[Review] Onyx

Paperback Version

Audio Version Cover

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‘Onyx’
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Lux # 2

Synopsis:
Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.
Something worse than the Arum has come to town…
The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there’s this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that’s possible. Against all common sense, I’m falling for Daemon. Hard. But then everything changes…
I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me? No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
At the moment I’m just dumbfounded and unsure what I should think about the book. I’ve really liked the first part in this sci-fi series – it was incredible – but this book had his up-and-downs.

I had my biggest problem in Onyx with Katy/ Kat/ Kitten because for me she often was very nerve-killing, undecided and mean to Daemon. Particularly at the beginning and in the middle, I could have strangled her when she has pushed him away over and over again, although he has changed himself by 180°, and has done everything for Katy. And what was she doing? – She was hanging around with another boy, only because he is supposedly normal -> very nice, Katy and so grown-up. So, yes, I think, Katy and I didn’t have become friends in this book, there it also didn’t helped, that I found her book- fanaticism and blogger-passion just great. I only hope, that she becomes more grown-up in the next book, more determined and won’t make again such stupid decisions, which concerns everybody and hurt or injure others.

And now to Daemon!! Oh, he’s my new Bookboyfriend and he’s soo adorable. *swoon* In the first part he was still quite an asshole (where we know the reason for it now), which he’s also sometimes in this book, or also narcissistic – but a witty, very charming one, who you can’t be angry with … especially not at all with his charismatic appearance, cheeky statements and with this look and body. *sigh* He’s meant for dreams, especially now when he has become really nice, sweet and caring. ♥

I’ve also liked the plot very much after the first half. At first it was too stretched, but then when the thing with Blake happened and the thing with him, Vaughn or Daemon’s brother, together with Katy, got more interesting, it even became a page-turner, for which I haven’t counted on any more.

Of course I wasn’t happy with everything that has happened in the book, but the most part, particularly the end, has worked out really great for me and also has led to the fact, that I rated the book with four points. The look-out to the next book and the unknowing and what will wait for us there, makes it for me very tingly and I can hardly wait to read on soon, because at the end there was also a little cliffhanger. I’m very curious what will happen next with Daemon and Katy or with Daemon’s brother or all around him and which role this devil underground will play in the further course.

Cover:
Very nice cover and I like it even better than the first one – probably because of the color – with violet you can’t do something wrong!

All in all:
A little stretched beginning, which also made me crazy because of Katy’s behavior, but it could persuade me at the end and won me over with action and much thrilling tension. Now I want more and I wait with longing for book three, which I probably will also read very soon!

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, great, great)

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Quotes:

 Jesus.” Blake rubbed his throat. “You have anger management problems. Its like a disease.”
Daemon: “There’s a cure and it’s called kicking your ass.

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Daemon pressed his forehead against mine. “Oh, I still want to strangle you. But I’m insane. You’re crazy. Maybe that’s why. We just make crazy together.”

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Daemon: “If there is anything, there is us.
You and me. No one else.”

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Succession:
0,5: Jennifer L. Armentrout – Shadows (Short Story)
#1: Jennifer L. Armentrout – Obsidian »»
#2: Jennifer L. Armentrout – Onyx »»
#3: Jennifer L. Armentrout – Opal
#4: Jennifer L. Armentrout – Origin
#5: Jennifer L. Armentrout – Untitled

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(© goodreads.com)

About the author – Jennifer L. Armentrout:
USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in West Virginia. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.
She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don’t Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion)
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[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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[Review] Truly, Madly, Deeply, You

English Cover

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‘Truly, Madly, Deeply, You’
by Cecilia Robert

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Synopsis:
Four days before Valentine’s Day, Liese Hansfeld is determined to shut the door to her house, as well as her heart, for her annual four days of mourning her one true love. Little does she know her best friend Freytag Meier is just as determined to keep her from her ritual. He’s ready to pick the lock to her apartment door and camp in her living room if that’s what it takes.
What Freytag isn’t prepared for is the surge of deep-rooted emotions he feels for Liese, but two things stand in his way: the grief and guilt she still clutches close to her heart, and a man who threatens to snatch Liese from under Frey’s watchful eye. Frey is determined to distract her into forgetting her pain. But is that enough to ease her grief, or help her see he can be more than her best friend?  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
This short story is about love, friendship, big feelings, but also about loss, grief and forgiveness – specifically to yourself.

