Sunday 31 May 2015

Sunday Post #23

Sunday Post

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

I cannot believe that yet another week went by, time seems to fly. Monday was a bank holiday so on Tuesday I went back to work after a vacation of ten days. It is only three more weeks now before my internship here in London ends and before I go back to Belgium. For months went by in a blink of an eye. Nothing special happened this week so that is about it. 


Last week on the blog: 

Next week on the blog:
  • Monday: New Release in June
  • Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #64: Top Ten Books I'd Love To See As Movies/TV Shows
  • Wednesday: Waiting On Wednesday #97
  • Thursday: Review: Before He Was A Secret (Starstruck #3) by Becky Wicks
  • Friday: Review: Perfect Timing by Robin Mellom

El

Saturday 30 May 2015

EOM May Wrap Up

16085457251304992288898015831291The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief)24285301187411522349228225070878233670242343395422885177

I have read 12 books this month:

Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman
Fighting for Keeps (A Brookhollow Story #5) by Jennifer Snow
Flintlock (Cutlass Series #2) by Ashley Nixon
Easy (Contours of the Heart #1) by Tammara Webber
The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief #2) by Sharon Gosling
Hooked by Christine Manzari
Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1) by Stephanie Perkins
Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry
Perfect Timing by Robin Mellom
The Roche Hotel by Mysti Parker
Me Tarzan - You Jane by Camelia Miron Skiba
Before He Was A Secret (Starstruck #3) by Becky Wicks

1608545718298225251304992288898015831291The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief)2428530123492282

I have reviewed 8 books this month: 

Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman
On the Fence by Kasie West
Fighting for Keeps (A Brookhollow Story #5) by Jennifer Snow
Flintlock (Cutlass #2) by Ashley Nixon
Easy (Contours of the Hearts #1) by Tammara Webber
The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief #2) by Sharon Gosling
Hooked by Christina Manzari
Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry

Other Posts: 

Top Ten Tuesday #61: Ten Books I Will Probably Never Read
Top Ten Tuesday #62: Top Ten Authors I Would Want To Meet
Top Ten Tuesday #64: Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Beach Reads

Waiting on Wednesday #94: It's Just a Jump to the Left by Libba Bray
Waiting on Wednesday #95: Kissing in America by Margo Rabb
Waiting on Wednesday #96: Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine


New Book Releases in May
Cover Reveal: Surviving Ice (Burying Water #4) by K.A. Tucker
Band of the Month May: Foxes


El

Friday 29 May 2015

Review: Eeasy (Contours of the Heart #1) by Tammara Webber

15831291Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Webber
Series: Contours of the Heart
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: January 3rd 2013
Pages: 322 (paperback)
Source: own-it






When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night - but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.


Easy is one of those books that has been on my TBR list for ages. I heard so many great things about it and I really wanted to read it but somehow I just never found the time. But then recently I bought a copy of it so I could not put it of any longer. And I am really glad that I did read it in the end because I loved it.

It started kind of dark with a very troubling scene where Jacqueline, the main character, is attacked by a guy. Webber definitely picked a difficult topic to talk about. But I praise her for writing about it because it is something that happens and it needs to be addressed. Easy showed how the victim processes everything after an attack but also how other people react when they learn about it. Webber did a good job showing all these sides.

If you now think that Easy is a dark read then you are wrong. Tammara Webber makes sure that the book doesn’t get too dark. The book was filled with a sweeter and happier storyline as well. There were so many moments that I was reading with a big smile on my face because it made me happy. For example the playful banter between Lucas and Jacqueline was so sweet that I couldn’t help myself from grinning the whole time.

Jacqueline was an amazing character. Throughout the book she grew so much. At the beginning she was this girl that had followed her high school sweetheart to college, putting her dreams at the side, expecting that they would be together forever. You could say that she was naïve but at the end of the book she knew how to stand up for herself. And she finally went after her dreams. Mostly thanks to Lucas because he showed her that she was a strong independent women who could do anything she wanted. Lucas is probably one of my favorite male characters. He is very protective when it comes to people he cares about. While he might seem like a bad boy he isn’t one. He has his heart in the right place. You only have to look at all the different jobs he has to figure that out.


