Tuesday, August 31, 2021

July/August Wrap up - Book Haul & What to Expect Next Month

Welcome, welcome my dear readers.
Welcome to the blog.

The summer break is over. I've done a lot of fun things, and of course went on a trip to Italy. The first week was great, with loads of great camping sites and sunbathing with a book by the sea. We also met up over there with some friends who were also camping close by, so we decided to join them for a few days.

After the first week we wanted to camp for another week, but things didn't go as planned. And due to something that happened, I was traumatized and started having panic attacks and hyperventilation. I've been hospitalized in Italy twice, and things have just been very hard ever since. I've thought long and hard about sharing this, but I don't want to be fake-positive on my own blog. So yeah, it is what it is.

Back in The Netherlands I went to the doctor and psychologist right away. I'm feeling much better than 3 weeks ago and started working, too. 3 weeks ago, all I did was lay on the couch and I was also taking medication. I quit taking those pills after a week.
I'm glad to work and spend time with my students and after work I head home right away to relax, read a bit, maybe play some sports and most of all to SLEEP. Because getting better is taking a lot of my energy.

So yeah, not the most positive post ever. But I try to see things from the positive side, and I feel like I'm heading in the right direction!

Thanks for sticking with my blog and for reading!
Have a great month with loads of good books.

😘



Friday, August 27, 2021

Review: All Fall Down (Helen Grace #9)

Author:
M.J. Arlidge
Started reading: July 31st 2021
Finished the book: August 19th 2021
Pages: 512
Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Published: June 11th 2020
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 4.27
My score:
Synopsis
""You have one hour to live."" Those are the only words on the phone call. Then they hang up. Surely, a prank? A mistake? A wrong number? Anything but the chilling truth... That someone is watching, waiting, ready to take your life in one hour. But why?
The job of finding out falls to DI Helen Grace: a woman with a track record in hunting killers. However, this is one case where the killer seems to always be one step ahead of the police and the victims. With no motive, no leads, no clues - nothing but pure fear - an hour can last a lifetime...

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Review: The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon #2)

Author:
Dan Brown
Started reading: June 17th 2021
Finished the book: August 9th 2021
Pages: 454
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Published: March 18th 2003
Source: Received as a gift
Goodreads score: 3.87
My score:
Synopsis
While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

Thursday, August 19, 2021

ABC Book Challenge Letter I

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!

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Review: What She Found in the Woods

Author:
Josephine Angelini
Started reading: July 29th 2021
Finished the book: July 30th 2021
Pages: 400
Genres: YA, Mystery, Thriller
Published: December 1st 2020
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads score: 3.96
My score:
Synopsis
This is Magda's last chance. Recovering from a scandal at her elite New York City private school that threw life into a tailspin, she is shipped off to live with her grandparents in the Pacific Northwest for the summer.
Medicated and uninspired, Magda spends her days in a fog wandering the forest behind the house. But then she stumbles upon Bo. He's wild and free, and he can see the real her. Magda starts believing she might be able to move on from her past and feel something again.

But there's more to this sleepy town than she thought. And what Magda finds in the woods near Bo's forest home is the beginning of a whole new nightmare...

Monday, August 9, 2021

Review: The Paladin (Saga of the Chosen #4)

Author:
Petra Landon
Started reading: July 24th 2021
Finished the book: July 29th 2021
Pages: 452
Genres: Fantasy, Magic
Published: June 28th 2021
Source: Digital copy from the author
Goodreads score: 4.60
My score:
Synopsis
The explosive epiphany of their unique connection triggers the bondmates in different ways and simmering animosity drives a wedge between them. While their adversary and her shadowy sponsor get bolder, Tasia faces a tough decision.
The Alpha dredges up Vampire secrets to sow the seeds of dissension among the Clan, while Lady Bethesda struggles to right her ship. Sienna comes out, Temi makes a friend, the Blood Mages pick a side and ElMorad goes on a rampage. As more of the Oracle’s clues come to light, the investigation must make audacious moves and riskier bets, even work with the Guardians and other capricious partners, to checkmate their adversary. When a twist of fate forces Tasia to confront her worst nightmare, she has nothing to fall back on. As a multitude of threats converge on her, can Raoul shake off the chains of the past to help Tasia outrun her destiny?

Friday, August 6, 2021

Review: The Interludes: A Sexual Odyssey

Author:
J.K. Duval
Started reading: June 6th 2021
Finished the book: July 23rd 2021
Pages: 516
Genres: Erotic, Fiction
Published: July 17th 2017
Source: Physical copy from the author
Goodreads score: 4.26
My score:
Synopsis
The Interludes, A Sexual Odyssey, is the fun sexy erotic novel for mature audiences. All the characters have only one thing in common, they’re all named Jordan. Whether they are women or men they share the same first name, but that’s where the similarities end. Seven different Jordans will take you along for almost every conceivable match-up in some seriously sexy locales.
From a beach-side cottage along the warm moonlit waters of Jamaica to a shower stall in London’s famed Claridge’s Hotel, across the hills of Tuscany to a magnificent 18 room oceanfront shingle style home on the western shores of Martha’s Vineyard, these are just a few of the places that will spread out before you on this journey of erotic discovery.
If you blush easily, you might want to look elsewhere for your night-table reading. Then again you may wish to share what’s behind this cover with someone you love and create your own sexual odyssey.