Mid Year Book Freak OUT! tag 2019

July 7, 2019July 4, 2019 Book Chick1 Comment

I’m not a Booktuber but I do watch a lot of them. So I thought, for the first time, I would do one of those tags. And here you have it. My mid year book freak out.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2019.
The Kind worth Killing is probably the best one I have read so far this year. I loved the way it is written, the plot, story and everything about it.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2019.
Oh how to choose? Well it have to be Us against you by Fredrik Backman. I loved that one.

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to.
Sorcery of thorns by Margaret Rogerson. With its release now in June and the unknown to me author, is certainly one I have high on my want to read list.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
The institute by Stephen King has it’s release in September this year and those lucky few who got there hands on an ARC says it is one great book. I can’t hardly wait.

5. Biggest disappointment.
I have to books I could use to answer this question but finally went with Throne of glass by Sarah J Maas. I loved, loved, loved her Court of thorns series and was certainly expecting more. I was so disappointed that I didn’t like the first book in the Throne of glass series. I’m not even certain I will continue it.

6. Biggest surprise.
Through the fire by Katie Ruggle. The fourth and last book in the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series. The three first books didnt land well with me but this one took me by total surprise and knocked me flat on my ass.

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)
I haven’t read enough by new authors to call a favorite, but if I should choose one of them It has to bee Taylor Jenkins Read. Only read one book by her, but really liked it and her writing. Can absolutely see her become one of my favorites.

8. Newest fictional crush.
Wes from the Rocky Mountain series written Katie Ruggle. Hands down! I have such a huge crush on that character that I almost feel little guilty against my hubby who I have been with for the last 11 years. haha

9. Newest favorite character.
Mia Corvere from the Nevernight series. Only read one book so far but I find her really cool and would love to read more.

10. Book that made you cry.
Us against you by Fredrik Backman. I really tried to choose one book per question but had to use this book twice. It is that great and yes, it certainly made me cry to.

11. Book that made you happy.
Sizzle by Julie Garwood both made me laugh and happy because it gave me just what I needed and expected. It was also a little new comparing to what I read from her before so it was fresh and left you with a feel good emotion.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received).
The priory of the orange tree. It fit the book so completely and was even more beautiful when connecting it to the plot. Unfortunately the blue foil letters disappeared by use of hands, but still beautiful.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Oh that is so many but my top five is

The Husbands secret by Liane Moriarty
Vicious by V.E Schwab
Needful things by Stephen King
Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
Save me from dangerous men by S.A Lelchuk

Forgotten Secrets – Robin Perini

June 30, 2019June 28, 2019 Book Chick1 Comment

29643051 | GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: At age ten, Riley Lambert watched helplessly as her sister was abducted from her bedroom. Fifteen years later, she’s channeled the pain of her past into a career as an FBI profiler. Riley devotes her life to bringing violent criminals to justice…and secretly uses government resources to search for her sister, who was never found.

When Riley gets a call from the only man who’s ever swept her off her feet with a killer two-step and dangerous smile—ex-Navy SEAL Thayne Blackwood of Singing River, Wyoming—it stirs up dark memories. Thayne’s sister, Cheyenne, has been kidnapped. There are no leads, and the only witness is the victim’s Alzheimer’s-afflicted grandmother.

Desperate to find Cheyenne, Thayne needs Riley’s expertise. With time running short, they delve into dangerous small-town secrets while fighting against an increasingly ruthless adversary. But when her past and his present collide in a shocking revelation, can they overcome the secrets that have kept them apart?

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My thoughts:

I have had this, and I’m not kidding, in my kindle cloud since 2016. It was time to get this one read and I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised.

First of, I did not like Perini’s writing at all. It had no flow and was at times confusing and almost rough to read, if it makes sense. Even some names are “terrible” and extremely hard for me to figure out how to pronounce. That’s not pleasant feeling to have and most of the books I have DNF:ed have been because of the writing. When starting it I actually though for myself that this would be a one, two star rating if I got through it but most likely I would DNF it. Imagine my surprise when the story, character and plot captivated me to such a degree that I devoured the book and ended on a four star rating.

Yes it was great. Surprising, hard to foresee what would happen (Except a few things) and it kept throwing curve balls at you. Great plot building and character development.

I’m happy and satisfied and even though I don’t like the writing that much, I can actually see myself reading the second book about the little town, Singing River.

Romance · Suspense

Hidden star – Nora Roberts

June 25, 2019June 25, 2019 Book Chick1 Comment

| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: She couldn’t remember a thing, not even who she was. But it was clear Bailey James was in trouble. Big trouble! And she desperately needed Cade Parris to help her live long enough to find out just what kind.

