force
Fatal Series #1
Original Title Fatal Affair
Publisher HTJB Inc on March 18, 2020
Genre Thriller
Pages 456
Format Paperback
Source Lovelybooks
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶ 

Detective Samantha Holland is under pressure: her last case ended in disaster, so a new murder comes in handy. Well-known Senator John O´Connor was brutally murdered in his bed. Sam is convinced: With this explosive case, she will restore her good reputation and save her career – that much is certain. But she did the math without the dead man´s best friend, Nick Cappuano, her most important witness – and lover, with whom she had spent a very intensive night years ago. And which she could not forget until today. She would never have thought that every fiber of her body would pull together with relish and that her heart would become buttery soft as soon as she faces Nick. The attraction between them seems unbroken, perhaps stronger than ever. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

For Sam, the new case means a chance to restore her reputation. But when she discovers that Nick, her former one-night stand, is the important witness she needs to solve the case, she knows that she has to face even more problems. And Sam decides to keep that a secret and to do her job the best way she can. Not easy when the man you want more than anything else in the world, is doing whatever he can to show you that he isn´t controllable like the other men. 

Style

The reading pace is fast. The plot itself very diversified despite playing in only a few settings for the entire time. The author shows in a well-written story the life of Sam and Nick and how they cope with whatever life throws into their ways. Marie Force´s writing style is full of action, wit, humor, and erotica. The author, no doubt about that, created her figures with a sensitive feeling for them and their past. The fact, that Marie Force gave her protagonist a “stigma” in form of dyslexia made me think of a series that I also read where an agent has also to deal with it. Only here does the author give the reader brief information about it while in the other series the author shows more details. 

I first read the bonus story One Night With You, which is included at the end of this book. It was wonderful to see how the two main characters deal with their past in the subsequent storyline. 

Characters

Sam is a fantastic woman and a detective. She instinctively knows how to handle a situation and does her job in a fantastic way. There are many great scenes in this thriller and some that made me burst out laughing while reading it. Her wit, her way of dealing with things, and the way she treats her partner are great. Sure, she´s changed a lot from the young woman who spent a night with Nick many years ago to the woman she is now. Things have changed in the years in between and made her much more cautious. But Nick knows how to deal with her and how he does it has melted my heart. He is the perfect man for Sam. 

Conclusion

A great thriller and a wonderful start to a new series. I like that the tone and style are different from the two other series I know from her. Gives this new series the feeling of another great adventure. The mix of thriller, erotica, action, and emotions are fantastic, and I know that I want to read more about Sam and Nick. The only aspect I don´t like at all is the quality of the paperback. I´m talking about the presentation, not the novel itself. To charge around 14 Euros for this is bold. 

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Lovelybooks in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review. The German edition was previously published “Mörderische Sühne” and “DC. Affairs: Fatales Geheimnis”

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Das Lesetempo ist schnell. Die Handlung selbst ist sehr abwechslungsreich, obwohl sie die ganze Zeit nur an wenigen Schauplätzen spielt. Die Autorin zeigt in einer gut geschriebenen Geschichte das Leben von Sam und Nick und wie sie mit allem umgehen, was ihnen das Leben in den Weg stellt. Der Schreibstil von Marie Force ist voller Action, Witz, Humor und Erotik. Die Autorin erschuf zweifellos ihre Figuren mit einem sensiblen Gefühl für sie und ihre Vergangenheit. Die Tatsache, dass Marie Force ihrer Protagonistin ein Stigma in Form von Legasthenie verlieh, ließ mich an eine Serie denken, die ich auch lese, in der sich auch ein Agent damit auseinandersetzen muss. Nur hier gibt die Autorin dem Leser kurze Information darüber, während die Autorin in der anderen Reihe weitere Details zeigt. 

Ich habe zuerst die Bonusgeschichte One Night With You gelesen, die am Ende dieses Buches enthalten ist. Es war wunderbar, mitzuerleben, wie die beiden Hauptfiguren in der anschließenden Handlung danach mit ihrer Vergangenheit umgehen.

