Sunday Post #26

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.

These past two weeks I have posted very little. Last week was my last week in London so I did spend a lot of time with my friends over there. And when I got back home in Belgium on Monday everything was just so hectic. Catching up with friends, visiting family, unpacking... So I have had little time to read and to write blog posts. I don't know what the next couple of weeks will be like since I will be away from home again. On Tuesday I am flying to the states and I will have a summer job there for the next three months. I am so excited for this since I will finally see my friends there again after a whole year! But at the same time I am also a little sad to leave everyone back home again. And oh I graduated from Uni this Monday, no more classes for me!!  

Last week on the blog: 

• Thursday: Review: Me Tarzan - You Jane by Camelia Miron Skiba
• Friday: Review: The Roche Hotel (Season One) by Mysti Parker

Next week on the blog:

• Monday: Review: The DUFF:Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
• Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #68 | EOM June Wrap Up
• Wednesday: Waiting On Wednesday #100
• Thursday: Review: Indiscretion by Hannah Fielding
• Friday: New Releases in July

El

Review: The Roche Hotel (Season One) by Mysti Parker

Title: The Roche Hotel
Author: Mysti Parker
Series: The Roche Hotel
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Publication date: October 15th 2014
Pages: 62 (Kindle)
Source: received from author






After her husband ditches her for a blonde actress wannabe, Jane Seymour needs a job that pays the rent. The struggling Roche Hotel needs a miracle. With the former owner's wife butting her nose into the renovations and new owners who are in way over their heads, Jane may be the answer to their prayers. Sure, she can handle the Roche Hotel's quirky staff. But, can this skittish divorcee keep it all together when handsome Henry the Donut Guy makes his first delivery? This collection of serial fiction stories is a Tudorific romantic comedy that will leave you laughing out loud and hungry for more.

Goodreads

The Roche Hotel will be releases in different episodes. I am not the biggest fan of that because it means the stories are short and often you have to wait some time on the next episode.

The story was too short for my liking, especially if you consider at what pace the story moved. I believe that this story could have been much better if it was releases as a full length novel. The writing was good and the characters were interesting. They could make me laugh, most of them were just comical especially the old lady Rochester. But they were not developed well enough for me. Especially the main character, I still do not know a lot about her. Her love interest is even a bigger mystery to me. And it was kind of hard of me to understand why exactly they liked each other. Maybe that was the plan of the author all along but to me it did not appeal. Hopefully everything will get much clearer in the next episode.

I really liked the setting of this book. The hotel is a really great idea to set these novellas in. The hotel had something gloomy with the ghosts that “hunted” it and all the drama that happens there. I am pretty curious to see what will happen next in the hotel.

Overall I liked this novella. It might have been a bit too short but I still enjoyed reading it and since it was this short I could read it in one sitting. This episode was only the first and this series has a lot of potential so I hope to hope the rest of the series as well. 

El

Review: Me Tarzan - You Jane by Camelia Miron Skiba

Title: Me Tarzan - You Jane
Author: Camelia Miron Skiba
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult
Publication date: December 6th 2014
Pages: 270 (kindle)
Source: received from author (thank you!!)







Moving on doesn't always have to mean goodbye.

Widowed makeup artist Jane Sullivan is more comfortable keeping her husbands's memory alive than dating a poof full of sharks. Ella, her 4 year-old daughter, is her whole world.

When Jane meets Lucas Oliver, famous cover model, it's hate at first sight. His playboy persona rubs her in the wrong way.

Accustomed to every woman fawning over him, Lucas is drawn to the shy, uncompromising single mom and completely melts at the sight of Ella. He is determined to convince Jane that sometimes a second chance can mend a broken heart.

Goodreads

Me Tarzan- You Jane was a great story about loss, love, prejudice and second chances. The author did a great job weaving the story of a young widowed single mom and a young charismatic cover model together.

When Jane firsts meets Lucas she only sees a superficial model that every women in the room swoons over. So his attention is not welcome at all. For her there can be only one love in her live and that is her deceased husband. Besides she has to do what is best for her daughter, so no man will get a chance to worm himself into her personal life. Lucas least of all. Lucas is cocky, smug and a flirter. Settling down is not for him. But it is hard to deny the sparks that fly between Jane and Lucas when they are near each other.