Hence here it isn’t the plot in the foreground and a story full of actions, but the figures in it, and how they feel in each respective situation. Here are the characters in the foreground and here are the people who count.
The beginning was great and has pulled me immediately into story. Unfortunately Liese was sometimes too blue-eyed for me or seen a lot or wanted it to see what happened right before her eyes. Therefore I was also frustrated a little bit by her. In comparison to her, Frey was really great and I really liked him, but he also made me desperate with his caring and thinking always first of Liese and his very slow approach to her. He has fulfilled all her wishes, particularly concerning their two friends Ben and Carmen and this was really annoying, and I would have said Ben my opinion about him much earlier.

In spite of all, it was a honey-sweet story which I could read fast and easy. The writing style was sensitive and written detailed figuratively, which I really liked and has suited the story very well.
Unfortunately it was just a short-story and hence it wasn’t very long and just a short read. But I will read again something of this great and sensitive author.

Cover:
The cover is wonderful and shows for me also perfectly the two main characters. *beautiful*

All in all:
A good idea and a sugar-sweet transformation, which could have been longer! A short-story for romantic hearts. ♥

Rating:
3,5 of 5 points – (I really liked it)

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About the author – Cecilia Robert:
Cecilia Robert lives in Vienna with her two children, has an incurable obsession with books, anything romantic, TV and medieval architecture. When not working in her full time job, catching up with her two children, writing or reading, she can be found, knitting or crocheting, taking photos of old buildings…  (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »».

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[Review] Bared to You

German Cover

English Cover

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‘Bared to You’ by Sylvia Day

  Crossfire # 1...

Synopsis:
Our journey began in fire…
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily…
Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds… and desires.
The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart…
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about it:
Right from the first pages on I could see that Day doesn’t empathize much on the current stylistic writing manners. Her formulations are all extremely exaggerated and drips with adjectives that often I had to shake my head. Don’t get me wrong, in general I’ve nothing against adjectives or I’m also not the same opinion like Stephen King, that every author should delete most of the adjectives/ adverbs … but if you read Day’s book, then you see again, what King meant with that and you also acknowledge, how uncreative Day used them and you notice the bad writing style of her.
Luckily soon I got dragged into the story and also into the life of Ana… ups, sorry – I meant Eva. Therefore you could try to ignore the writing style, even if it hasn’t always worked.

But also the plot and the idioms were not exactly brilliant. And several times I had to ask myself ‘where is here the plot?’, because after the second or third encounter of Ana Eva and Christian Gideon, it was only just a see-saw between them. One moment they had the best, most unrestrained sex on God’s earth and in the next something happens, so that Eva becomes sad/ disappointed/ sour and simply runs away without saying a word. And then Gideon runs after her like a well educated Golden Retriever/ apologizes to her/ calms her and the endless loop begins/ ends again with the greatest sex you can imagine. This goes on through the whole book – until I was only frustrated and didn’t know what to do against it.

Furthermore instead of adding more action in the story, Day rather described which clothes Eva, Gideon and Cary wore every day. And here I mean really – always and everything! Okay, I also like stylish clothing, but this was a ‘tick’ too much. Also I didn’t get a lot of insights of Eva’s work, which she has started just in the beginning, because everything was described only very short and also the communication with other characters, except with Gideon, was rare. So that, as already said, there were only arguments/ misunderstandings and sex scenes in this book. That’s all!

But regardless of everything, it was also not so, that I didn’t want to read on. To declare, in spite of all my criticism, the book has also pulled me in its spell and above all, also the characters didn’t let me go any more, so that I was tied up wiht them and I simply wished them a happy end.
Even if I had my problems with Eva, I was a fan of Gideon and from the first page on I’ve fallen in love with Cary. He is great and has amused me through the whole book, which has made it lighter for me. Unfortunately he is also a relationship-destroyer like Eva, but I hope that will change in the following books and that he will be even more present in the story.

