I'm in Italy! See you in 2 weeks xx

ABC Book Challenge Letter H

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. I'm on my way to the end of the alphabet! 

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

Two Short Stories #26

Today I will be highlighting two short stories.

One of them is a rhyming audiobook adventure and the other one is a romantic suspense short story.

Let's dive right in.

Review: 1984

Author: George Orwell

Started reading: June 16h 2021

Finished the book: July 9th 2021

Pages: 298 / 12:17:45

Genres: Classics, Science Fiction, Literature

Published: June 8th 1949

Source: Storytel

Goodreads score: 4.19

My score:

Synopsis

The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell's prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of "negative utopia"—a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel's hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions—a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Sunday Post #32

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

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

Welcome, welcome my dear readers.

Welcome to the blog.

The end of the schoolyear... This year, it's hard for me. In 6th Grade we say goodbye to the kids, that's when they head to High School. But this class is special to me. I was their teacher in 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Grade. Half of their time in Primary School was with me as their teacher. In a week, we'll have the final evening of the schoolyear, when we get together with the kids from my classroom, their parents and all the teachers. The kids will play a musical and after that we will take the time to say our goodbyes.

That's also the start of my Summer holiday! I'm looking forward to it. I'm tired and ready to re-charge for the next schoolyear to come. The Summer break is 5 weeks for teachers and 6 for the kids in The Netherlands.

I've planned some fun things already, because we're out of lockdown in Europe. So I've planned a trip with a friend and some lovely lunch and dinner meetings with friends.

I'm looking forward to sleeping in and reading books. If all goes according to play, I'm heading to Italy for a camping trip with my boyfriend.

So, yeah! Looking forward to it!

Thanks for sticking with my blog and for reading!

Have a great month with loads of good books.

🌴

Two Short Stories #25

Today I will be highlighting two short stories.

One of them is a short story about a pack of bears and the other book is a picture book about loads of bad dad jokes.

Let's dive right in.

ABC Book Challenge Letter G

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. I'm on my way to the end of the alphabet! 

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

Review: Mother May I

Author: Joshilyn Jackson

Started reading: May 12th 2021

Finished the book: June 9th 2021

Pages: 324 / 12:51:47

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

Published: April 6th 2021

Source: Storytel

Goodreads score: 3.90

My score:

Synopsis

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned by her single mother that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected her mother’s fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of: a loving lawyer husband, two talented teenage daughters, a new baby boy, a gorgeous home, and every opportunity in the world.

Until the day she awakens and sees a witch peering into her bedroom window—an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.

Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daugh­ters’ private school . . . just minutes before Bree’s infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly—Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.

Sunday Post #31

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

Review: Out of My Mind

Author: Sharon M. Draper

Started reading: May 29th 2021

Finished the book: June 6th 2021

Pages: 295

Genres: YA, Realistic Fiction

Published: March 9th 2010

Source: Bought the book

Goodreads score: 4.37

My score:

Synopsis

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk.

She can't walk. She can't write. Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever.

At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you'll never, ever forget.

ABC Book Challenge Letter F

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. I'm on my way to the end of the alphabet! 

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

Giveaway: Bookish Goodies (Part #2)

Yaaay! Finally, time for another Giveaway! It's almost Summer over here, so I decided to make someone happy with some goodies, like I get happy from the sun!

It's so much fun to hosts Giveaways.

This time, I have an amazing goodie-box for one of you, collected from all the bookboxes I've ordered over the years.

One of you is going to win the goodie box. Check below for more information!

Review: Angels and Demons (Robert Langdon #1)

Author: Dan Brown

Started reading: April 26th 2021

Finished the book: May 28th 2021

Pages: 620

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Published: May 2000

Source: Received as a gift

Goodreads score: 3.91

My score:

Synopsis

When a world renowned scientist is found brutally murdered in a Swiss research facility, a Harvard professor, Robert Langdon, is summoned to identify the mysterious symbol seared onto the dead man's chest. His baffling conclusion: it is the work of the Illuminati, a secret brotherhood presumed extinct for nearly four hundred years - reborn to continue their bitter vendetta against their sworn enemy, the Catholic church.

In Rome, the college of cardinals assembles to elect a new pope. Yet somewhere within the walls of the Vatican, an unstoppable bomb of terrifying power relentlessly counts down to oblivion. While the minutes tick away, Langdon joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to decipher the labyrinthine trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome to the long-forgotten Illuminati lair - a secret refuge wherein lies the only hope for the Vatican.

But with each revelation comes another twist, another turn in the plot, which leaves Langdon and Vetra reeling and at the mercy of a seemingly invisible enemy...