The moment the cool-headed private eye laid eyes on the fragile beauty, she almost had him forgetting who he was. If Bailey was a criminal, Cade would eat his hat. But what was she doing with a satchel full of cash and a diamond as big as a baby’s fist? And how could he unravel this mystery if he kept tripping over his heart?

My thoughts:

“She is such a pussy who wimps out at every turn of event and every headache that surface together with a flash of memory. “

First off, I did not know this was part of a trilogy where the ending is both unsatisfying and kind of a cliffhanger are happening. It was not quite what I expected but good enough. The plot itself is kind of good and believable. A little easy at the end and everything went by so fast. Entertaining but not enough to continue the series. Nothing I would recommend in the first place and that only due to my “hate” for the characters.

The character Bailey is infuriating. She is such a pussy who wimps out at every turn of event and every headache that surface together with a flash of memory. Then she keeps getting angry at Cade for trying to help. Then she gets angry on him for not only focusing on helping her. Come On? Show some backbone. I just can’t take those type of characters. I was surprised because that is not something I associate with an author as Roberts who is a queen when it comes to write strong, leading, female characters.

Cade on the other hand is an underdeveloped character where you get the feel of much more but never receive it. He is descent enough but noting to shout hooray for. His “love” for Bailey is shallow and uninteresting and the dynamic between those two just don’t work. I felt more of a sparkle between Cade and one of his old flames who visited the story in like, one page. That is not a good thing.

Contemporary · Romance · Suspense

Through the fire – Katie Ruggle

June 1, 2019May 31, 2019 Book Chick2 Comments

36748616 | GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit. They’ve been through too much to open their arms to a stranger―and as mysterious fires begin raging across Monroe, she can’t convince them to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.
Wesley March, local fire spotter, knows Kit is right, and he’s willing to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get…and the more danger they’re in. A member of the K9 unit’s inner circle is determined to get revenge―no matter who gets burned in the process.
This time, it’s personal.

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My thoughts:

“I’m In Love!”

I’m in love. I love Wes! He is one of the best characters I have read about in a really long time and Ruggle have finally produced a book with the content and stability of a five star rating. I have not been shy with my thoughts about the Rocky mountain K9 unit series. After the grand slam of Search and Rescue (which I loved) I was expecting the same caliber with also this series. Which we didn’t receive in my opinion. But the fourth and last book just blew my mind and it was a perfect ending for the series and I could not have expected more.

Wes is a character who is super smart but has almost little to no social skills and is really uncomfortable with people due to that he have problems with interpreting them. He reminds me a lot of the character Don Tillman from the series with the same name, written by Graeme Simison except that Wes is not clueless when it comes to love. He just has troubles knowing if his feelings is reciprocated or not. Kit is the perfect female character for him and them together makes the sparkle fly. There is nothing fast in their relationships and they take their time, which makes it even more perfect. I often think the romantic aspect of a book is going forward to fast. I want substance and I certainly got it.

The plot of the story is also great. We have some final unraveling in some stuff and it was a lot of tension which made it even more captivating. I literally could not stop reading. It all mixed together with what I know from the three books before and the excitement for now, made it a reading journey I cannot stop ravaging about. I’m so happy I continued the series even though I was not a huge fan.

I feel a lot more exciting to continuing books written by Ruggle and she has started a new series. Let’s she was she is bringing on. 😀

Contemporary · Mystery/Crime · Romance · Suspense

Sizzle – Julie Garwood

May 21, 2019 Book Chick2 Comments

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.

Everyday things

Shadow dance – Julie Garwood

December 26, 2018December 26, 2018 Book Chick1 Comment

| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Jordan Buchanan is thrilled that her brother and best friend are tying the knot. The wedding is a lavish affair–for the marriage of Dylan Buchanan and Kate MacKenna is no ordinary occasion. It represents the joining of two family dynasties. The ceremony and reception proceed without a hitch–until a crasher appears claiming to be a MacKenna guest. The disheveled and eccentric professor of medieval history warns that there’s “bad blood” between the couple’s clans, stemming from an ancient feud that originated in Scotland, and involving the Buchanan theft of a coveted MacKenna treasure.