Charaktere

Sam ist eine fantastische Frau und Detektive. Sie weiß instinktiv, wie man mit einer Situation umgeht und macht ihre Arbeit auf fantastische Weise. Es gibt viele großartige Szenen in diesem Thriller und einige, die mich beim Lesen in Gelächter ausbrechen ließen. Ihr Witz, ihre Art, mit Dingen umzugehen und wie sie ihren Partner behandelt, sind einfach großartig. Sicher, sie hat sich sehr verändert von der jungen Frau, die vor vielen Jahren eine Nacht mit Nick verbracht hat, zu der Frau, die sie jetzt ist. Die Dinge haben sich in den Jahren dazwischen geändert und sie um ein Vielfaches vorsichtiger werden lassen. Aber Nick weiß, wie er mit ihr umgehen muss und wie er es tut, hat mein Herz zum Schmelzen gebracht. Er ist der perfekte Mann für Sam.

Resultat

Ein großartiger Thriller und ein wunderbarer Start in eine neue Serie. Ich mag es, dass der Ton und der Stil sich von den beiden anderen Serien unterscheiden, die ich von der Autorin kenne. Verleiht dieser neuen Serie das Gefühl eines weiteren großen Abenteuers. Die Mischung aus Thriller, Erotik, Action und Emotionen ist fantastisch und ich weiß, dass ich mehr über Sam und Nick lesen möchte. Der einzige Aspekt, der mir überhaupt nicht gefällt, ist die Qualität des Taschenbuches. Ich rede hier von der Aufmachung, nicht dem Roman selbst. Dafür rund 14 Euro zu verlangen ist schon dreist.

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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11/12/2020

Das Wunderbare Weihnachtshotel by Karen Schaler

From the first moment on I had the feeling as if I know the story and figures of Chrismas Camp already. Everything seemed so familiar to me. The atmosphere is highly winterly and with everything filled Christmas is all about. And after finishing it I can honestly say that this novel is a wonderful read and I enjoyed it very much. So, if you are looking for a winterly novel in a beautiful setting combined with beautiful romance – this is your book.

Das Wunderbare Weihnachtshotel*

by Karen Schaler
Translation Mo Zuber
Original Title Christmas Camp
Publisher Fischer TB on September 23, 2020
Genre Novel
Pages 394
Format Paperback
Source Fischer TB
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶ 

For Haley Hanson, Christmas is first and foremost an annoying distraction from work. But her boss sends her to the Holly Peak Inn for a week in advent to work on her attitude towards the festival. In the small, charming hotel in the mountains, she meets the attractive Jeff and immediately feels drawn to him. To get the longed-for promotion, she actually has to return to her advertising agency in Boston as soon as possible, instead of baking, doing handicrafts, and hiking in the snow with the other guests. It takes all the magic of Christmas until Haley finally allows herself to listen to her heart. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary). 

Story

Haley Hanson is not in for bold Christmas decorations or getting into the Christmas mood all too deep. She and her parents prefer to fly away over the holidays and spend some time together without all the Christmas fuss. At least, that´s what Haley thinks. But everything changes when her boss decides to send her to the Christmas Camp to get her into the festive mood. 

Style

A novel filled with lovely Christmas traditions. The tone is light and the writing style easy to read. The entire story is full of emotions and contains only a hint of kitsch. And although I had the feeling I´ve seen the figures and story already somewhere, I couldn´t wait to turn the pages to see what would happen next. It was quite entertaining to see how Haley saw all the others at the Christmas Camp enjoying the activities there while she tried to do her job and get a presentation done. 

With Haley, Karen Schaler shows a woman who does everything for her career and that her parents can enjoy a good life. But Christmas is not something that she has on her agenda. It wasn´t long before I realized that Haley had probably not had an easy childhood. Seeing her find her way back into the festive season and how she realized that all is not bad was a wonderful and emotional ride. 

Characters

Haley loves her career. She wants her parents to be happy and believes everyone will be happy when she goes on vacation with them over Christmas. She does not see that she is missing something special. But her boss. And if she wants to become a partner, she has to acquire a certificate to prove that she is worthy to be a partner. 

The way how the author shows Haley´s inner conflict is fantastic. That she wants the new position more than anything else in her life, but Christmas is not something she would give anything for. But seeing other people celebrating some Christmas traditions and doing things she never thought she would do herself is a different story. It was great to see all of this activity and Max made my heart melt. 

Conclusion

A heartwarming novel about love, life, traditions, and the charm and magic of Christmas. Whether you´re a big Christmas fan or not, this book will get you in the Christmas spirit. Make yourself a cup of hot cocoa, coffee, or tea, take a comfortable armchair, and enjoy this novel.

