[Snapshot] Notes from Ghost Town (engl)

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Snapshots are short- reviews, to give you a little insight of my opinion of some books.

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‘Notes from Ghost Town’
by Kate Ellison

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(© goodreads)

Synopsis:
They say first love never dies…
From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death. There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there? With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My opinion:
I don’t know where I should start. In this book there were shed many tears, not only by the protagonist, but also by me while reading it. It begins immediately there – as it is described in the synopsis – with the death of Stern, who I immediately took to my heart at the first encounter, and with every other appearance of him, I fall more and more in love with him, but always with the knowledge that he’s damn dead and just a ghost…

Of course the book wasn’t only about the processing of the grief or about the releasing of Stern, to let him go – the BFF of Liv and almost boyfriend. No, because Liv’s schizophrenic mother is accused of the murder and the negotiations stand in a queue within the next seven days.
Seven days, in which together with Stern, Liv tries to find the true murderer of Stern also the reason for it. Hence, it is really very exciting and criminological and what I’ve liked was that I also could guess who the murderer was or not. And I must admit that up to three quarters of the book I had no clue. Hence, this guessing game and dissolving of the mysterious occurrences was made really well and has tied me up throughout the whole book.

And adding to this whole criminological background, there are of course the whole big feelings and emotions, which Liv has to go through. Not only the heartbreaking ‘letting go’ of Stern, but also the strength to stand to her mother, to fight for her, even if others put themselves in Liv’s way and make it harder for her and, also at the same time, to find the courage to let herself fall into a new love.

I’ve liked Liv really very much and she was a tough character and she was very likeable to me right from the beginning, during the prologue and before destiny let her life fall apart. Though she was almost already too strong for her sixteen years, but I prefer this much more than these irritating, naive girlies. Moreover Liv was also emotionally cold, especially at the beginning and reserved to the others, except towards her stepsisters, but after what has happened to her, it’s just logical and understandable.

And now to Stern … Man, how can an author create such a great, charming, amusing, gifted and hot guy, just to let him die in the beginning – to let him be a ghost? Still, when I think back to the book, tears fill my eyes always when I think of him, of Liv’s longing for him and also of mine. That was really painful!
But I also found Austin quite okay, even if for a long time it wasn’t clear, which role/ game he played. Nevertheless, he had a mistake … namely -> he just wasn’t Stern.

Though I haven’t liked the writing manner of the author by hundred percent and here and there I also had difficulties with her English, but nevertheless she could conjure a great atmosphere here and therefore I’m sure, that I’ll read a book of her again sometime.

Even if some other readers think that the end was too corny in a way or too rose-colored, for me it was great and I was totally happy with it and have no problem with how it has ended. But I’m a happy-end-fan, as you know, and therefore it was exactly my taste and I hope, if some of you decide to the read this book too, that you all will feel like that as well. Therefore I like to recommend it and I wish you all a lot of fun with the book! But before you start reading, procure a big pack of handkerchiefs for it!

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Quotes:

Liv: ‘When her fingers glide across the keys and what results is the kind of music that makes you stop where you are and notice every beautiful thing around you. His fingers can do this, too.’

Liv: ‘… Before we knew that we were not permanent, and that a good, easy life is not something the universe is contractually obligated to grand you.’

Liv: ‘… And I ace, as much as I have since the day Stern and I kissed, for a person beside me who understands exactly what I need without me ever having to say it.  Even if the world stays gray forever, I just don’t think it would be so bad if I knew I could have Stern, permanent, solid, for real.’

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A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

© netgalley.com

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[Snapshot] Dearly Beloved (eng.)

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Snapshots are short- reviews of my already read books, which sould give a litte insight of how I liked the books, if I think it’s worth reading and for which taste it would fit..

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‘Dearly, Beloved’  by Lia Habel.

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(© goodreads)

My opinion:
I‘ve really tried to like this book, more than part one, with which I already had my problems, but again it hasn‘t worked. If I had to use two words to describe it, I can only say ‚too long‘ or ‚boring’. Honestly, you just have to read the synopsis of the book to recognize that here is somebody, who has immense problems to be brief – and it’s like this in the whole book. I‘ve read more than 500!! pages, with a slow, tough course, which could also be written in 250-300 pages, and everybody would have been happier with it.

The plot ran incredibly slow without building up a great tension and it was a too much unnecessary gossip in between. As annoying was also the fact, that again with every chapter the narrator view changed from one character to the other. Of course this happened primarily between Nora and Bram, the main characters of the story, but nevertheless, many others figures also got a chance to speak, like the best friend Pamela, or also they ‚bad persons’ in the story, what I found absolutely unnecessary, because it didn’t interested me what they thought or felt. For me it’s enough to get a summary at the end, where I can read why they have done this or that.
Furthermore at the beginning were too many info and characters, so that it was hard to picture every character or to classify them properly.