Jordan has always led a cautious life and has used her intelligence and reason to become a successful businesswoman. So she is intrigued but skeptical of the professor’s claims that the feud has been kept alive by the grave injustices the Buchanans have perpetrated over the centuries. But when Noah Clayborne, a close family friend and a man who has never let a good time or a pretty girl pass him by, accuses Jordan of being trapped in her comfort zone, she determines to prove him wrong and sets out on a spontaneous adventure to the small, dusty town of Serenity, Texas, to judge the professor’s research for herself.

Maneuvering through a close-knit community in which everyone knows everyone else’s business, Jordan never anticipates the danger and intrigue that lie in her path, nor the threat that will shadow her back to Boston, where even in familiar surroundings, her life is at risk.

A powerful thug who rules by fear, a man who harbors a simmering secret, and an unexpected romance that pierces all defenses–beloved author Julie Garwood weaves these dazzling elements into a brilliant novel of romantic suspense. Shadow Dance is a searing tango of passion and peril.

My thoughts: This was so good. So, so good! I absolutely love Noah and Jordan. I love how different they are and even though their long history as friends, they never were any romantically inclined to each other. Their feelings never just appeared but slowly grew, together with their personality and everyday life, is just such a great line to follow. It is a deep, connectable story with an interesting side plot that to be quite frank, I never really needed. It was the cherry on the ice cream but oh, what a ice cream.

The whole book is just so warm, fuzzy, exciting with a lot of suspense, hilarious characters, deep connections and just wonderful romantic suspense. This is what I want and hell, you did it again Garwood. You freaking did it again.

Unfortunately it do end on a cliffhanger. Not one of those bad ones but still a cliffhanger. It may be quite interesting to get to know all the answers someday, but still, at this point, I don’t feel the need for it. So on that note, I do really recommend this series and even though there is cliffhangers, there is no bad ones. And it is just so worth it.

Fantasy/Paranormal · Mystery/Crime · Romance · Suspense · Thriller/Horror

If looks could kill – Heather Graham

December 14, 2018December 13, 2018 Book Chick3 Comments

| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Madison Adair didn’t witness her famous mother’s brutal murder. But she saw it. Saw the gloved hand…felt the knife strike…knew her mother’s terror.

That was a lifetime ago. But the nightmares have returned; only, this time they’re of a faceless serial killer stalking women in south Florida. A killer she can’t see but who knows she is watching. Surrounded by her family, Madison knows she should feel safe, but she doesn’t.

And how much can FBI agent Kyle Montgomery protect her, when he can’t let go of the past they’ve shared? Madison is Kyle’s only link to the killer, but can they find the truth before the killer strikes again? Because sometimes, it’s what–or who–you can’t see that holds the greatest danger….

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My thoughts: Nah! Nothing for me. Quite the same as always. Horrible history, broken hearts, murder mystery, stalker, new killings, FBI, macho man, irritating female protagonist and a situation that just feels dumb. Come on, they hardly talk but they do argue a lot. About the same thing over and over. If they actually had talked early in the beginning, the arguing would probably not have been as bad. And I probably would have liked the book a lot more.

It was a fast read without any real depth. The murder mystery was quite interesting, but you didn’t receive any clues to who the killer are so the whole guessing game for me fell flat. Oh Graham certainly tried to make other characters seem guilty but it was too obvious so I actually dismissed them from my “who the killer is” list early on.

Not overly fawn over the characters either. There is some stuff happening that just make you lose the respect for that character and creates a situation that is just awkward. To be quite frank, Kaila and Dan (two side characters) relationship and short chapters about them, are the one thing I actually liked and felt had the most depth. And the book was not even about them.

It is probably time to realize that Graham is not an author for me. I have read five of her books but not one of them have received a higher rating than 3 star. Average rating is 2.8. It is time to spell the flowers and confess to myself that it doesn’t matter how much the synopsis appeal to me, she is just not an author that I like to read. Unfortunately.

Monthly summary

November Summary

December 2, 2018December 4, 2018 Book Chick2 Comments

monthlysummery2

I’m not that happy with November. I worked so much that I didn’t have much time for reading. It mostly went in audiobooks and I did reread a couple of books for the reason that it was easy on my mind.

But it is starting to slowing down on work now and i’m exciting for the last exciting month of the year. And soon it is Christmas. Woho! :o)

Favorite book this month: A court of frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas
Least favorite book this month: At peace by Kristen Ashley

Number of physical books: 4
Number of e-books: 3
Number of audiobooks: 4
Total pages: 4521
Female authors: 8
Male authors: 4

Northern Lights – Nora Roberts
Settings: Alaska, USA Pages: 637 Published: 1991
Genres: Romantic, suspense, mystery, fiction, contemporary.
My rating: Reread – First time I gave 5/5
Links: Review

Royal Assassin – Robin Hobb
Settings: The Realm of the Elderlings Pages: 648 Published: 1996
Genres: Epic, High fantasy.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 2 in The Farseer series.