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

Ein Roman voller schöner Weihnachtstraditionen. Der Ton ist leicht und der Schreibstil einfach zu lesen. Die ganze Geschichte ist voller Emotionen und enthält nur einen Hauch von Kitsch. Und obwohl ich das Gefühl hatte, die Figuren und die Geschichte schon irgendwo gesehen zu haben, konnte ich es kaum erwarten, die Seiten umzublättern, um zu sehen, was als nächstes passieren würde. Es war sehr unterhaltsam zu sehen, wie Haley all die anderen im Weihnachtscamp sah, die die Aktivitäten dort genossen, während sie versuchte, ihren Job zu machen und eine Marketingpräsentation auf die Beine zu stellen.

Karen Schaler zeigt mit Haley eine Frau, die alles für ihre Karriere tut und dass ihre Eltern ein gutes Leben genießen können. Aber Weihnachten steht nicht auf ihrer Tagesordnung. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis mir klar wurde, dass Haley wohl keine leichte Kindheit hatte. Zu sehen, wie sie ihren Weg zurück in die festliche Jahreszeit fand und wie sie erkannte, dass nicht alles schlecht ist, war eine wundervolle und emotionale Fahrt.

Charaktere

Haley liebt ihre Karriere. Sie möchte, dass ihre Eltern glücklich sind und glaubt, dass alle zufrieden sind, wenn sie über Weihnachten mit ihnen in den Urlaub fährt. Das ihr etwas Besonderes fehlt, sieht sie nicht. Aber ihr Chef. Und wenn sie Partnerin werden will, muss sie sich ein Zertifikat erwerben, um zu beweisen, dass sie es wert ist, Partnerin zu sein.

Es ist fantastisch, wie die Autorin Haleys inneren Konflikt zeigt. Dass sie die neue Position mehr als alles andere in ihrem Leben will, aber Weihnachten ist nichts, wofür sie alles geben würde. Aber andere Menschen zu sehen, die einige Weihnachtstraditionen feiner und Dinge tun, von denen sie nie gedacht hätte, dass sie sie selbst tun würde, ist eine andere Geschichte. Es war großartig, all diese Aktivitäten zu sehen und Max ließ mein Herz schmelzen.

Resultat

Ein herzerwärmender Roman über Liebe, Leben, Traditionen und den Charme und die Magie von Weihnachten. Egal ob du ein großer Weihnachtsfan bist oder nicht, dieses Buch bringt dich in Weihnachtstimmung. Mach dir eine Tasse heißen Kakao, Kaffee, oder Tee, nimm einen bequemen Sessel und genieße diesen Roman. 

*The book was published Christmas Camp by Avon on September 24, 2019

Karen Schaler

Karen Schaler is a three-time Emmy Award-winning storyteller, author, screenwriter, journalist, and national TV host. She has written original screenplays for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime Christmas movies, including the Netflix sensation A Christmas Prince. Karen wrote the Hallmark movie and novel Christmas Camp, and the sequel novella, Christmas Camp Wedding. Traveling to more than sixty-five countries as the creator and host of Travel Therapy TV, Karen is constantly inspired by the diverse people, places, and cultures she encounters. All of Karen’s stories are uplifting, filled with heart, and hope.

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11/08/2020

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #138 – What A Week

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

I am linking up with 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 #138

I am participating in a reading round at Lovelybooks. Found that out by surprise on Saturday, when I picked this book up at the postoffice.

Sunday Post #95

The past seven days have felt as if I was living in a parallel universe. The second lockdown feels completely different from the one we had to do in Spring. And the presidential election thriller did its part too, to make things strange. Thank god Biden has won!

Our corona numbers went up into the air daily and by the end of the week, we hit the record-breaking number of over 20.000 confirmed new corona infections. Not much if you see the numbers in other parts of the world, but for Germany, this means one big crisis. Now we mourn the death of over 11.000 people and the way how people behave has changed. Not everyone is happy with the new guidelines and stricter rules but most of us believe that it is necessary. But I can see and feel that things are different this time. Maybe that is because Christmas is coming closer and we already know that most of the Christmas markets around the country have been canceled. And those who will take place will be happening without any mulled wine, punch, or the typical things to eat like waffles or toffee apples. 