Slowly Jane has to readjust her first opinion of Lucas. There is so much more to him than one can see at first. He is loyal, kind and has his heart in the right place. Slowly the walls Jane build around herself start to crumble. A friendship develops between the two of them and life keeps throwing them together. But can Jane let her past completely go and will she ever be able to oversee Lucas’s past completely?

Me Tarzan – You Jane is a romantic story that will easily capture your attention. I could not help get caught up in Lucas’s and Jane’s story. Their story was just fascinating. I loved how the two of them interacted with each other. Jane’s daughter really helped them to diffuse the tension between them. The four year old was so adorable and you could not do anything else than to love her. I loved that the author made Jane such a strong woman. She could have made her something week, who could not deal with her husband’s death but now Jane is so strong. She is still vulnerable but she moves forward in life.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. Following the developments in their relationship was really enjoyable. The characters were amazing to read about and I would not mind if the author ever decided to write some companion novels with one of the other models in the lead. The book made sad at some points but then at the next page I was laughing again. Me Tarzan – You Jane is a feel-good romance novel that will leave you with a smile on your face. 

El

Waiting on Wednesday #99: Faking Perfect by Rebecca Philips

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:

Faking Perfect
by Rebecca Philips



When Lexi Shaw seduced Oakfield High's resident bad boy Tyler Flynn at the beginning of senior year, he seemed perfectly okay with her rules:

1. Avoid her at school.
2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together.
3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben.

Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she's been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom's too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi's dad hasn't been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect?

Goodreads

Why I Can't Wait

This book sounds interesting. Why did Lexi decide to lie to Ben in the first place? If he's her friend than he stood understand her home situation better than anyone else. And I am curious to see how all of her lies will uncover and what will happen then. 

Publication date: June 30th

El

Top Ten Tuesday #66: Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This weeks topic is Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List




Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss #2) by Stephanie Perkins
The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine
Torn Sky (Rebel Wing #3) by Tracy Banghart
The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6) by Richelle Mead
Touch & Go (Dare to Love #2) by Mira Lyn Kelly
The Night We Said Yes Lauren Gibaldi
The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1) by Renee Ahdieh
I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Ransom (Ransom #1) by Rachel Schurig

El

Review: Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1) by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series: Anna and the French Kiss
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher: Usborne Publishing
Publication date: January 1st 2014
Pages: 400 (paperback)







Anna has everything figured out - she was about to start senior year with her best friend, she had a great weekend job, and her huge work crush looked as if it might finally be going somewhere... Until her dad decides to send her 4383 miles away to Paris. On her own.

But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna finds herself making new friends, including Etienne, the smart boy from the floor above. But he's taken - and Anna might be too. Will a year of romantic near-missed end with the French kiss she's been waiting for? 

Goodreads

Anna and the French Kiss was one of the cutest YA romance novel that I had read in a while. I read this book so many years after it first came out. And now I can completely understand why people loved it so much. The book had all the elements to be good. Loveable characters, humor, romance and a bit of drama.

Anna was a fun character to read about. I think that a lot of people can easily relate to her. All she wants is an uncomplicated life wherein she gets to hang out with her friends, get the guy she’s in love with and graduate from high school. I remembered that that was exactly how I felt in high school, nothing else really mattered at that point. She was a really sweet girl and she would do everything she can for her friends. At times she should have stood up more for herself but all in all she had a great personality.
Etienne St. Clair, the name alone is too amazing, was a great guy. He is sweet, honest and kind. He does what is right and yes he makes some mistakes. But his mistakes are forgivable and understandable. The guy was pretty swoon worthy, his proper British Accent, his French name and his good looks made sure of it. Besides it was kind of refreshing to come across a guy in a young adult contemporary book that was not a douche.

Another thing I really liked about this book was the setting. I have only been once to Paris but I really liked the atmosphere there. So it was great to read a book that was set in Paris. Besides most books young adult contemporary books are always set in the United States so it was great to read a book that was set in a different country.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It might not be anything new and it did not challenge me emotionally or mentally but it was such a sweet and cute read that it was impossible not to like it. And from time to time this is exactly the kind of book that I am looking for. It is easy to read and the pages flew by. So if you have not read this book yet than I would definitely recommend it to you and I cannot wait to read the other two books in this series. 

El

Sunday Post #25 & Stacking the Shelves #63

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.

This week was quiet uneventful. Most of my friends have to work during the evening and I work until the afternoon. So we didn't have much time to spend together. But today I went out with some colleagues of mine to grab dinner. Next week will be my last week here in London and I am sad to leave. I met so many amazing people here and I can already tell that it will be hard to say goodbye to them all.  

