Friday, June 30, 2017

June Wrap up - Book Haul & What to Expect Next Month

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by.
This month was a great reading month. I'm even behind on two more reviews, but they will be online this weekend or after that.
It's a busy time as a teacher, since it's the end of the year. I have parental conversations where the kids present their goals and tell the parents everything they've achieved.
3 more weeks until summer break! Yay!

So, here is this month's wrap up, book haul and I'll tell you what to expect next month!

Enjoy 💙

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Review: Holding Up the Universe

Author: Jennifer Niven
Started reading: June 19th 2017
Finished the book: June 21st 2017
Pages: 391
Genres: YA, Romance, Contemporary
Published: October 4th 2016
Source: Borrowed from the library
Goodreads score: 3.94
My score:
Synopsis

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours


Sunday, June 25, 2017

Review: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book


Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Started reading: June 12th 2017
Finished the book: June 18th 2017
Pages: 352
Genres: Fantasy
Published: January 31st 2017
Source: Got it from a friend
Goodreads score: 3.99
My score:
Synopsis
Smart, bookish Belle, a captive in the Beast’s castle, has become accustomed to her new home and has befriended its inhabitants. When she comes upon Nevermore, an enchanted book unlike anything else she has seen in the castle, Belle finds herself pulled into its pages and transported to a world of glamour and intrigue. The adventures Belle has always imagined, the dreams she was forced to give up when she became a prisoner, seem within reach again.

The charming and mysterious characters Belle meets within the pages of Nevermore offer her glamorous conversation, a life of dazzling Parisian luxury, and even a reunion she never thought possible. Here Belle can have everything she has ever wished for. But what about her friends in the Beast’s castle? Can Belle trust her new companions inside the pages of Nevermore? Is Nevermore’s world even real? Belle must uncover the truth about the book, before she loses herself in it forever.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Get To Know Me Tag #2

Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by again.


Doing the Get To Know Me Tag last month was so much fun!!
I'm going to try and do this regularly.
I chose 8 new questions to answer about me, so you can get to know the person behind the blog.
I'll end this post by telling you the next physical book I'm going to read.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Review (re-read) (SPOILERS): A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)


Author: Sarah J. Maas
Started reading: June 9th 2017
Finished the book: June 17th 2017
Pages: 626
Genres: Fantasy
Published: May 3rd 2016
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 4.73
My score:


Synopsis
Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.


Sunday, June 18, 2017

Review: A Temporary Thing

Author: Gil Miller
Started reading: June 8th 2017
Finished the book: June 9th 2017
Pages: 180
Genres: Crime, Fiction
Published: January 21st 2016
Source: Got a digital copy from the author
Goodreads score: Not enough reviews
My score:
Synopsis
When Lyle Villines learns his daughter has leukemia, he searches for a way to pay the huge medical bills that come with the condition. In desperation, he takes a well-paying, under-the-table job driving a delivery van. He doesn't know what the cargo is, but the pay is enough to make him ignore that for the sake of his child. Lyle questions his decision when he's hijacked on the interstate and left alive only so he can deliver a message to his employer. Turns out the load wasn't exactly legal. Nor was it insured, meaning he will have to pay for the loss by taking on a new job-cooking meth. Not only does it pay better, his boss says, it keeps him off the road. When Lyle objects, he's given a simple choice. He can either take the opportunity, or his family will suffer. Faced with no other option, the only thing to do is follow orders... and hope he can get out alive.


Friday, June 16, 2017

Kickstarter: A Hyacinth for His Hideousness (Gay Romance Novel)

Hi there!
A while ago Tharah Meester reached out to me, asking me to promote her Kickstarter Project. Tharah Meester writes in German and would love for her novel to be translated to English.
But... This will cost money!
As a book blogger, why not help out an author, by mentioning this book and ask others to help as well!?

If you can spare a bit to help out this author, it would be much appreciated!
All small amounts will help.
Thanks for checking out this post.




Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Review: Engadine Aerie (Hardy Durkin Travel Mysteries #5)

Author: Bluette Matthey
Started reading: June 8th 2017
Finished the book: June 9th 2017
Pages: 258
Genres: Mystery, Travel
Published: April 26th 2017
Source: Got a physical copy from the author
Goodreads score: 3.77
My score:

Synopsis
Hardy Durkin heads to the pristine Engadine Valley in Switzerland with the Skimarathon in mind, but is detoured by a body in the snow and an exotic beauty. While assisting TIGRIS in the hunt for a terrorist arms buyer he narrowly escapes two attempts on his life and meets a new and very deadly nemesis in Engadine Aerie.


Monday, June 12, 2017

Review: Revived

Author: Ernesto Pavan
Started reading: June 3rd 2017
Finished the book: June 7th 2017
Pages: 207
Genres: Zombies
Published: February 23rd 2017
Source: Got a digital copy from the author
Goodreads score: Not enough reviews
My score:
Synopsis
For deadpan snark queen Violet Sharpe, death is not the end.

If you think life sucks, wait until after you're dead. After finding out she's contracted porthmeos, a nasty parasite, Violet is faced with a choice: either meet her end before her thirtieth birthday, or become one of the Revived, which is the politically correct word for... well, a zombie.

But the challenges of her new un-life are way worse than she thought. As part of a new minority, she faces discrimination and hatred, not to mention a laundry list of physical limitations and the looming ghost of depression. Can she meet these challenges with her usual strength and dark humor? Or is being Revived a fate worse than death?


Sunday, June 11, 2017

Ebook GIVEAWAY - Torn by Simon Williams

An eye opening, unapologetic and hilarious romp through the darkest moment of an Australian man's life.

My father told me life wasn't meant to be easy, but I don't think he anticipated it would turn out as heartbreaking as it did. Before one miserable night in 2014 there were two actions I'd never contemplated doing in my life, write a book or jumping off a 20-story balcony.

However, this night I found myself so afraid and despondent that I leaned against my balcony railing and wished that I could take away all the pain I was feeling with one action.

What could drive a man to consider taking his own life? I sat at my computer and started writing a suicide note. As I typed, I started to weigh up my life. With it resting perilously on the edge, I had the strength to be open, honest and unrepentant. 

Only when we start to die, do we stop apologizing for who we are, what we have done and what we go through.




I've read Torn: The Story of an Undeserving Wallaby Drowning in a Septic Tank a while a go. You can read the review here.

In this blogpost you can enter an Ebook Giveaway for Torn. There will be 5 copies to give out. Winners will be announced Sunday the 25th!

Sidenote: Make sure you fill out the blanks while entering the Giveaway. All information needs to be verified. If you don't fill out the blanks, your entry will not be valid!


Ebook Torn: The Story of an Undeserving Wallaby Drowning in a Septic Tank

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)


Author: J.K. Rowling
Started reading: June 5th 2017
Finished the book: June 7th 2017
Pages: 462
Genres: Fantasy, YA, Adventure
Published: September 1st 2014
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 4.52
My score:

Synopsis
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transportation for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go."
When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it's the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run - and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry's tea leaves... But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss...


Friday, June 9, 2017

Review: Torn: The Story of an Undeserving Wallaby Drowning in a Septic Tank


Author: Simon Williams
Started reading: May 28th 2017
Finished the book: June 7th 2017
Pages: 213
Genres: Autobiography
Published: March 28th 2015
Source: Got a physical copy from the author
Goodreads score: 3.95
My score:

Synopsis
My father told me life wasn't meant to be easy, but I don't think he anticipated it would turn out as heart breaking as it did. Before one miserable night in 2014 there were two actions I'd never contemplated doing in my life, write a book or jumping off a 20-story balcony.

However, this night I found myself so afraid and despondent that I leaned against my balcony railing and wished that I could take away all the pain I was feeling with one action.