A court of frost and starlight – Sarah J Maas
Settings: Fantasy World Pages: 229 Published: 2018
Genres: Fantasy, young adult, romance.
My rating: 5/5
Links: Review
Book 3.1 in The A court of thorns and roses series.

The Devil’s star – Jo Nesbo
Settings: Oslo, Norway Pages: 387 Published: 2003
Genres: Crime, mystery, thriller.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 5 in The Harry Hole series.

Lazarus – Lars Kepler
Settings: Stockholm, Sweden Pages: 543 Published: 2018
Genres: Crime, mystery, thriller.
My rating: 2/5
Links: Review
Book 7 in The Joona Linna series.

Animal farm – George Orwell
Settings: England Pages: 144 Published: 1945
Genres: Classic, fiction, fantasy, politics.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review *Review at goodreads

At Peace – Kristen Ashley
Settings: Brownsburg, Indiana, USA Pages: 660 Published: 2011
Genres: Contemporary, romance, suspense.
My rating: 1/5
Links: Review
Book 2 in The Burg series.

Stuffed – Jessica Gadziala
Settings: USA Pages: 123 Published: 2016
Genres: Contemporary, romance.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review *Review at goodreads

The Chemist – Stephenie Meyer
Settings: Washington DC / Texas, USA. Pages: 522 Published: 2016
Genres: Thriller, fiction, mystery, romance, suspense.
My rating: 5/5
Links: Review *first read review
This is a reread. Review is from the first time I read it.

Monster – Micael Dahlén
Settings: All over the world Pages: 235 Published: 2011
Genres: Nonfiction, true crime.
My rating: 1/5
Links: Review

Beard in mind – Penny Reid
Settings: Green Valley, Tennessee, USA Pages: 393 Published: 2017
Genres: Romance, contemporary, humor, funny.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 4 in The Winston Brothers series.

Contemporary · Humor/Funny · Romance

Beard in mind – Penny Reid

November 30, 2018November 29, 2018 Book Chick1 Comment

| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: All is fair in love and auto maintenance.

Beau Winston is the nicest, most accommodating guy in the world. Usually.

Handsome as the devil and twice as charismatic, Beau lives a charmed life as everyone’s favorite Winston Brother. But since his twin decided to leave town, and his other brother hired a stunning human-porcupine hybrid as a replacement mechanic for their auto shop, Beau Winston’s charmed life has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Shelly Sullivan is not nice and is never accommodating. Ever.
She mumbles to herself, but won’t respond when asked a question. She glares at everyone, especially babies. She won’t shake hands with or touch another person, but has no problems cuddling with a dog. And her damn parrot speaks only in curse words. Beau wants her gone. He wants her out of his auto shop, out of Tennessee, and out of his life.

The only problem is, learning why this porcupine wears her coat of spikes opens a Pandora’s box of complexity—exquisite, tempting, heartbreaking complexity—and Beau Winston soon discovers being nice and accommodating might mean losing what matters most.

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My thoughts: Penny Reid is still in the top five, favorite female authors, after this wonderful gem of a book. God damn she is a good writer! She writes such funny, heart-warming, sad, happy and lovable stories that I have no words left to describe it. It is just pure enjoyment to read her books.

The series about the Winston brothers is funny and light but often has one thing that is more of a serious note in it. Reid mix it well and makes it such a part of the story that it is so significant to the whole of the plot. One book has more focus on oppression, another has on hate and malice and this one has sickness and unprocessed feelings. It makes you think and for me personally I do recognize myself so much in Shelly. And Reid has done a wonderful job with writing about something as hard as OCD. Shelly is such a unique person and I love the way she has been written. It is in a way that you do not like her at first but love her at the end.

Beau is just beautiful. I love how the most of the book is from Beau’s point of view and about his feelings. It is like he is the girl but it is so much more rational but still not. It is wonderfully refreshing to read a book mostly from a guy’s point of view and the small chapters from Shelly was enough for me.

However I do have one small problem with the book. And that is that somethings do not feel finished or has a satisfying ending. Maybe there will be more about the situation in the coming books but other things went so fast and suddenly the book was over. Some serious happenings and discussions was never written, only explained after it had taken place. Like a side-note. I was just left hanging, wondering and feeling that it was not done. There is no cliffhanger to explain my feelings. But still it just felt incomplete.