Last week on the blog: 

• Monday: New Releases in June
• Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #65: Top Ten Most Anticipated Reads For the Rest of 2015
• Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday #98: Torn Sky (Rebel Wing #3) by Tracy Banghart
• Thursday: Review: Before He Was a Secret (Starstruck #3) by Becky Wicks
• Friday: Review: Perfect Timing by Robin Mellom
• Saturday: Band of the Month June: PVRIS

Next week on the blog:

• Monday: Review: Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1) by Stephanie Perkins
• Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday #66: Top Ten Books On My TBR For Summer 2015 
• Wednesday: Waiting On Wednesday #99
• Thursday: Review: Me Tarzan - You Jane by Camelia Miron Skyba
• Friday: Review: The Roche Hotel by Mysti Parker

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:

Bought: 

Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell

Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss #2) by Stephanie Perkins

The Beautiful Cassandra (Little Black Classics #33) by Jane Austen

The Night is Darkening Round Me (Little Black Classics #63) by Emily Brontë

Woman Much Missed (Little Black Classics #14) by Thomas Hardy

The Old Nurse's Story (Little Black Classics #39) by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Great Winglebury Duel (Little Black Classics #37) by Charles Dickens

The Reckoning (Little Black Classics #48) by Edith Wharton

El

Band of the Month June: PVRIS

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!

PVRIS, pronounced as Paris, is an American rock band. The band was formed in 2012 and consists of Lyndsey Gunnulfsen (vocals), Alex Babinski (lead guitar) and Brian MacDonald (bass guitar). There sound is a mix of alternative rock, experimental rock and electronic rock. It is really interesting to listen to their songs. Their songs hold so much meaning and even though I have listened to their album White Noise multiple times I still hear different things every time I listen to it. This band is still young and I truly believe that they can become a great band in the future. They have so much talent and potential so I cannot wait to see what the future brings for them. 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

A couple of their songs: 

El

Review: Perfect Timing by Robin Mellom

Title: Perfect Timing
Author: Robin Mellom
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication date: March 1st 2015
Pages: 278 (paperback)
Source: Netgalley








After a break-up with her boyfriend, Tori Wright decides to get her mind of the guy and takes a job running errands for an eccentric couple. Suddenly she finds herself involved in the crazy world of LA nightlife - nightclubs, palm readers, movie stars, and a roving pack of paparazzi. After a misunderstanding lands her in jail, she has one night to clear her name, help a movie starlet avoid the paparazzi, and find Adam... the coworker who is quickly stealing her heart.
As she makes decisions that can changer the course of her life, Tori discovers just how far she'll got to set the record straight.
But is she too late? 
Perfect Timing is a charming romantic comedy that will have you wondering if true love can be found at the wrong time. It's a teen romance that will appeal to readers of New Adult contemporary romance and romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Jenny B. Jones, Rainbow Rowell, and Sophie Kinsella.

Goodreads

Perfect Timing is the first book that I have read by Robin Mellom but I can already say that it will not be the last. This book was everything that I expected it to be.

Tori was a character that I immediately loved. I loved her voice and she was a lot of fun. Her view on life was quiet interesting. It was also easy to relate to Tori, like me she did not really know what she was good at and what she should do with her life. She had a dream, like we all do but she just assumed that she would never achieve her dream. Another thing that I loved about her was that she lived by all the dating rules she found in self-help books her mother used for her blog.
Adam was a really nice guy. He respected all of Tori her crazy rules and he did not push her like other people did. But most importantly he made Tori feel comfortable. Even though they only knew each other for a short time it felt like they had been friends for ages.

This book was hilarious at some points. Tori and Adam had to do so many odd jobs. Because of that they often landed in some weird situations which led to really funny scenes. I loved reading about their adventures together from delivering donuts to talking themselves into clubs. But my favorite one was definitely when Tori got arrested. The scenes in jail were just hilarious and I could not stop laughing.

Overall I really loved this Perfect Timing. It was an entertaining and sweet read. There were so many funny scenes in it that I had a big smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. The protagonist was great and the romance sweet. While the book might have been somewhat predictable it was still fun to read. I am definitely going to check out the other books by this author.