I tried to split my time between blogging and doing some garden work during the afternoon. Does not work every day and I am way behind with writing and publishing reviews. Not to mention reading a book. Somehow, I´ve got a bug that screwed with my blog's homepage and some posts, and therefore I had to deal with some technical issues too. Thankfully, my template designer was able to find the problem and could fix it. But of course, that and the time I spend in the garden have put me behind my schedule. I am just too exhausted when I go upstairs into my apartment when it gets dark and mostly fall asleep while lying on the couch. The garden looks as if a bomb has exploded but I don´t see a point covering the plain soil yet with some bark mulch. I still got some work to do before I can call it done for spring.

At the beginning of September.  

How the garden looks today.

During the first week of this new lockdown, even though it is only a partial one I noticed that my use of hand cream and soap has quadrupled. My supermarket had the small sanitizer bottles you can easily carry around in your handbag on sale and I bought some. It sounds weird but not all shops or buildings offer you hand sanitizer during this second lockdown. 

Saturday morning, when I walked to my post office, I noticed that I could see the moon. Doesn´t happen very often that I see this, so I was thrilled when I saw it. The tiny white dot in the picture is the moon. On the left side of the tree, you can see in the right corner of the picture. Something positive. 

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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11/03/2020

Winterwunderzeit by Debbie Macomber

I am not sure if it is amid the translation or if Debbie Macomber wrote this novel indeed in a very old-fashioned language. But it reads sometimes a bit weird and couldn´t convince me. Sad, but this is not what I am used to when I think of the author or read one of her books. The author knows better – much better.

Winterwunderzeit*

by Debbie Macomber
Angelic Intervention Series #11
Translation Nina Bader
Original Title A Mrs. Miracle Christmas
Publisher Blanvalet on September 21, 2020
Genre Novel
Pages 188
Format Paperback
Source Blanvalet
Goodreads
✶✶✶ 

The most beautiful miracles happen at Christmas time. Christmas is just around the corner, and Laurel McCullough could use some good news. She and her husband Zach want a baby with all their hearts, but this dream has yet to be fulfilled. In addition, the two had to move in with Laurel´s grandmother Helen, because the old lady needs more and more help in everyday life. Since miracles are never far away in this special time before Christmas, one day suddenly Mrs. Miracle appears at the door, a caregiver who wants to help the family. It is nothing short of a stroke of luck with which everything miraculously changes … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Laurel is unhappy. She struggles with the fact that she can´t have a child on her own. And with her husband who has not given up hope that there will be one day a baby for them, her life has turned into something she can´t even put a name on. The moment Mrs. Miracle steps into her life, things change and with that Laurel realizes that she can´t hide any longer what her real feelings are. 

Style

It is sad to say, but this is not one of the authors’ best work. In fact, it is only average for me. Sad, but true. When I think of Mrs. Miracle, I see happiness, light, and a mischievous smile all over her face. She always has that special sparkle around her. The hope that never fades. The other thing that confused me a bit is the language and writing style. Not sure whether this is due to the translation or whether it was actually worded that way by the author. It sometimes reads very old-fashionedly and weird. 

Characters

What I liked is the fact, that the author shows Laurel´s inner conflict in a very sensitive way. Sure, there are moments where I was wondering why Laurel was reacting the way she did towards her husband or others when they told her about their children or dreams. I mean, okay it is painful if you see someone else having what you desire but can´t get on your own. I get that. But sometimes I just couldn´t understand the main figure and why she was behaving the way she did. 

Conclusion

Sad to say it but this book is only average. At least for me. I thought this is a heartwarming story about a young woman Mrs. Miracle is supposed to help, and she did. But the rest? Not the quality Debbie Macomber usually presents her readers. Sad, but no recommendation from my side. 

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Blanvalet 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

Es ist traurig, aber dieser Roman gehört nicht zu den besten Werken der Autorin. Tatsächlich ist er für mich nur durchschnittlich. Traurig, aber wahr. Wenn ich an Mrs. Miracle denke, sehe ich Glück, Licht und ein verschmitztes Lächeln. Sie hat immer diesen besonderen Glanz um sich. Die Hoffnung, die niemals verblasst. Das andere, was mich ein bisschen verwirrt hat, ist die Sprache und der Schreibstil. Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob dies auf die Übersetzung zurückzuführen ist oder ob sie von der Autorin tatsächlich so formuliert wurde. Liest sich manchmal sehr altmodisch und merkwürdig. 