Overall I really liked this book and I can definitely see know why so many people are crazy about it. Tammara Webber is a great writer and she has the ability to suck you into the storyline within the first few pages. I am definitely going to check out her other books as well. 


El

Thursday 28 May 2015

Review: The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief #2) by Sharon Gosling

25425620Title: The Ruby Airship
Author: Sharon Gosling
Series: The Diamond Thief
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Switch Press
Publication date: February 1st
Pages: 496 (hardcover)
Source: Netgalley






Trapeze-artist Rémy has left the circus and her life as a thief, but she doubts that detective Thaddeus Rec will ever truly trust her. Feeling torn between her new life and her old, Rémy decides to return to France and her old circus with Yannick, an old friend who unexpectedly appears. 

Meanwhile, Thaddeus is sure that Yannick is up to no good. He's determined to find them and win Rémy back, even if he must risk a journey by airship to do so.


I read the first book in this series,  The Diamond Thief, at the end of last year. I enjoyed it immensely and couldn’t get enough of it. So I was excited to read the sequel.

Rémy is an amazing character to read about. She used to live a life in a circus. And not abiding the law was not a problem for her. But after some crazy adventures and meeting the detective inspector Thaddeus Rémy decides to leave her old life behind and start a new one.  Still she is insecure in her new life. Does she really fit in it or should she join the circus again?

Rémy and Thaddeus both learned so much about themselves in this book. Rémy has a lot of trust issues. She would rather run away then to completely trust someone. Throughout the book she learned that it was okay to take a leap of faith sometimes. Thaddeus his job was always important to him, he had worked hard for it after all. But what he didn’t get was that he could lose the people he cares for because of it. He learned to find a balance in his life that worked best for him in the end. It was great to see the characters from the first book grow into something more.

The steampunk and historical elements are added well to this story. They give this book that bit extra. The plot was well-written, it was impossible for me to put this book down. I always kept telling myself that I could read one more chapter… It is easy to get sucked into the story. The setting of The Ruby Airship was very different than the first book. Instead of London the author now took us to the idyllic countryside of France. Something completely different than London but I loved it.


I enjoyed this book a lot. Sometimes a sequel to a goof first book can be a bit lacking but that definitely wasn’t the case with The Ruby Airship. If you like steampunk but have not read this series yet than I would definitely recommend it to you. Personally I cannot wait to see on which adventures Thaddeus, Remy and the rest of the crew will go on in the next book. Hopefully we will not have to wait too long for the next book.

El

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #96: Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that I am anxiously awaiting is:

Ink and Bone
by Rachel Caine

20643052

In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time...

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly - but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family's spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library's service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life - and soon both heretics and books will burn...

Goodreads

Why I Can't Wait

This book just sounds good and intriguing. 

Publication date: July 7th 

El

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Top Ten Tuesday #63: Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This weeks topic is Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads

49194498887751829822515283043234846091785879518378839205621441784467816150043

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (How to Ruin #1) by Simone Elkeles
Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by Miranda Kenneally
On the Fence by Kasie West
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Bridesmaid with Attitude by Christy McKellen
All In by Marta Brown
The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry
What A Girl Wants (A Brookhollow Story #2) by Jennifer Snow
The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine
Just One Day (Just One Day #1) by Gayle Forman

El

    Monday 25 May 2015

    Review: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry

    23492282Title: Nowhere But Here
    Author: Katie McGarry
    Series: Thunder Road
    Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
    Publisher: Harlequin Teen
    Publication date: May 26th 2015
    Pages: 496 (hardcover)
    Source: Netgalley






    An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

    Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting her parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father - the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent - but that doesn't mean she wants to be part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what is seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

    Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're... family. And while Emily - the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member - is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

    No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road your fear the most is the one that leads you home.


    So far I have loved every single book that Katie McGarry wrote. Nowhere But Here was no exception. McGarry writes some amazing YA romance/drama and with every book I fall even more in love with her writing.

    I was hooked from the very first chapter of Nowhere But Here, it set in a different place than I am used to from her books, a motorcycle club. It was fun to read about and the story was emotional and beautiful.