After all the emotional rollercoaster and constant up and downs, we finally got a pleasant ending for which I was happy and which, to be honest, would have also been enough for me. I would be satisfied with it, if the story of Gideon and Eva has ended now or okay, some little more background information would have been nice too, but all in all, it would have been better to put everything in one book, at most into two (but not in three).
But because nowadays everything goes in the direction of trilogies, we also get here another two books from Day and I’m skeptical what she’ll still present us of Eva and Gideon in two further parts. I’m very doubtful whether it’ll functions for me or not and I fear that it’ll be a duplication of the first book, only with other conflicts, but from the style exactly the same. But we’ll see.

German Cover:
I like it from the style and it fits also perfectly to the contents of the book. Well selected and I think it’s great that the English Hardcover version was used.

All in all:
Seldom I‘ve liked parts in a book so much and at the same time others convinced me so little. I still want to read book 2, but if this won’t be better, then I’ll stop to read this series.

Rating:
3 of 5 points – (I liked it)
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A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

© Random House

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Succession:

#1: Sylvia Day – Bared to You »»
#2: Sylvia Day – Reflected in You
#3: Sylvia Day – Entwined with You

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© Sylvia Day

About the author – Sylvia Day:
Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of more than a dozen award-winning novels translated into over three dozen languages. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and her work has been honored as Amazon’s Best of the Year in Romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award and been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award twice.s.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Review] Obsidian

Old Version

New Version

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‘Obsidian’
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Lux #1
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Synopsis:
Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
Who the fuck is Superman!? If I would choose an alien, then it has to be a Luxen!
Seldom a book has gripped me so much right from the beginning and has presented so many different facets, like this here. I am a critical reader and although, I‘ve found here also two tiny critic points; I can say that the rest of it is simply fantastic and I would love to read on immediately.

The writing manner of the author fits perfectly to this New Adult version (a little ‘more‘ than YA) which plays with teenagers in their last Highschool year. Armentrout used pleasant formulation, but also short, crisp sentences and dialogues, which just fitted to modern teenagers at this age – but not exaggerated, like other authors like to do – but it has felt authentic and very real.
But the best for me were the dialogues and here mainly the bickering/ arguments between Katy and Daemon. With them you never know whether they immediately fall into each other’s arms or start to hit the other… … and here Katy was really a witty, perky antagonist, who never shrank away from the good-looker Daemon. But not only with her stubborn manner, but also with her cheeky answers, which made me smirk more than once. *great*

Also the other characters – beside the courageous, determined, cheeky Katy – were for me a highlight and here I liked mostly Dee, who is the neighbor and soon also the best friend of her. I really liked Dee’s cheerful, open behavior and therefore everyone can use someone like her as a friend. And of course I was also a fan of Daemon – bad if it wouldn’t be like that. But he also irritated me at the end with his moody behavior, so that he sometimes was really sweet to Katy and then again gave her the cold shoulder. This was more than just a little ‘slithery drive’ of emotions, but a huge rollercoaster²!

The plot was okay for me, although a lot has already been spoiled in the synopsis of the book, which has decreased the reading pleasure a little. It would have been more exciting and thrilling if everything would have come unexpected and when it wouldn’t have been clear right from the start, that there are aliens in the story. Hence I’m in excited about the book, because it still could captive me and I didn’t could stop reading and I was through it within only one day. Well, I think, from now on I’m a fan of Armentrout!

What I also found brilliant, were Kats references to her Blog and how she got excited about her new books and her blogging. Oh yeah, babe – I know how it is! *lol*
With that I totally felt connected to her and I think every other blogger, who will read this book, will feel the same.

I liked the idea with the aliens and the light very much and I want to read on with the next book as soon as I can, to find out how it will go on between them. I think in the next part there will be something about his brother Dawson, or at least I hope it and I also wish that are less arguments between Kat and Daemon, because otherwise it would become grueling, because we already know that they actually like each other – much.