Review: The Brothers Three (The Blackwood Saga #1)

Author: Layton Green

Started reading: May 8th 2021

Finished the book: May 16th 2021

Pages: 330

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure

Published: March 14th 2017

Source: Digital copy from the author

Goodreads score: 3.96

My score:

Synopsis

All Will Blackwood ever wanted was a little adventure. A fantasy addict and apprentice contractor in New Orleans, struggling to make ends meet, he has long wished for an escape from the real world.

Late one night, he and his brothers receive a surprise inheritance: a staff with a mysterious stone on top, a pair of rogue's bracers, and a sword that Will can barely lift. A man with strange powers shows up to take the sword, and the three brothers barely escape with their lives. Searching for an explanation, it is not until a magical key whisks them across time and space, into a terrifying version of New Orleans ruled by wizards, that Will accepts the truth about his family's past.

It seems Will Blackwood has found his adventure. But this isn't one of his fantasy novels, or a gaming campaign with friends. In his father's world, magic and monsters are real. Choices are life and death. And they have no idea how to get home . . .

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

Welcome, welcome my dear readers.

Welcome to the blog.

This month has been great for me. I've done some super fun things, because slowly things start to open back up here in The Netherlands. We're allowed to sit outside at restaurants, so of course I did that.

We did a tour and eat with some friends and my boyfriend, where you drive a beautiful tour in The Netherlands and get yummy food at 5 different restaurants.

But the best part this month was with my classroom! I took our 5th and 6th Graders on a 3 day camping trip. They behaved so well and were super sweet all the time. It was a beautiful site with sand drifts (see picture below) and trees. At night they slept really well so we, with the attendants, actually got some sleep as well!

It was also the time of the Eurovision Song Contest, which I always love. This year especially since The Netherlands won in 2019 with Duncan Lawrence, so we were the ones to organize it this year! #proud

As you can see, this was a great month. It does mean I didn't read as much as I'm used to, but I was just so happy to do all these fun things.

The weather is starting to get great too, so I'm just happy, happy, happy.

Thanks for sticking with my blog and for reading!

Have a great month with loads of sunshine and good books.

🏕

The Missing Sister (Book Blitz #6)

~Book Blitz~

The Missing Sister

(The Seven Sisters #7)

By Lucinda Riley

ABC Book Challenge Letter E

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. Let's hope I'll get to the end of the alphabet someday!

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

Two Short Stories #24

Today I will be highlighting two short stories.

Both of them are picture books; I just felt like reading two of them today!

Let's dive right in.

Sunday Post #30

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

Review: War Storm (Red Queen #4)

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Started reading: March 31st 2021

Finished the book: May 8th 2021

Pages: 662

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Published: May 15th 2018

Source: Bought the book

Goodreads score: 3.88

My score:

Synopsis

Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1)

Author: Douglas Adams

Started reading: April 18th 2021

Finished the book: May 9th 2021

Pages: 193 / 06:12:09

Genres: Science Fiction, Humor, Classics

Published: October 12th, 1979

Source: Storytel

Goodreads score: 4.22

My score:

Synopsis

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of «The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy» who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from «The Hitchhiker's Guide» ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Game of Thrones Book Tag

 

One of the BEST SHOWS ever is, of course, Game of Thrones. I've read the first two books, which were awesome and have watched the entire show 6 times already. Obviously, I'm planning to watch the show again soon.

To celebrate all the awesome news about the spin-offs, I'll be doing the Game of Thrones Book Tag today! 

Yay!

ABC Book Challenge Letter D

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. Let's hope I'll get to the end of the alphabet someday!

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

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

Welcome, welcome my dear readers.

Welcome to the blog.

Spring is in the air! Tulip fields are popping up everywhere and there have been days of me just chilling outside, just how I like it! I have 2 weeks of Spring Break now and have been doing all kinds of fun things. I've been celebrating Kings Day with friends, it's usually huge in The Netherlands but with the lockdown and all, we just sat outside with some music, drinks and sushi!

I went to my first ever restaurant in 6 months, just the outside parts are open, but it was lovely to just have a wrap for lunch and chat up with a friend of mine.

I'll also have a little 3 day vacation with a colleague/friend in the South of The Netherlands, I'm really looking forward to it. We'll have a little car-scavenger hunt and we also rented bikes.

I'm just trying to chill, relax, do fun stuff and get the energy back that this lockdown winter cost me. After these 2 weeks of vacation its 3 weeks of more holidays and summer camp with my class. Then 5 more weeks till the end of the schoolyear. I can't believe it went by so fast!!

Hope u all were able to do some fun things these past few weeks.

Thanks for sticking with my blog and for reading!

Have a great month with loads of sunshine and good books.

