Contemporary · Romance · Suspense

Diamond Bay – Linda Howard

420741| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: KELL SABIN WAS IN TROUBLE

He knew it the minute the other boat drew near, the minute he heard the crack of rifle fire over water. Wounded and desperate, he flung himself into the Gulf and headed for shore.

Rachel Jones wasn’t looking for trouble, much less a man, but in Kell she found both. He was washed up on her beach, unconscious, like so much driftwood, but he was every inch flesh and blood. Her body responded in the only way it knew how, but what really frightened her was the response of her heart. Like it or not, she was in love.

Untitled

My thoughts:

“Nothing really deep that grips you but still exciting enough to keep you going.”

One word: mediocre! But to be honest the book is older than myself and we already know I’m a hard reader to please. However I did like it. Although more romance than suspense it is still nice to spend some time with an “Old, but Goldie”. It is quite light and airy. Nothing really deep that grips you but still exciting enough to keep you going.

The plot is a typical “been there, read that” and nothing surprising. Was a little fast in the end and it could have been a little more developed. I liked the characters but not the instant love situation. I liked the plot but I did not like the slowness in the middle of the book. But I especially liked the dog Joe.

Fantasy/Paranormal · Fiction/Science Fiction · Romance

A discovery of witches – Deborah Harkness

41952734| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Untitled

My thoughts:

“The only thing I discovered was that no matter what “world” you try to place a romance story in, if you do not decide one thread to follow, it will not succeed.”

At first I thought this would be a solid five star book. But then I got a couple of hundred pages in and the author has completely abandon the original plot. That took away a star but thinking, hey it can still be good. Reading a couple of hundred more pages and now even the “love” story is so over dramatic that I started to wonder, wasn’t this supposed to be an adult romance and not a YA? Goodbye another star. I’m over 400 pages into it and it feels too late to stop now and I keep hoping for Harkness to take her common sense together and save it in the end. It can’t be possible that so many of my people on Goodreads love the book but me however not so much. I feel the need for this to be a success. However that never happens and it even gets worse.

I was hoping for an action filled, non-cheesy, paranormal romance with some substance. What I got was a highly dramatic, slow and puzzling love story, cloaked in the “discovery” of witches, vampires and daemons. Written like an YA book with every angst filled thought possible but with an analytic mind, a lot of history and details. The only thing I discovered was that no matter what “world” you try to place a romance story in, if you do not decide one thread to follow, it will not succeed. It was all over the place and Harkness should have stayed with the alchemical manuscript and the dynamic of the world with witches, vampires and daemons and left it at that.

Even though it ended quite interesting with some time traveling and other loose threads, it is not enough for me to feel the need to pick up the second book in the series. I will more likely watch the series instead, but don’t count on it.

Adult fiction/Erotica · Classic/Historical · Contemporary · Fiction/Science Fiction · Romance

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid

32620332| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ’80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Untitled

My thoughts:

“Can an author write so perfect that you in the end, are questioning your very own existence?”

Let me first say that I had no idea what to expect when going into 2018 most mentioned book. What I did know is that it had an interesting synopsis and I kept seeing it in my Goodreads and Youtube feed. Trying not to be caught up in the hype wave I have “ignored” it for some time while it was in my TBR pile. Well I have certainly stopped ignoring it now and joined the hype train. *toot toot* Here I come because wow this was so worth the wait!

Can a book be this perfect? Can an author write so perfect that you in the end, are questioning your very own existence? Can a story be so consummated that you start to wonder “was this really a fiction?”. I know that this is supposed to be a literary fiction but it was read more like a chick lit/true story. A deep chick lit with none of that “hubba bubba” love. It was just about life. From the beginning to the end! Honest from page one. It is the most well- devolved, character driven story I have ever read, where you have it all from the emotion spectrum. Love, hate, delight, rejection, pleasure, sadness, courage, fear, anticipation, hopelessness, willing, anger, grief, strengths and everything else.

There is so many human destiny’s and so much feelings, in so many different ways crammed between the covers that you can’t help but wonder, is it true? I ended the book at work and literally wanted to cry, not suitable for an open office landscape. I could not (off course) cry there and then but that is how strong of impact it had on me. It is so much grief and agony but still so much love that in the end it is worth it. Don’t believe me? Believe the other 33 000 people who have given it a five star rating on Goodreads.