Cover:
I can hardly decide which version I like more. I find the older one with background with the flashes great and it’s also good, that you can’t see the girl from the front, because that leaves some space for your own imagination. But in the second cover I love the beaming green eyes of Daemon.

All in all:
Up to now Alien and I were no good combination, but here this book has disabused me and now I’m a fan of it. Actually for me it is rather an Urban Fantasy book than a Sci-Fi – but the separation makes no difference – because the book is just awesome and I recommend it gladly to everyone, although it’s a hyped book (usually they don’t work for me ^^)

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points – (soo aswesome)

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Quotes:

Katy: ‘Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.’

Daemon: “You look like you got more of a bath than the car. I never
thought washing a car would be so hard, but after watching you for the last fifteen minutes, I’m convinced it should be an Olympic sport.”

Daemon: “I checked out your blog.”
Katy: “Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order?”
D.: In your dreams, Kitten. Oh wait, I’m already starring in those, aren’t I?
K.: “Nightmares, Daemon. Nightmares.”

Katy: ‘Because this was absolutely insane – the craziest thing I’ve ever done. Worse than giving a one-star review, scarier than asking for an interview with an author I’d give my firstborn to eat lunch with.’ (*lol*).

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Succession:

0,5:   Jennifer L. Armentrout – Shadows (Short Story)
#1:     Jennifer L. Armentrout – Obsidian »»
#2:     Jennifer L. Armentrout – Onyx »»
#3:     Jennifer L. Armentrout – Opal
#4:     Jennifer L. Armentrout – Origin
#5:     Jennifer L. Armentrout – Untitled

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(© goodreads.com)

About the author – Jennifer L. Armentrout:
USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.
She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don’t Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion)
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Snapshot] Easy (eng.)

 

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

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‘Easy’ by Tammara Webber.

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(© goodreads)

My opinion:
Actually, at first I didn’t wanted to write a review to this book, but because there are too many and too good reviews out there, which are floating around on the internet, and so I couldn’t resist to get rid of my critic. Due to the fact, that I want to reach here with my review the people, who have already read the book or who want to read it, therefore I won’t say much about the synopsis.

I’ve to admit, that it was a quick and easy to read and it could also be convincing at certain places, but, unfortunately, they were the exceptions.
On one hand the writing manner was too ‚slang-like‘ for me and above all, the dialogues have snapped me totally out of my reading rhythm, with these endless ‘slang words’ and ‚cool‘ abbreviations. I found this not great or even perfect youthfully, but just irritating and often I had to roll my eyes. Moreover, after short passages there is always a time jump over and over again, without any marks or indication, which has extremely confused me, particularly at the beginning and it led to the fact that I had to read some phrase twice.

Adding to that, I couldn’t stand Jackie very much. She has irritated me so much, like no other character did for a long time, and her actions were absolutely contradictory to her experiences and thoughts. Though I’ve tried and she even stirred my interest at the beginning, because of her almost-rape, but then it got constantly downwards and I couldn’t stand her. As mentioned, Jackie almost got raped in the first chapter and escapes only, because another guy saved her. What I found very awkward and very idiotic afterwards was, that only few days after the attack she runs around totally unconcerned and she even buys herself a sexy little dress, short and a cut up till to the hips … to look sexy and ‘easy to have‘… and I don’t know how think about that, but if I just escaped an almost-rape, than I probably would be a little inhibit. But not Jackie, except if she meets briefly once again her almost-rapist – then it seems, as if she remembers again, what almost could have happened.
Don’t misunderstand me, I wouldn’t want, that she is frightened all the time or doesn’t dare to leave her room any more, but if such a brutal thing almost happens, you would thinks, that one handles oneself with a little more carefulness and has to thinks about other things, than how to the hot guy, who has saved her…

Moreover, the love story between Lucas and Jackie doesn’t develop as usually slow, by talking and where they get to know each other – but the other way around – by snuggling. Because there are almost no talks and they even don’t get along in their ‘normal‘lives, but instead they only function, while they are together to make out. I found that a great pity and I also didn’t like it at all. Though there were many love scenes in the book, but because I didn’t like the characters (except Lucas), hence the romanticism also made no difference to me and I’ve read it rather uninterested.