Charaktere

Was mir gefallen hat, ist die Tatsache, dass die Autorin Laurels inneren Konflikt auf sehr sensible Weise zeigt. Es gibt Momente, in denen ich mich gefragt habe, warum Laurel so reagiert hat, wie sie es gegenüber ihrem Ehemann oder anderen getan hat, als sie ihr von ihren Kindern oder Träumen erzählt haben. Ich meine, okay, es ist schmerzhaft, wenn man sieht, dass jemand anderes das hat, was man selbst auch will, aber nicht von allein bekommen kann. Ich verstehe das. Aber manchmal konnte ich die Hauptfigur einfach nicht verstehen und warum sie sich so benahm, wie sie es tat. 

Resultat

Traurig das zu sagen, aber dieses Buch ist nur durchschnittlich. Zumindest für mich. Ich dachte, das ist eine herzerwärmende Geschichte über eine junge Frau, der Mrs. Miracle helfen soll, und sie tut es ja auch. Aber der Rest? Nicht die Qualität, die Debbie Macomber ihren Lesern normalerweise präsentiert. Traurig, aber leider keine Empfehlung von meiner Seite. 

*This title was originally published A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Ballantine Books on October 1, 2019. 

Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber is the owner of the Victorian Tea Room and the yarn shop A Good Yarn, which was named after the store in her successful book Blossom Street. She is the author of Sweet Tomorrows, among many other books, and a leading voice in women´s fiction. Ten of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series Debbie Macomber´s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber´s Cedar Cove books. She has more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. Debbie Macomber, who likes to be a grandmother, lives with her husband Wayne in Port Orchard, Washington, where her novels play and spends the winter in Florida. 

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11/01/2020

Weekly Book Wrap-Up #137 – All Saint´s Day At The Start Of November

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 #137

Thanks to Penhaligon, I had the second part of The Priory of the Orange Tree in my mailbox. To be clear here. The German publisher decided to split the original book with its over 800 pages into two parts for its German readers. It is called The Queen.

Sunday Post #94

Today, we have All Saint´s Day. We think about our dead and bring some long-lasting flower arrangements to their graves. Usually, I go and get some candles and bring them to my father and we go then together and visit those graves we have nearby. I am not a religious person, but sometimes it is good to visit the past. Well, this year, my dad and stepmom will have to go alone. 

November started with rainy weather. It was raining almost all week, except for yesterday. Which was why I spent most of the day in the backyard ripping out roots and ivy and taking care of the half of the garden I want to rebuild. I plan to plant Japanese maple, honeysuckle, and woodbine in early spring. I´ve already planted some tulip bulbs and crocus and hope that they will bloom next spring. 

I got the news, that one of my library ladies has quit her job at the library. I am sad about that. And I am sad that with the move of our library to the new building, we will get a new logo and name. The logo is grass green, yikes! And the new name so bulky to say that I am really wondering who had come up with it. Originally it was planned, before Corona hit us, that the library would move into the new building in October 2020. Then it was re-scheduled to Mid-December 2020. Now, they plan on moving in January 2021.

My feeling tells me that I am no longer able to cope with all the changes that came flooding in since March. And that tells me, that my nerves aren´t as good anymore as they used to be. The second lockdown is starting Monday and I can tell that others aren´t happy about it either. On Friday, when I stocked up my food and drink along with other things, every shop I went to was packed with people. It seems as if history repeats itself. 

I had some trouble blogging during the past days. Creating a draft is one thing. But I never know how the finished post will look when I hit publish or schedule them. Therefore, I apologize for any weird looking post and that my homepage looks like a mess now. I am not sure if it is Blogger itself who is causing the trouble while they try to fix some of their issues or if I did something wrong by accident. Some posts look screwed up and creating a post is like playing the lottery. You never know how the result will look like.

Besides the yard work, I finished a thriller and am about to start a new book. My kitchen and floor look like a mess (newspaper are piling up, shoeboxes are everywhere and the boxes with all the dishes are one huge mountain under the kitchen window) but I can´t go and get my cabinets hung up on a Sunday. Well, we are in lockdown for the next four weeks, and I hope that it will give me plenty of time to clean out the mess and get my floor neat and tidy again.

How was your week? Stay safe and healthy.



Happy reading

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