Contemporary · Romance

Dr. Strange Beard – Penny Reid

30315676| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Hunches, horse races, and heartbreak

Ten years after Simone Payton broke his heart, all Roscoe Winston wants is a doughnut. He’d also like to forget her entirely, but that’s never going to happen. Roscoe remembers everything—every look, every word, every single unrequited second—and the last thing he needs is another memory of Simone.

Unfortunately, after one chance encounter, Simone keeps popping up everywhere he happens to be . . .

Ten years after Roscoe Winston dropped out of her life, all Simone Payton wants is to exploit him. She’d also like some answers from her former best friend about why he ghosted her, but if she never gets those answers, that’s a-okay. Simone let go of the past a long time ago. Seriously, she has. She totally, totally has. She is definitely not still thinking about Roscoe. Nope. She’s more than happy to forget he exists.

But first, she needs just one teeny-tiny favor . . .

Untitled

My thoughts: Out of the now five books I have read so far in the series about the Winston brothers, this is the least favorite one of mine so far. I did not find it as funny, lovingly and straight to the heart and warm as the others. And I can’t quite put my finger on it. It is like Reid was uninspired while writing it and did it mostly because of the side story line and plot twists around the father Darrell.

I do understand it. It is an important line not to be forgotten since it has been there throughout the series, but it was a little too much and now so many different things happening and I can’t quite get it all connected in my head. There is no cliffhanger per say, but it is certainly stuff that is not yet cleared up.

I do like the characters as always, even though they were a little more shallow than usual. But hey, it was still good. And I will continue the series. This one just missed the mark this time.

Non-fiction/Biography

Becoming – Michelle Obama

38746485| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments.

Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

Untitled

My thoughts: I’m not doing a full review on this one due to the fact that it is a memoir and I feel weird commenting on another persons life, thoughts and feelings. But I have to say I freaking loved it. It is well written, honest and I do understand the source to the hype. It’s unapologetic and the feeling I get is that Michelle have been honest and not concealed the less attractive attributes about herself or others but still emphasized that not all is what is seems and it does not always define a person. I would not determine the book as deep and a lot has probably only been scratched on the surface, but it still feel credible and always interesting. One thing I never got the feeling off (which is common in everything produced from that side of the world) is the “USA is the biggest, strongest and best no matter what” mentality. I do not doubt she love her country, but she was honest about her country’s flaws. It does not make USA worse than any other country, but it gave me a realistic view of how it is. Specially for me who never been there and my only source of information is media in different forms. And we all know how that information can be polluted at times.

My mental picture of Michelle is a down to earth, no nonsense, strong woman who is smart and only wants the best for her, her family and her country. She doesn’t want to run for president but in my opinion I believe she would have been great at it. Just as her husband. I though I would never read this book but now I’m happy that I did. It was a great nonfiction book I do recommend.

 

Everyday things

International women’s day – Five books by female authors I think you should read!

692b4186bce551221489163472286158.jpg

38746485Becoming – Michelle Obama
I have not yet finished this book but I can already see that this is a strong book about a even stronger woman and I do feel every one should read it. 
2657To kill a mockingbird – Harper Lee
Harper Lee was a very private person and it bothers me not knowing why such a talent writer never wrote more than two book, the second published 55 years after To kill a mockingbird. I never read this book in school but I’m happy I finally did a couple of years ago. It is such a strong book that really makes you think. And to know she took a lot of heat due to the topic of the book and it has stand against time just makes it even better.
17347384Harry Potter – J.K Rowling
A series, loved by young and old in both books and movie form. It is certainly in my opinion one of the most influenced book series of my time. I grew up with HP and it will always have a special place in my heart. Then when you know Rowling’s story and struggles before it’s publish it makes it even better. It is the proof that if you are willing enough, you can make anything happen.
8745Desert flower – Waris Dirie
I read this many years ago. It is such a strong story about a woman grown up in a environment and culture so different from my own. It certainly made me realize how lucky I am just to be born from the mother I have, in the country I did.
1397964I have life: Raped, Stabbed & Left for dead – Marianne Thamm
I read it as a young teenager and it was absolutely horrific. But still strong, inspiring and proof of how strong a woman can be, no mater what. I was in a bad place at the time and this book help me in a way I can not explain. Not for the faint of heart but certainly a book worth reading.