Furthermore the plot was very predictable (Lucas/Landon), Hello?? And all the time I‘ve guessed long in advance what will happen next and there were no real plot-highlights in the whole book. The plot simply meandered along without a central theme and that was it.

Just the end with Lucas and his background was surprising, but it was presented in a way that it hasn’t fitted for me. His stroke of fate was tragic and could have built up great emotions, but even that has the author ruined. It’s really a pity.
The longer I write, the more I notice how much this book, the plot and the characters did annoy me, so that I must reduce my rating from 3 to only 2 points. Unfortunately it didn’t function for me at all and I also wouldn’t recommend it to anybody.

If to you want to read books in the genre ‚Contemporary Romance’, please rather read ‘Beautiful Disaster‘ or as a YA version of it: ‚Pushing the Limits‘ – there are characters with brain and charm, who will move you and don’t frustration you.

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Quotes:

Lucas: “The night we met-I’m not like that guy.” His jaw was rigid.
“I know tha-” He placed a finger over my lips, his expression softening.
“So I don’t want you to feel pressured. Or overpowered. But I do, absolutely, want to kiss you right now. Badly.”

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A huge Thanks for the ebook to netgalley:

© netgalley.com

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[Review] Slave of Sensation

German Cover

English Cover

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‘Slave of Sensation’ by Nalini Singh

Psy Changeling #1
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Synopsis:
In der Welt, in der Gefühle verboten sind, führt die junge Sascha Duncan ein Doppelleben. Sie mimt die eiskalte Geschäftsfrau, während in ihrem Inneren ein Sturm der Leidenschaften tobt. Als sie dem attraktiven Gestaltwandler Lucas Hunter begegnet, kann sie ihre Fassade kaum noch wahren. Der Anführer der DarkRiver-Leoparden ist unterwegs, um den Mord an seiner Leopardenfrau zu rächen – und weckt in Sascha tödliches Verlangen… (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
For a really long time Anna-Lisa talked me into it and constantly recommended me the author Nalini Singh because she is a huge fan of her. I don‘t know why I’ve bristled so long, maybe the length of the book series has deterred me, although I’ve already the first three books of the Guild Hunter series at home. Hence the past weekend in the evening I‘ve spontaneously decided to try one book of this author. But I’ve chosen the first book of the Psy Changeling series, because I had little desire for angels, and rather wanted something a little harder, more animalistic.

Well, what can I say – I am stocked! No idea why, but it has totally gripped me. Maybe it was also due to the fact that I was in the right mood for the book, but it has just blown me away. I couldn‘t put it aside any more and the last time I read that fast, was when I got my hand on ‘Lover Reborn’ by Ward this spring. I’ve totally overlooked the time in the first evening, so that I even read till half past three through the night and at this time I’ve almost read three quarters of the book. But I just can’t stop, because I was totally captive in the story.

At which I can’t exactly say what has fascinated me so much, because the first book of Showalter’s ‘Lords of the Underworld’ was also not bad, but it hasn’t pulled me in the spell like this book could it. I think often it‘s just a matter of feelings and here I was in it with my heart all the time. The main characters Sasha and also Lucas have made me curious from the first pages on, later I was thrilled by them. And this although Lucas wasn’t always an easy, comfortable character and here and there he was also too proprietary. Also his ‘term of endearment’ for Sasha has annoyed me, but nevertheless, I’ve loved him. Just like Sasha, who should have no feelings as a Psy. But she has them; and they blossom on and on, the more time she spends with Lucas. And he shows her not only a world beyond the cold of the psys, but also kindles her passion and her sparks for the life, full of feelings, family, friends and love. Of course now and then there are some erotic scenes in it, which I found really ‘nice’.