    Emily was a lovely character. She had a very sheltered upbringing and she did not mind it. Venturing out of the state Florida was never on her agenda. And being stuck with a family she does not know at all and a motor club for the summer was the last thing she would ever want. But Emily is tougher than she looks. And I loved how she grew throughout this entire novel. She started off as a shelter girl with almost no mind of her own but at the end she was a strong young women.
    And then there was Oz, I do not know where to start with him. He is such an amazing guy. He is loyal to his friends and his family. He cares for the ones that he loves and for the less unfortunate.  But he is also stubborn and he has a hard time expressing what he feels. I loved him to pieces and I could not get enough of him.

    I loved the dynamics between Emily and Oz from the very beginning. It was clear that they were attracted to each other form the very first time they met but they also could not stand each other. Emily grew up thinking that everyone in a motor club was bad and that they could not be trusted. So naturally she did not trust Oz. Oz on the other hand is mad at Emily because she is hurting the people he loves by rejecting him. And it does not help that she might have caused him his chance to become a member of the motor club.  Gradually they get to know each other better and they see that they will have to adjust their opinions by each other. They bring out the best in each other. Emily lets Oz see that there is a life outside of the motor club and he shows Emily what the motor club is about and that she has a great family if she accepts them. I loved how their relationship grew slowly. There was no rush at all and they really took their time with each other. It felt so natural and innocent but at the same time also passionate.  


    As is always the case with Katie McGarry her books there were so many great side characters in this book. A lot of them had emotional baggage with them and I cannot wait to read their story.  I already care for them a lot even if we saw only a couple of glimpses of some of them. McGarry did a marvelous job writing this story. It made me laugh, it made me cry… it was an intense emotional rollercoaster and I loved every second of it. I cannot wait until the next book in the Thunder Road series comes out. 


    El

    Sunday 24 May 2015

    Sunday Post #22 & Stacking the Shelves #61

    Sunday Post

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

    I didn't have a lot of time to post last week and this week. Last week I had two friends over for a visit for four days. They left on Sunday and on Monday I left for Scotland for four days. It was so amazing. I stayed in Edinburgh most of the time but I also went on a day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands. I cannot describe how pretty it all was and I had a great time. If you ever have to chance to go to Scotland you really should! But that's why there were almost no post last week and this week. Everything should go back to normal now though. 


    Last week on the blog: 

    Next week on the blog:
    • Monday: Review: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry 
    • Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #63: Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads
    • Wednesday: Waiting On Wednesday #96
    • Thursday: Review: The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief #2) by Sharon Gosling
    • Friday: Review: Easy (Contours of the Heart #1) by Tammara Webber 
    • Saturday: EOM May Wrap Up

    Showcase Sunday's/Stacking the Shelves aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. This Sunday meme is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea and Tynga's Reviews:

    For review: 
    23876717

    ****: The Anatomy of Melancholy  by Matthew Selwyn

    El


    Saturday 23 May 2015

    Band of the Month May: Foxes



    Music has always been a huge part of my life. I love going to music concerts and to music festivals. My iPod is next to my ereader my best friend. I never go anywhere without my music. So I figured that it was about time that I introduced some music in my blog. From now on I will feature one of my favorite bands each month. Maybe you know them, maybe you don’t. Maybe you’ll like them, maybe you’ll hate them. But anyway I think that this is going to be lots of fun!


    Foxes, or Louisa Rose Allen, is an English singer-songwriter. She grew up in Southampton but is currently living in London. Foxes makes electronic pop/dance music and she might be best known for her collaboration with Zed. She even won a Grammy Award with the track Clarity in 2013. I like her as an artist because her voice is quiet unique and she addresses different topics in a catchy way. If you do not know her yet than you should definitely check her out.


    Her Grammy Award winning song: 


    One of my favorites of her: 



    My absolute favorite: 


    El

    Friday 22 May 2015

    Review: Hooked by Christine Manzari

    24794679Title: Hooked
    Author: Christine Manzari
    Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
    Publication date: January 28th 2015
    Pages: 308 (ebook)
    Source: received from author (thank you!)