El

Review: Before He Was a Secret (Starstruck #3) by Becky Wicks

Title: Before He Was a Secret
Author: Becky Wicks
Series: Starstruck
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
Publication date: February 24th 2015
Source: Netgalley








"What if we can't choose
Every battle we win and lose
What if we decided years before, to live this life, to fight these wars
And all the dreams we ever thought were ours
Were written in the stars"

Waiting tables isn't exactly what singer/songwriter Stephanie has in mind for her move to Nashville, but memories of the past and a case of writer's block mean inspiration isn't coming easy. When brooding pianist Conor Judge opens his mouth in a smoky bar he proves music can heal, and even help you re-write your story, but a history of his own means the one thing he starts to want most is always out of reach. Stephanie. 

Enter Travis Flynn - an upcoming star who won't take no for an answer, and a record label intent on helping Stephanie shine, without Conor. As fame comes knocking as hard as the ghosts of their pasts, it soon becomes clear that no matter how hard you might fall in love, having the perfect songs doesn't always mean perfect harmony. 

Goodreads

Stephanie wants to make it as a songwriter in Nashville but that is easier said than done. Many with the same wish come to Nashville every year and only a couple of them succeed. But since she came to Nashville she has not written a word, inspiration seems to lack. Instead she finds herself waiting tables, the same job she had back home. That is until she hears Conor sing at a local bar. After that night he seems to pop everywhere out of nowhere.

Conor his life consists of music. During the day he works at his dad’s music store and in the evening he goes to local bars to perform. His songs are amazing but since they are so close to his heart he is reluctant to share them with the public. But when Conor meets Stephanie his life changes completely. He helps her with her writer’s block while she helps him to deal with his pain.

It took me a while before I was hooked by this book. I liked the first part of the book but I did not feel any connection with the characters. During the second half of Before He Was a Secret I was finally completely sucked into the story. One of the things that I liked the most about this book was that it was about two people who just wanted to help each other in a difficult career choice. They were friends and along the way they fell in love with each other. I really liked seeing Conor and Stephanie together. They were so pure and they brought up the best in each other. Conor understood how important a music career for Stephanie was and even if he did not agree with everything he still supported her. Stephanie knew that Conor his family situation was far from perfect and those they would encounter many problems as a couple. But that did not face her and she handled everything pretty well.

Overall I liked Before He Was a Secret but it just took me too long to get fully hooked by it. This is the third book in the Starstruck Series but it can be read as a standalone. I have not read the other two books in this series myself and I could understand the storyline perfectly. There were some references to the previous two books, especially to the characters of the previous books, but that did not make the book any less readable. I might read the other two books of this series at one point. 

El

Waiting on Wednesday #98: Torn Sky (Rebel Wing #3) by Tracy Banghart

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:

Torn Sky
by Tracy Banghart



The end is near...

When Aris Haan brought down Safara's biggest war criminal, she'd thought it was a turning point in the war. Victory was on the horizon, as was a peaceful future with her Promised, Milek.

But a deadly new threat has emerged: a Safaran bomb that could wipe out all of Atalanta in one catastrophic blast. Aris is tasked with finding the weapon before it is completed, a mission more difficult when she starts to suspect that there is a Safaran spy in her unit. Friendships are tested, loyalties are strained, and suddenly Aris no longer knows whom she can trust. 

In the epic conclusion to the Rebel Wing series, Atalanta's fate rests on Aris's shoulders. Can she find the bomb before it destroys everything - and everyone - she loves?

Goodreads

Why I Can't Wait

I read the first two books in this series earlier this year and I loved them so much! It's an amazing series with amazing characters and I can't wait to see how it ends. Although I'm also a little sad to see this series ending since I can't get enough of it.

Publication date: Augustus 4th

El

Top Ten Tuesday #65: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For the Rest of 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Broke and Bookish. This weeks topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For the Rest of 2015

1. Soundless by Richelle Mead (November 10th)
2. Torn Sky (Rebel Wing #3) by Tracy Banghart (Augustus 4th)
3. Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Melissa Meyer (November 10th)
4. Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas (September 1st)
5. Six of Crows (The Dregs #1) by Leigh Bardugo (September 29th)
6. November 9 by Colleen Hoover (November 10th)
7. The Boy Most Likely To by Hutley Fitzpatrick (August 18th)
8. Storm (Paper Gods #3) by Amanda Sun (June 30th)
9. Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales (September 15th)
10. Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks #6) by Miranda Kennealy (July 7th)

El