 

Fantasy/Paranormal · Young, New adult/College

Nevernight – Jay Kristoff

34503674| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Destined to destroy empires, the child raised in shadows made a promise on the day she lost everything: to avenge herself on those that shattered her world.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, and Mia must become a weapon without equal. Before she seeks vengeance, she must seek training among the infamous assassins of the Red Church of Itreya.

Inside the Church’s halls, Mia must prove herself against the deadliest of opponents and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Church is no ordinary school, but Mia is no ordinary student.

Untitled

My thoughts: This book is marked as a young adult fantasy. Me personally, I would not categorize it as a YA. It is way darker, gorier and explicit than other YA books I have read. And that is probably why I liked it so. There were some rough language but nothing embarrassing or cringe which I often find YA to be. I would place this one in the late young/adult epic fantasy. Thought you should know if you expected something else. 😉

The book is fantastic. It is dark, funny and witty to a degree it is on the border to sarcasm and irony. There is an interesting narrator, funny with a dark sense of humor and all the footnotes (Which I hear so many hate) is such a strong complement to the story without the impression of an author droning away on details. Strong and deep characters with interesting history and personality. Complex and wonderful world building. Notice that it is a man who is the author. Not much lovey-dovey. More strait to the point in a detached kind of way but still capturing and at some points heartbreaking.

Refreshing. Can nothing other than recommend it to whoever wish to read some epic fantasy. If you are new to the genre I would recommend it as an starter before you go into something heavier like, for an example, Robin Hobb, which I also have read some books of.

Monthly summary

February Summary

monthlysummery2

I have been pretty mentally preoccupied this month and there was a lot less reading than usual. I just had troubles with focusing and there where things in my life I just needed to let it take its course and hope the ability to read returned. And yes it did.

Favorite book this month: The Chase – Elle Kennedy
Least favorite book this month:
Boomer – C.M Steele

Number of physical books:
2
Number of e-books:
 7
Number of audiobooks:
1/2 (the one I DNF’ed)
Total pages: 3009
Female authors: 6
Male authors: 1

 

34273236Little fires everywhere – Celeste Ng
Pages: 338 Published: 2017
Genres: Contemporary, fiction
My rating: 3/5
Links: Review
34851664The chase – Elle Kennedy
Pages: 377 Published: 2018
Genres: Contemporary, new adult, collage, sports, games, romance.
My rating: 5/5
Links: Review
Book 1 in The Briar U series.
41576496The messenger – Jessica Gadziala
Pages: 245 Published: 2018
Genres: Contemporary, romance.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 3 in The Professionals series.
28262024The goal – Elle Kennedy
Pages: 350 Published: 2016
Genres: New adult, romance, contemporary, romance.
My rating: 3/5
Links: Review
Book 4 in The off-campus series.
41807223The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – Stuart Turton
Pages: 528 Published: 2018
Genres: Mystery, fiction, thriller, fantasy.
My rating: 3/5
Links: Review
37285282Reeve – Jessica Gadziala
Pages: 226 Published: 2018
Genres:
 Romance, contemporary.
My rating:
 4/5
Links:
Review
Book 11 in 
The Henchmen MC series.
20613920Under Locke – Mariana zapata
Pages: 497 Published: 2014
Genres: Contemporary, romance, new adult.
My rating: 3/5
Links: Review
39337611Boomer – C.M Steele
Pages: 128 Published: 2018
Genres: Adult, erotica.
My rating: 1/5
Links: Review
Book 1 in The steele riders mc series.
3407345Fire and ice – Julie Garwood
Pages: 320 Published: 2008
Genres: Contemporary, mystery, romance, suspense.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 7 in The Buchanan-Renard series.

BOOKS I DNF’ed!

