Fiction/Science Fiction · Humor/Funny · Suspense

Folk med ångest – Fredrik Backman (Swedish title, English review)

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43601208.jpg| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: “People with anxiety” is an unreasonably messy comedy about a hostage situation on an apartment viewing. A failed bank robber locks in with an over-enthusiastic real estate agent, two bitter Ikea addicts, a pregnant woman, a suicidal multi-millionaire and a rabbit head. Finally, the robber gives up and releases everyone, but when the police storms the apartment it is … empty. In a series of dysfunctional testimonies afterwards, we hear everyone’s version of what actually happened, whereupon a classic puzzle mystery develops around the questions: How did the robber escape? Why are everyone so angry and what is wrong with people these days?

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My thoughts:

“It makes you laugh, cry and love and in the end you sit with the feeling of complete satisfaction.”

The newest book written by Backman is here. With its release in April it is unfortunately not yet translated to English but don’t worry. I believe someone is already working on a translation to be publish. Backman is immensely big in other countries so it would surprise me if not.

The newest book is about a group of people I pretty much hated for like 60% of the book. They are obnoxious and extremely self-centered, angry and just unpleasant. Fortunately Backman is a king when it comes to writing deep characters with layers on layers. He knows how to captivate readers to a degree you feel like you put your own heart on the table and risk losing it. It is an immensely funny book but still has a serious undertone which make you feel all the emotions at the same time. He is good with captivating people and the human nature and it is the true, raw and brutal truth you recognize yourself in. The book offers some curveballs and surprises and if you are a weeper, you will probably cry at the end like I did. In the morning, 30 minutes before I was supposed to be at work. And it was wonderful.

The language is extremely beautiful, almost poetic without being pretentious and I do hope it’s not lost in the translation. It makes you laugh, cry and love and in the end you sit with the feeling of complete satisfaction.

They did a great work with the film adaptation (IMDB) of En man som heter Ove (A man called Ove) and I do hope they choose to do a film from this book to. It will (I just know it) be perfection.

Contemporary · Mystery/Crime · Romance · Suspense

Sizzle – Julie Garwood

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6671931| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Lyra Prescott, a Los Angeles film student, is closing in on graduation and facing important decisions about her future. She’s already been offered a job at her hometown TV station, an opportunity that could ultimately launch her dream career as a film editor. But heading back home would also mean dealing with her overprotective brothers, social-climbing mother, and eccentric grandmother. Unsure of her future, Lyra dives into work on her final school assignment: a documentary transformed by a twist of fate into a real-life horror film.

After she unwittingly captures a shocking crime on camera, a rash of mysterious, treacherous incidents convince Lyra that she’s trapped in a sinister scenario headed for a violent ending. Running scared, she turns to her best friend, Sidney Buchanan, whose connections bring dauntless and devilishly handsome FBI agent Sam Kincaid into Lyra’s life. As the noose of deadly intrigue tightens and the feelings between them deepen, Lyra and Sam must place their faith in each other’s hands – and stand together against the malevolent forces about to break loose.

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My thoughts:

“So it is not a full pot in rating but still just what I needed.”

Garwood has this nice way of writing which makes you feel warm and captivated by her books and this one was no exception. This time it is even a little funny. Not only does we follow the good guys, Lyra and Sam, but also some of the bad guys, and one of them is hilarious. He prides himself with being smarter than everyone else but in the end he keep taking those not so smart decisions which is resulting in some funny situations. It fit perfectly and I wanted more of it.

The plot is quite believable if not a little exaggerative and the relationship between Lyra and Sam feels a little forced. To much of that instant attraction and not enough off actual conversation between the main characters. And I would have loved to get more of Gigi and the whole tornado around her. She is one heck of a good character and I would totally read a book only about her. So it is not a full pot in rating but still just what I needed. Been having trouble with a reading slump lately that I’m trying to dig myself out off it.

This is the 8th book in the series and that Garwood still can keep me captivating I find it somewhat impressive. Specially since the books, I so far have read, are between 10 and 20 years old. But it still does not feel old fashioned.

 

 

Fantasy/Paranormal · Graphic Novels/Comics · Thriller/Horror

Death Note – Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata

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| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ |

Goodreads synopsis: Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. Will Light’s noble goal succeed, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?

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My thoughts:

“The death god is quite funny even though he looks like something taken from nightmares.”

I find myself split in my opinion about the first volume of Death Note. I actually don’t like the main character that much and usually you are supposed to do that so I’m quite confused. The main characters is supposed to be the hero you are rooting for and wish the best of luck to. But Light is no hero. He started something with good intentions but later turns just as bad as the bad guys he is targeting. In the end he is no better than those criminals he’s erasing from this world. The death god is quite funny even though he looks like something taken from nightmares.

And the story is good and exciting. I really like the way it is built, the artwork and the feel of the book. It ended when the suspense was at its peak and I just had to throw myself on my phone to order the next on in the series. Its that good. Now I just have to wait two weeks for the second one to arrive. hehe

I’m not an avid reader of graphic novels but I’m beginning to understand the appeal and I really recommending this one.