🌷

Review: The Misfortunates / De helaasheid der dingen

Author: Dimitri Verhulst

Started reading: April 13th 2021

Finished the book: April 25th 2021

Pages: 208

Genres: Dutch, Literature

Published: January 2006

Source: Ebook

Goodreads score: 3.78

My score:

Synopsis

Sobriety and moderation are alien concepts to the men in Dimmy's family. Useless in all other respects, his three uncles have a rare talent for drinking, a flair for violence, and an unwavering commitment to the pub. And his father Pierre is no slouch either.
Within hours of his son's birth, Pierre plucks him from the maternity ward, props him on his bike, and takes him on an introductory tour of the village bars. His mother soon leaves them to it and as Dimmy grows up amid the stench of stale beer, he seems destined to follow the path of his forebears and make a low-life career in inebriation, until he begins to piece together his own plan for the future...
In this semi-autobiographical novel, Dimitri Verhulst brings his shambolic upbringing to life, with characteristic warmth, colour, and wit.

Two Short Stories #23

Today I will be highlighting two short stories.

Both are written by the same author and are book 1 and 2 in the same series.

Let's dive right in.

Review: Of Wicked Blood (The Quatrefoil Chronicles #1)

Author: Olivia Wildenstein & Katie Hayoz

Started reading: March 15th 2021

Finished the book: April 15th 2021

Pages: 434 / 14:41:00

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Published: February 2nd 2021

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads score: 4.18

My score:

Synopsis

No rest for the wicked... or the cursed.

SLATE
I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt. Scratch that, I did mean to steal it. Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses. If any of us fail, I’m dead. I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now. The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.

CADENCE
I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft. Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right? Wrong. The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster. But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me. Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without. Something I will fight for, no matter the cost. *Warning: profuse cursing (and not just the magical kind).

Sunday Post #29

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

ABC Book Challenge Letter C

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. Let's hope I'll get to the end of the alphabet someday!

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

Review: Morning Star (Red Rising Saga, #3)

Author: Pierce Brown

Started reading: January 13th 2021

Finished the book: April 10th 2021

Pages: 524

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, YA

Published: February 19th 2016

Source: Ebook

Goodreads score: 4.48

My score:

Synopsis

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.

Booktag: Unhaul #5

It's been 6 months since I did an unhaul. Since I keep adding books to my TBR, but never remove any, I decided to do another unhaul.

My TBR is so big, that it sometimes scares me. I decided to visit my own Goodreads shelves and to TRY and unhaul 10 books.

Please feel free to participate and unhaul some of your books. I'd love to know what books you decided to unhaul!

Two Short Stories #22

Today I will be highlighting two short stories.

Both of them are lovely picture books with beautiful illustrations!

Let's dive right in.

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

   

Welcome, welcome my dear readers.

Welcome to the blog.

YES! The weather over here in The Netherlands is so good. I just enjoy the day a lot more, whereas I enjoy the nights more in winter. I went outside with my class, for extra time in the fresh air and they just played and had fun.

Easter is coming up, that means a long weekend of freedom: 4 days! I did not plan anything and I'm just going to do whatever I like. 

Sadly we're still in lockdown and nothing is open except for supermarkets, hairdressers and stuff like that. The other shops are closed, restaurants are closed and zoo's and theme parks are still closed. I'm sad about that because I just love going anywhere if the weather is good.

I am very happy about nail salons opening back up, because I kept joking that I looked like a vagrant with my raggedy nails. Now they're all beautiful and shiny again! It's the small things during these times that make me happy.

Stay safe.

Thanks for sticking with my blog and for reading!

Have a great month with loads of sunshine.

🌞

ABC Book Challenge Letter B

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. Let's hope I'll get to the end of the alphabet someday!

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Let's dive right in!

Review: Ten Days Gone (A.L. McKittridge #1)

Author: Beverly Long

Started reading: March 6th 2021

Finished the book: March 21st 2021

Pages: 377

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Published: February 18th 2020

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads score: 3.85

My score:

Synopsis

In all their years working for the Baywood police department, detectives A.L. McKittridge and Rena Morgan have never seen anything like it. Four women dead in forty days, each killed ten days apart. With nothing connecting the victims and very little evidence, the clock is already counting down to when the next body drops. A.L. and Rena will have to act fast if they’re going to find the killer’s next victim before he does.

But identifying the killer’s next likely target is only half the battle. With pressure pushing in from all sides, a promising breakthrough leads the detectives to Tess Lyons, a woman whose past trauma has left her too damaged to appreciate the danger she’s in. Unwilling to let another woman die, A.L. and Rena will put everything on the line to keep Tess safe and end the killer’s deadly spree once and for all—before time runs out again.