What could drive a man to consider taking his own life?
I sat at my computer and started writing a suicide note. As I typed, I started to weigh up my life. With it resting perilously on the edge, I had the strength to be open, honest and unrepentant.

Only when we start to die, do we stop apologizing for who we are, what we have done and what we go through.


Thursday, June 8, 2017

Review: Falling For You

Author: Mari Suggs
Started reading: May 26th 2017
Finished the book: May 28th 2017
Pages: 422
Genres: Romance, Mystery
Published: January 27th 2017
Source: Got a digital copy from the author
Goodreads score: Not enough reviews
My score:

Synopsis
25-year-old Rachel Moore has the perfect life: A job she loves, lots of free time, and most importantly to her, an ocean-view-condo on a paradise island. She loves the island and has never questioned the place she calls home. That is, until Luke Wellington, a 28-year old business mogul steps foot on the island. The last thing Rachel expected was to break her number one rule-never get involved with a tourist. Despite her efforts to push him away, she ends up getting closer than she ever imagined. Even after learning that Luke is keeping something from her, she is unable to break it off. His deception leads them on a journey neither of them could've predicted. By the time Rachel finds out what he's been keeping from her, her life is unrecognizable.


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Review: All the Bright Places

Author: Jennifer Niven
Started reading: May 26th 2017
Finished the book: May 27th 2017
Pages: 378
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, YA
Published: January 6th 2015
Source: Borrowed from library
Goodreads score: 4.20
My score:

Synopsis
A Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.


Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday #2 - 10 Fantasy Books

Hi dear blog reader,
It's been a while since I've done a Top Ten Tuesday and since I have a week off, I decided to participate again!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This weeks theme is: 10 books from X genre that I've recently added to my TBR.

I chose to make a list of recently added Fantasy books since this is the genre I enjoy the most.
Let's go!

Monday, June 5, 2017

Review: Ahe'ey


Author: Jamie Le Fay
Started reading: May 9th 2017
Finished the book: May 26th 2017
Pages: 688
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction
Published: April 26th 2017
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads score: 4.36
My score:

Synopsis
Morgan is a dreamer, change maker and art lover. She is a feisty, slightly preachy, romantic feminist full of contradictions and insecurities. Morgan uncovers a world where women have the power, and where magic is no longer just a figment of her wild imagination. Sounds like a dream, but it may, in fact, turn into a nightmare.

The world of the Ahe'ey challenges and subverts her views about gender, genes, and nature versus nurture.

The strong and uninvited chemistry between her and the dashing Gabriel makes matters even more complicated. His stunning looks keep short-circuiting her rational mind.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Review: The Doll's House (Helen Grace #3)

Author: M.J. Arlidge
Started reading: May 18th 2017
Finished the book: May 25th 2017
Pages: 434
Genres: Crime, Thriller
Published: February 12th 2015
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 4.11
My score:


Synopsis
A young woman wakes up in a cold, dark cellar, with no idea how she got there or who her kidnapper is. So begins her terrible nightmare.
Nearby, the body of another young woman is discovered buried on a remote beach. But the dead girl was never reported missing - her estranged family having received regular texts from her over the years. Someone has been keeping her alive from beyond the grave.
For Detective Inspector Helen Grace it's chilling evidence that she's searching for a monster who is not just twisted but also clever and resourceful - a predator who's killed before.And as Helen struggles to understand the killer's motivation, she begins to realize that she's in a desperate race against time.


Thursday, June 1, 2017

Summer 2017 Comment Challenge

Dear blog readers,
For every thing in life there should be a first.

I've signed up to participate in the June Comment Challenge.
This event is hosted by Lonna @ FLYLÄ“F and Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense.
This event is designed to help connect book bloggers by spreading some comment love. During this challenge you'll be paired up with another blogger and will comment on each others posts throughout the month. 

I'd love to get to know other bloggers and I'm happy to announce that I've been paired up with Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense.



Please always feel free to comment, I always comment back.

Happy reading!