TBR

Summer TBR 2019

Book Chick1 Comment
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Summer of 2019 is soon here and as always I create my Summer TBR list. I have this year choose 10 books I wish to read and this is my list.

Simma med de drunknande (eng. The Sixteen Trees of the Somme) – Lars Mytting
The Husband’s secret – Liane Moriarty
Verity – Colleen Hoover
Save me from dangerous men – S.A Lelchuk
Luna and the Lie – Mariana Zapata
Whiskey and gunpowder – Liliana Hart
Hidden Star – Nora Roberts
The Breakdown – B.A Paris
Sizzle – Julie Garwood
Seven up – Janet Evanovich

 

What are you planing to read this summer?

Fantasy/Paranormal · Fiction/Science Fiction · Young, New adult/College

Hollow city – Ransom Riggs

Book Chick1 Comment

23164983| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerising) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

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My thoughts:

“If it was not for the cliffhanger in the end, I would probably have enjoyed it even more.”

The second book in the Peregrine’s children series follows right at the end of the first one and also ends on a cliffhanger. Just want to make a note of that. It is a great, complicated story with a imaginative plot. Some of the reviews I have read have found the second book not nearly as good as the first one. I however actually like it more. It may or may not be because I saw the movie of the first book first, but I really enjoyed the second one. I like that it was more that happened since the children now is traveling instead of being in that one house.

In comparison I would have given the first book three stars (I will not change) instead of the four I gave, since I found the second one to better than the first. I even found it a little funny at some times and it surprised me. I’m loving that. And the pictures, oh it makes the whole book more fascinating and a feel of completion.

It is as well written as the first book and a lot more detailed. We meet more characters, receive more history and we get to know more about the friends and enemies of this world. It is a brilliant dynamic which Riggs has done a fantastic work describing in a way I cannot put my words on. If it was not for the cliffhanger in the end, I would probably have enjoyed it even more.

Romance · Suspense · War/Military

Blindsided – Kaylea Cross

Book Chick1 Comment

32951240| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: It’s a Titanium Christmas reunion… Grace and Alex Rycroft have just moved into their newly renovated house in upstate New York and they’ve invited the whole Titanium Security crew to celebrate an early Christmas with them. But not all is merry and bright. Unfortunately things don’t go as planned. When the unthinkable happens at a veteran’s charity event in the middle of Manhattan, the team must pull together to take down the attacker and rally around a wounded teammate in the tragic aftermath. With one of their own left fighting for his life, it’s going to take a Christmas miracle to pull him through and make the holiday season bright. (*Note: This novella is a final wrap-up of the Titanium Security Series and is not meant to be read as a stand-alone.)

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My thoughts:

“Perfect, just perfect.”

The last book in the Titanium Security series and I cried like a baby. It was so wonderful to meet them all again, but “stuff” happens and it was terrible, but in the end it was the most perfect closure on a great series and I could not have asked for more. I have nothing more to say but only that this series is worth reading by everyone who likes romantic suspense in a war environment where both the male and female characters is strong and lovable. Perfect, just perfect. Kaylea Cross has several series in the same caliber and I hope they are just as good.

The order the Titanium series should be read in is as following:

Ignited
Signed
Burned
Extinguished
Rekindled
Blindsided

TBR

To Be Read – May

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I had six books on my TBR list for the month of May. Not including the one book from my book club and I’m so excited. I already started Death Note and Hollow City and I have already finished Blindsided. I’m on a roll right now. 😀

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Death note: One of the horror, graphic novels I have really looking forward to. I have the black edition 1, which include vol 1 and 2 in one book, and it is beautiful.

Hollow city, the second book in the Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children series. It is time to continue the series since I have this one and the third one on my bookshelf. I have high hopes. I do hope not to high.

The Fiery Cross, the fifth book in the Outlander series. After the fourth book I’m not that excited to continue the series, but will give it a try. Maybe.

Sugar, the 12th book in the Henchmen MC series. I love these guys.

Through the fire, fourth book in the rocky mountain K9 unit. This series has been quite up and down for me, but this is the last one and it is time to close this series.

Blindsided, last book in the Titanium security series. I have wanted to read this one for long time, but never got to it. It is the last book in the series and I was so excited so I started and ended it the first day of May.

What are you planing on reading in the month of May?

Monthly summary

April Summary

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monthlysummery2

A kind of average reading month. I did read all my books on my TBR list and a couple of more so I’m happy.