In the second part, it was positive, that I’ve better got along with Pamela, because she appeared more realistic and authentic and also in spite of her big problems to handle all the things with the zombies, she didn’t duck her head, but instead admitted her weakness. But not in an annoying way, but it felt real, as one could imagine react, in such a situation. Hence her chapters were almost my favorite ones and I found her development with this Lord very interesting and this is also the reason, that I wanted to read on – and that I’ve got the second book on netgalley
Here I was also more thrilled by Nora than in the first book, though I found her sometimes a little too outstanding and too fearless, but then I also liked her cheeky, independent behavior. Whether her character fits in this described background of the story or not, because on the other side everything in the story is presented very strict and prude.

Moreover, I find it – sorry to all fans – disgusting, how Nora could make out with Bram. I mean, this guy is a zombie! Okay, sure – he is one of the zombies, who haven’t rotted yet in a strong way, like the others, and he also still looks rather nice …, however, but he’s still a zombie, damn! He has scars, his body is already patched up several times and he virtually rots away during the story … and Nora smooches with him! *gag*  – Here for example an extract from the story – this just doesn’t work for me at all!:

His lips found my brow, the sensation instantly identifiable due to the bit of thread that stitched his broken lower lip together. I loved his every scar.

After the second part I’ve decided to break up this series. But because I’m still a little curious what will become of the zombies (–I count on a healing, so that Bram don’t has to die), and I would like to know how the relationship of Pamela and this Lord develops in the next book. Therefore I simply plan to read the reviews from the last book. But not more, that’s really enough. .

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Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

© netgalley.com

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[Review] Anna dressed in Blood

German Cover

English Cover

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‘Anna dressed in Blood’
by Kendare Blake

Anna #1...

Synopsis:
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I’ve not even read the first two chapters and I‘ve immediately known – YES, this is a book, which I’ll like and in the end it has turned out, that I was right. From the first pages on, I felt the same atmosphere, I’ve while watching the TV-series ‘Supernatural’ and also the language was similar to this show. What is fantastic for me, because I’m a huge fan of the series! Unfortunately, here there is missing the sexy brother, but I can live with that, because Cas is also not ugly, but exactly the contrary. Moreover, he is funny, charming, though a little bullheaded, but nevertheless he acts with caution, is cheeky and just refreshing!

Cas is in general a very likeable character, who though sometimes is a little bit arrogant about himself, when it comes to his specialty ->  killing ghosts, but the reader thereby also recognize a little his insecurity behind the cool facade.
Also Anna was an interesting character, who sometimes was also cruel and had a bad side in her, but she also has a good and disarming one, so that the read can’t divide her in ‘black and white’, but in grey shades.
It was like this also with almost every character in the book, that every figure showed their good and also weaker sides as well. As for example one of the characters later played the hero in the second row and he was a guy, who showed little courage at the beginning or Carmel, the blond beauty of the school, who later presents more than only her appearance.

In spite of the subject about ghosts and the creepy background, it is also really funny and is written very refreshing. The narrative view is from Cas, and I like it that once a guy is telling the story instead of a girl – and I’ve liked this much. Add to that the story was written in the present, which has fitted well to the plot and the tempo.
I find particularly the writing manner of Blake very easy, loosey-goosey and fast to read. It’s not overloaded, but contains nice approaches and descriptions of Cas’ feelings. Moreover, I think that the author writes the dialogues just great. I find some authors write them easier and other have more problems with dialogues. But Blake’s dialogues sounded absolutely natural and they always fits perfectly in the story. *great*

Up to now it sounds really great and now you probably ask yourselves, why the book hasn’t got five stars. This is due to the fact that the book has become weaker in the last third section. Not only by the plot, but unfortunately also by the characters. Anyhow Cas lost some of his spirit and also his connection with Anna wasn’t right. Though it was nice, but it was also too quick and also illogical.
The same happens with the famous ‚final battle‘, which got heightened till the end and then was solved too easily. Here for me the end was also over too quickly and too short. I would have wished for more information, because at the end, there were still some questions open.

Luckily there is still a second part, which I’ll read for sure and I hope that this will be published soon in German. In English you can already get the second part, so hopefully it won’t last long with the translation.