But not only these both figures could grab me, no – but also the other characters, which were briefly introduced. Above all Tammy, who I find awesome and just good-hearted. I would also like to have a friend like her. But I also was thrilled by Dorian, with his internal fury and hatred for the Psys, or by Hawke – for whose story I’m already looking forward dearly, although he gets his time not till book 10! *aaah*cry, baby*.

The manner of Singh’s writing is liquid and easy to read, with the right serving in explanations and excesses and also the dialogues are embedded well. She tells the story in the past in the 3rd person narrator, and changes the point of view constantly between Sasha and Lucas. What is typically and also suitably for this kind of stories.

Of course I also have to tell you briefly a few deficiencies. Although the structures of the world of the Psys and also the shape shifters were well worked out and it was shown understandably, but at the end of the story there lacked some information. For example it has disturbed me, that all the time it was pointed out to a mean murderer/ the villain (to tell the truth, who I’ve figured out at the second meeting) and then, at the big showdown, it wasn’t told a lot about it. It was only described in the renarration what has happened to the bad guy. But I would have wished for to be present and read it, when the ‘final’ happened with him. Then it unfortunately was also over too fast and I easily could still have read some more pages of it.
And now I wait impatiently for the next part and can’t wait to dive into this world again. *sigh*

German Cover:
The cover is typical for stories in this genre and, yes, it’s quite okay, but honestly, it could be better.

All in all:
It’s a great new series for me, which I will read on with pleasure very soon and my luck is, that I’ve started this series so late, that now I can read them luxurious without waiting till the next part is released, because they are already all published till book 12! Great, great, great! If you like the ‘Black Daggers’ or the ‘Lord of the Underworld’ then this series is also a tidbit – promised!

Rating:
5 of 5 points – (I LOVED it – buy it!)

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Quotes:

Sascha: ‘She wished he’d stop touching her. Not because she didn’t like it but because she liked it far too much. It made her hunger for things that could never be hers. And if someone went hungry for too long, they started to starve. Started to hurt.’

Sascha: ‘His kiss held his heart. It broke hers.’
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Succession:

0,5:   Nalini Singh – An Enchanted Season
#1:     Nalini Singh – Slave of Sensation »»
1,5:    Nalini Singh – The Cannibal Princess -> free Short Story
#2:     Nalini Singh – Vision of Heat
#3:     Nalini Singh – Caressed by Ice
3,5:    Nalini Singh – The Magical Christmas Cat
#4:     Nalini Singh – Mine to Possess
4,5:    Nalini Singh – Movie Night -> free Short Story
#5:     Nalini Singh – Hostage of Pleasure
5,5:    Nalini Singh – A Gift for Kit -> free Short Story
#6:     Nalini Singh – Branded by Fire
#7:     Nalini Singh – Blaze of Memory
7,5:    Nalini Singh – A Conversation  -> free Short Story
#8:     Nalini Singh – Bonds of Justice
8,5:    Nalini Singh – Burning Up
#9:     Nalini Singh – Play of Passion
9,2:    Nalini Singh – The Party
9,5:    Nalini Singh – Wolf School  -> free Short Story
#10:   Nalini Singh – Kiss of Snow
#11:   Nalini Singh – Tangle of Need
11,5:  Nalini Singh – Poker Night
#12:   Nalini Singh – Untitled

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(© goodreads.com)

About the author – Nalini Singh:
She was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. She also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time she took the chance to travel around Asia. She is back in New Zealand now, but she is always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of her travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page.
So far, she has worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but she calls it grist for the writer’s mill...  (Source: Goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Review] White Horse