Favorite book this month: The storied life of A.J. Fikry – Gabrielle Zevin
Least favorite book this month: Breathe – Kristen Ashley

Number of physical books: 2
Number of e-books: 5
Number of audiobooks: 2
Total pages: 3781
Female authors: 7
Male authors: 2

18773967Breathe – Kristen Ashley
Pages: 554 Published: 2012
Genres: Contemporary, romance, suspense
My rating: 1/5
Links: Review
Book 4 in The Colorado Mountain series.
39784787Ritual – Mo Hayder
Pages: 428 Published: 2008
Genres: Thriller, crime, mystery, fiction.
My rating: 2/5
Links: Review
Book 3 in The Jack Caffery series.
51YOjBvyolLThe pet sematary – Stephen King
Pages: 484 Published: 1983
Genres: Horror, fiction, thriller.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
42527241The general – Jessica Gadziala
Pages: 221 Published: 2018
Genres: Contemporary, romance, adult.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 4 in The Professionals series.
18293427The storied life of A.J. Fikry – Gabrielle Zevin
Pages: 260 Published: 2014
Genres: Contemporary, fiction, adult.
My rating: 5/5
Links: Review
29774026The priory of the orange tree – Samantha Shannon
Pages: 848 Published: 2019
Genres: Epic, high, adult fantasy
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
17841564The girl with a clock for a heart – Peter Swanson
Pages: 289 Published: 2014
Genres: Crime, thriller, mystery, suspense.
My rating: 3/5
Links: Review
36303602Dirty laundry – Liliana Hart
Pages: 252 Published: 2018
Genres: Contemporary, romance, suspense, mystery, crime.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 5 in The J.J Graves Mystery series.
42898Lover revealed – J.R Ward
Pages: 445 Published: 2007
Genres: Paranormal, romance, fantasy
My rating: 3/5
Links: Review
Book 4 in The Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Fantasy/Paranormal · Romance

Lover revealed – J.R Ward

Book Chick1 Comment

42898| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Butch O’Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he’s the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world—to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He’s got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who’s way out of his league. If he can’t have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers…

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he’s found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him…

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My thoughts:

“He is like the perfect character with a moral compass always pointing in the right directions but still this ruff , broken and hurting man with an hell of a history.”

This was quite a hard review to write. I feel kind of indifferent toward it. I really liked to read about Butch aka. Cop O’Neal and Marissa, but at the same time I do not feel much for the story itself. The dynamic of the characters around and in the Black Dagger Brotherhood is still as fantastic as usual. There is also some characters outside of the brotherhood who we are learning to know more and more. But the rest is starting to be somewhat repetitive and bored me out most of the times.

I love Butch. He is like the perfect character with a moral compass always pointing in the right directions but still this ruff , broken and hurting man with an hell of a history. It was even better to really get to know him and learn about his history and the plot twist made sense and fit perfectly. Marissa however I did not like as much in the beginning. But when she finally took a firm grip of her own life and “grew” a spine, she also grew on me.

My favorite part of the book is however the virginity thing.  This is probably the first time I have ever read a realistic telling about the first time and that it is not perfect for many women. That you get just a little pain but after a couple of strokes an explosive orgasm is braking through your body. No! Come on! Ward did a great job with an realistic telling about the emotions and confusion and I just feel it somewhat ironic that it is where the character is a vampire. They are supposed to be bad asses. But I’m not complaining. At least I now know that there is one book out there who have it somewhat realistic and not a fantasy.

Contemporary · Mystery/Crime · Romance · Suspense

Dirty laundry – Liliana Hart

Book Chick1 Comment

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| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: A new novel in the New York Times bestselling series: Coroner JJ Graves and her husband Sheriff Jack Lawson are back on the job when the body of an elderly woman is found in Bloody Mary.

Rosalyn McGowen is everyone’s favorite great-grandmother. She always has baked treats in her bag, she smells of roses, and she takes in stray cats. No one knows who could hurt a sweet old lady. But Rosalyn isn’t exactly as she seems. Every Thursday at noon Rosalyn secretly posts The Bloody Mary Tattler on social media, and it has everyone in town both captivated and horrified.

When Rosalyn’s secret is discovered along with her body, it’s not easy for JJ to determine her death as a homicide. But it’s not long before they discover the list of suspects is endless and Rosalyn didn’t exactly take all of her secrets to the grave.

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My thoughts:

“There relationship is so well written, it feels natural and realistic and it is easy to connect with.”

Another brilliant J.J Graves story from Liliana Hart. I read book 4.5 in the series several years ago and then I quite forgot about the series while waiting for book five. It was nice to pick up the thread again. I really like Harts writing where you get this warm, fuzzy feeling and even though the book about murder, death and human eating cats, there is also an aura of a feel good book at the same time. Mostly because I love JJ and Jack. Their relationship is so well written, it feels natural and realistic and it is easy to connect with. This time the book also has the feel of a mix between “desperate housewives” and “Midsomer Murders”. Such a fun story and plot to follow.

The conclusion in the end was however somewhat rushed and rich in details. It was a little hard to keep up with it to understand who the killer was and the why’s. It also ended on a major cliffhanger and we still haven’t received the whole truth around JJ’s dead parents. There is just so many loose threads floats around and it is time to knot some of them and be done with it. It is time to reveal those secrets.