    If you ask the confident ans snarky skater girl, and she's in the mood to share, she'll tell you her name is Cat. She might even tell you that she's hooked on graffiti, 80s movies, and having fun - the riskier the better. Cat will share a good time with you, but she won't ever trust you enough to share her heart. It's protected by secrets and she'd like to keep it that way.

    Cat knows one thing for certain: Love isn't really her thing.

    If you ask the confident and rich pretty boy, he might tell you his name is Huck. He might even tell you he loves a challenge and is used to getting his way. He won't tell you that his life is a mess because he risked his heart by trusting the wrong girl. Huck is ready for a change, he just wasn't ready to get hooked on someone like Cat.

    Huck knows one thing for certain: Love hasn't done him any favors, but Cat just might be worth the risk.

    Cat and Huck think a one-night stand seems harmless, but when all the little secrets they didn't share turn out to be toxic truths, they realize how easily a one-night stand (or a few) could ruin everything.

    The thing is, you can be ruined in more than one way. Once you're HOOKED, what wouldn't you risk for the chance at more?


    Hooked is really the right title fort his book because from the very first page I was hooked. Once I started reading there was no way that I could put it down. Hooked is a fun read and overall it was light but it also touches on a heavier topic. And once I finished it I was left wanting more of Huck and Cat.

    Cat was a great female lead. She was strong and independent. And she was not the typical beautiful girl. Yes she was beautiful but also kind off a tomboy, she loves skateboarding and hanging out with the guys. She will never pretend to be someone else in order to get a guy, what you see is what you get. All Cat want is to have a good time and I loved her spunk. But cat also has her problems she does not let anyone get close enough to her to protect herself. If no one gets close to her than she cannot get hurt. The only ones who really now her are her best friend Jay and her mother. That is until she meets Huck.
    Huck was another great character. He is starting a new life for himself in California after his last relationship ended horribly. So the last thing he expected to find is Cat. Huck is a funny guy there were multiple times in this book that I cracked up. He is also very determined once he sees something that he wants he goes after it and he will not give up no matter how hard it is. His determination certainly helped him with Cat. But at the same time he also knows when he has to give someone the space that they need. So he was a really amazing guy.

    The book may sound predictable but it was that heartbreaking element that the author put into the book that gave it that little extra. Cat is going through a hard time and it was not easy to see her suffer through it all alone. Since she is such a strong character you know that she will be fine in the end, especially with the help of her friends and Huck, but it was still heartbreaking.


    Overall I quiet enjoyed Hooked. The characters were well developed and they worked well together. The book read easy and I kept turning page after page. The story contained heartbreak but all the funny scenes made sure that the book did not become too depressing. I cannot wait to read more books by this author. 


    El


    Wednesday 13 May 2015

    Waiting on Wednesday #95: Kissing in America by Margo Rabb


    Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that I am anxiously awaiting is:


    Kissing in America
    by Margo Rabb

    18478083

    In the two years since her father died, sixteen-year-old Eva has found comfort in reading romance novels - 118 of them, to be exact - to dull the pain of her loss that's still so present. Her romantic fantasies become a reality when she meets Will, who seems to truly understand Eva's grief. Unfortunately, after Eva falls head-over-heels for him, he picks up and moves to California without any warning. Not wanting to lose the only person who has been able to pull her out of sadness - and, perhaps, her shot at real love - Eva and her best friend, Annie, concoct a plan to travel to the west coast to see Will again. As they road trip across America, Eva and Annie confront the complex truth about love.

    Goodreads

    Why I Can't Wait

    I love books about road trips and this one sounds really interesting and a lot of fun. 

    Publication date: May 26th 2015

    El 

    Tuesday 12 May 2015

    Top Ten Tuesday #62: Top Ten Authors I Would Want To Meet


    Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This weeks topic is Top Ten Authors I Would Want To Meet


    1. Richelle Mead
    2. J.K. Rowling
    3. Katie McGarry
    4. Maria V. Snyder
    5. John Green
    6. Kasie West
    7. Miranda Kenneally
    8. Jennifer Snow
    9. Gayle Forman
    10. Philippa Gregory

    El