18966819Golden son – Pierce Brown
Pages: 430 Published: 2015
Genres: Science fiction, fantasy, young adult, dystopia
Book 2 in The Red rising series.
I read the first book and it was okay. You can read that review here. But after several hours with the second one I just have to be hones to myself that this is nothing for me. It is just to much Young Adult, dystopian for my taste. It doesn’t work.
Contemporary · Mystery/Crime · Romance · Suspense

Fire and ice – Julie Garwood

3407345| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Sophie Rose, a tough and determined newspaper reporter, is the daughter of Bobby Rose, a suave, charming, and handsome gentleman who also happens to be a notorious big-time thief sought by every law-enforcement agency in the country. When the major Chicago daily where she works insists she write an expose about her roguish father, Sophie refuses, quits her job, and goes to work at a small newspaper. Far from her onetime high-powered crime beat, she now covers local personalities such as the quirky winner of several area 5K runs whose trademark is goofy red socks.
Those red socks-with Sophie’s business card neatly tucked inside-are practically all that’s found after runner William Harrington is killed near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, seemingly the victim of a brutal death by polar bear. The Alaska cops want to know why Harrington carried Sophie’s card. With an unerring nose for a good story, she heads north.
What Sophie doesn’t realize is that on her journey from Chicago to Prudhoe Bay, danger follows in her wake. After one attempt on her life, she’s been assigned brash but sexy Jack MacAlister as a bodyguard by the cautious FBI. Amid great peril and deadly intrigue in the unforgiving Alaskan terrain, she and Jack form an uneasy alliance sparked with sensual attraction. But they will soon be fighting more than their growing passion for each other. Powerful forces will stop at nothing to prevent the exposure of the sinister conspiracy Sophie and Jack are about to uncover.

Untitled

My thoughts: What I really like with Garwood is that she is such a strong character writer. Especially when it comes to the females. I’m a huge critic when it comes to females and often finds them dumb, childish, meek and excessive. But never with Garwood. I receive pretty much what I expect and it never disappoint me. This one was just as good as always when it comes to the writing, character and such. The plot however I found a little weak. I really liked Sophie’s history and enigmatic father but Jack could have used a little more work and the story a little more depth. I missed that … umpf… in lack of better words.

Nothing bad really, just didn’t earn the last star but certainly not a bad book in any means. This is the 7 book in the series about Buchanan-Renard family and it is safe to say, I will continue it.

Adult fiction/Erotica

Boomer – C.M Steele

39337611| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: As the President of the Steele Riders Motorcycle Club, Garrett “Boomer” Steele is used to people following his command. No questions asked. As a former military man, he is dedicated, focused, and disciplined. Then in walks a fiery little beauty and all that goes out the window. He will do all he can to keep her as his. Even go to war to protect everything that belongs to him.

Crystal Miller’s just being the friend that Morgan needs when she runs into a bare-chested Boomer. He’s cocky, loving, and bossy as hell. Even though she’s one tough woman, she loves the way he needs to shield her from danger. And there’s plenty of it.

When trouble comes calling, can they stand together and survive, or will a big secret tear them apart?

Untitled

My thoughts: If it wasn’t for the reason it is only like 130 pages long, I would probably never have finished this misogynistic crap. Because god damn this is some terrible junk in my opinion. It is so bad it is almost funny. (Keyword ALMOST) Let’s see! Horrible writing, horrible characters and so awfully shallow and cliché it hurts.

I’m warning you. This rest of the review contain spoilers.

We have the classic Guy no 1 trying to rape Girl. Girl doesn’t tell Guy no 2 who has set his mind to win her body. (Not her as a person or anything. No! Her body. Because that is all a girl is worth right?)

Anyway, Girl moves in with Guy no 2 after a day because he says so and she doesn’t even bat an eyelash to that. (What the hell?) Guy no 2 later finds out about Guy no 1 and goes batshit crazy and plan to revenge in her honor. Guy no 1 gets his pride hurt and is now planing to hurt Girl and everything the Girl holds dear (family, friends you name it). Girl (who is a virgin by the way) sleeps with guy no 2 after just a couple of days even though she was supposed to save it and yada, yada. Then after another couple of days Girl marrying Guy no 2 just because he say so, again not bating an eyelash. Hell breaks loose, Guy no 2 has some serious self-esteem issues, judging by the way he growls and want to knock the teeth out of every man’s mouth who even looking in their direction. Do I need to go one? Because I can. It’s only getting worse.

Don’t get me wrong. I love alpha males and sexy books but it still need to be from this century. Not this man dominating piece of crap that doesn’t even give the girl her own choice, voice and she takes it so damn lightly. He tells her what to wear, where to live, what to work with, what to eat and so on. If you like that kind of things, yay, god for you. But me personally do not find books where the man is the one who determines everything and not even giving the woman who by the way is pressed down to be a sex and birthing machine her own voice. Maybe I have totally misunderstand the book, maybe not. We will probably never know because I will not waist more time on it.