Cover:
It’s an absolutely brilliant cover, which has made me curious right from my first look. I think it doesn’t only looks great and special, but it also fits perfectly to the plot of the book! *top*

All in all:
I found this book really very entertaining, exciting and every now and then also creepy, but still within the scope for a YA book. The dialogues, characters and writing style were great and I like to recommend this book gladly, especially for fans of ‘Supernatural’

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, Great, Great)
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A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

© Random House

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Succession:

#1: Kendare Blake – Anna dressed in Blood »»
#2: Kendare Blake – Girl of Nightmares

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(© Kendare Blake)

About the author – Kendare Blake:
Kendare Blake is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. You know, that old chestnut. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master’s degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London. She brakes for animals, the largest of which was a deer, which sadly didn’t make it, and the smallest of which was a mouse, which did, but it took forever. Amongst her likes are Greek Mythology, rare red meat and veganism. She also enjoys girls who can think with the boys like Ayn Rand, and boys who scare the morality into people, like Bret Easton Ellis.
(Source: http://kendareblake.com/bio.php)

Visit her Website »»

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Review: First Grave on the Right

English Cover

German Cover

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‘First Grave on the Right’
by Darynda Jones

Charley Davidson # 1
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Synopsis:
Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I’ve been looking forward to finally read this book, because of the wonderful cover and I had it on my wish list for such a long times, because I had already read great reviews. Often when I’ve high expectations of a book, I’m usually disappointed in the end, but to my luck here it wasn’t that case and my expectations were even exceeded.

I don’t want to tell you too much about the plot, but I would like to summarize it briefly to give a short insight:

Charley is a reaper and hence has from time to time amusing, as well as also sad, occurrences with dead people. Particularly with those, which can’t say goodbye to the world, because they have fallen victim to a murderer and would like to clear up their death or also hold on to other things in their former life.

Here it’s time for Charley to show up and in her case it’s also very handy that that her uncle Bob works as a cop in the homicide squad, and she can stand helpfully at his side – of course it’s also kind of practical that she just can ask the ghost by herself who has killed them. But in this book the current murder case is much more complicated and is more obscure than usually – add to that comes the fact that Charley isn’t able to get free from a mystifying ‘being’; a mysterious dark stranger, who constantly appears in her sexual dreams …

Okay, now at the latest everybody probably knows that this isn’t a YA book, but also contents more ‘explicit’ scenes and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them!

However I’ve to admit that at the beginning I had some difficulties to get along with the writing style of Jones. It’s a little sloppy and rough and I just needed some time to get used to it, but as soon I got into the story and got to know the characters, I didn’t notice the writing style any more, it even fits perfectly to the plot, as well as to the whole atmosphere of the book.

Already like after a chapter it has started to please me very much and also all of the characters were really interesting and likeable. Above all of course the main character, called Charley, who was so funny I had to laugh so much and which will he leave nobody cold, but she is also stubborn or clumsy, though really sassy and likeable. But moreover she is tough; a fighter who can deal out but also take in and on top of that she shows charming qualities as well, so that you just have to take her in your heart.

I also found her scenes with her uncle Bob or with Garrett, one of the police officers, very interesting and amusing, by her cheeky tongue and her attitude not to mince matters.

But also the passages in which she meets with Reyes are great – okay, here some women will die for yearning – and all of them are top-class and will push you to read on feverishly from side to side and will leave you longingly on the couch.

But the book turns not only to be about erotic scenes or witty dialogues between the protagonists, but it also becomes really thrilling in the crime/ murder case Charley tried so solve together with her uncle and Garrett. By that Charley also gets in quite a lot of precarious and dangerous situation and these carry the reader away so fast that you won’t be able to put aside the book for just one minute.

The end leaves some things open for further books – luckily there are going to be another three parts – but there is no cliffhanger at the end which makes waiting more acceptable.

Cover:
Though I like also the English cover and there everyone sees immediately what it’s about, the German one is also just a ‘feast for the eyes’. I find the color wonderful, as well as the squiggly letters and the picture. It’s really gorgeous and one of the nicest covers of late.

All in all:
The book is an absolutely great prelude of the Charley Davidson series and which leaves you behind greedily for the next book. It’s absorbing thrilling, full of relish erotic and crazily funny – the perfect mix for a dreamlike reading pleasure.

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points – (soo awesome!)
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A huge THANKS for the reviewer’s copy to:

© Egmont Lyx

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Quotes:

Charley: “My fore-parts, as you so ineloquently put it, have names.” I pointed to my right breast. “This is Danger.” Then my left. “And this is Will Robinson. I would appreciate it if you addressed them accordingly.”
Garrett: “You named your breasts?” I turned my back to him with a shrug. “I named my ovaries, too, but they don’t get out as much.”

Charley: Maybe I needed sensitivity training. I once signed up for an anger management class, but the instructor pissed me off.

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Succession:

# 1:     Darynda Jones – First Grave on the Right »»
# 1,5: Darynda Jones – For I Have Sinned (eBook)
# 2:     Darynda Jones – Second Grave on the Left
# 3:     Darynda Jones – Third Grave Dead Ahead
# 4:     Darynda Jones – Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet

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(© goodreads)

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About the author – Darynda Jones:
NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones won the 2009 Golden Heart® in the paranormal category for her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. After the Golden Heart final, she pimped herself as best she could, landed an amazing agent and has sold 8 books to St. Martin’s Press. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons
(Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »».

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