English Cover

German Cover

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‘White Horse’ by Alex Adams

White Horse #1
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Synopsis:
Thirty-year-old Zoe leads an ordinary life until the end of the world arrives. She is cleaning cages and floors at Pope Pharmaceuticals when the President of the United States announces that human beings are no longer a viable species. When Zoe realizes that everyone she loves is disappearing, she starts running. Scared and alone in a shockingly changed world, she embarks on a remarkable journey of survival and redemption. Along the way, Zoe comes to see that humans are not defined by their genetic code, but rather by their actions and choices. White Horse offers hope for a broken world, where love can lead to the most unexpected places.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
The world is at the end and the people who are still alive, have either changed into monstrous beasts, or have lost all morality to save their own skin and to put off the fight against the omnipresent death. In the middle of this scenario the book begins and we follow the course of the tragic story with the help of the central character Zoey, who doesn’t only describe in the present how the world is destroyed, but also looks back to the time before the epidemic, before the war and before the downfall of humanity.
This happens mostly within the different chapters and thus is marked with a small heading (Then/ Now), so that the read don’t lose the orientation between the varying times, although the flashbacks into the past are also not written in a chronologically order and this got me confused sometimes. I don‘t know, whether others had also this problem or not, but at the beginning I had a hard time to follow the plot and I would have found it better, if at least a date would have been written at the flashbacks, to get a better overview of the events.

At the beginning of the book is an absolute chaos, not only in the destroyed world, but also for me as a reader and a big question mark stood here first of all. To be honest, I needed some time and chapters to understand the first relations, to form connection and to recognize a red thread. Although this is the case, nevertheless it was a great reading, full of tensions and ‘guessing game’ and I couldn’t stay away from book, because I just had to know how it goes on what happens next to Zoey on her way.

As you can see, Zoey is a character with whom I felt and for whom I worried throughout the book, because though Zoey is strong, grimly and aim-oriented to protect herself and the people in her surroundings and to get her to her goal, BUT still she tries to remain human, not to kill other if it can be avoided, and in spite of all cruel circumstances, tries to offer friendliness and helpfulness.
Which was amazing for me, because often I would have already giving up or have crept away in a cave, only by reading about the scenery and cruelty of some other people, because everything is simply so hopeless, desperate and somber. Moreover there are some scenes, which are really creepy and depressing and sad, so that sometimes I’ve just waited for some positive things, some small glimmers of hope.

Beside the plot and the great central figure, the writing manner of Adam was just wonderful and for me also like an own poetry. She has described everything very visually, put imagines in the reader’s head to grab Zoe’s feelings and to empathize, to feel and to see everything, as if the reader is a part of the story.
In my opinion this is partly good, but on the other side the book got too thick and the action thereby becomes also a little too slow, because of the detailed descriptions surroundings or the graphic representation and poetry of the sentences.
I think that is a personal preference and some will find it great and others won’t like it at all. I can’t choice between one of these two fractions, because I’m right in the middle, because I’ve loved her writing but also would have liked a little bit more actions and events and less descriptions.

Luckily for me, after all the sad things and strain, the end could again completely satisfy me and I was able to finish the book also with a good feeling. Otherwise I would have been – to tell the truth – a little bit mad. Because for what else we do everything in life and risk all, endure all adversities and hang on – just for love – and I think that is one of the basic messages of this book. And that in spite of everything, each of us is still able to decide how we care about others and whether we show humanity and cooperativeness, even if we receive none anymore ourselves.

German Cover:
For me the cover is succeeded brilliantly and it’s also one of the reasons, why the book has struck me. It tragically catches the plot and reflects perfectly the somber atmosphere.

All in all:
A book that leaves nobody cold and which pulls you into it from the first pages on, without a chance to escape. For me this one book would have been enough and hence, I’m really curious what the author has planned for the next installment. We’ll see what the future brings – I’m looking forward to it!

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, Great, Great)
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Quotes:

Zoe: “When I awake, the world is still gone.”
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Zoe: “He reels me in, cups my face with both hands, and becomes my whole world. This is a kiss–maybe the last one we’ll ever know, so we stay there forever, warm and safe. When he pulls away, something is lost. I think it’s my heart.”
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Succession:

#  1:    Alex Adams – White Horse »»
#  2:    Alex Adams – Red Horse
#  3:    Alex Adams  – Untitled
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Success.

(© goodreads)

About the author – Alex Adams:
Alex Adams was born in New Zealand, raised in Greece and Australia, and currently lives in Oregon–which is a whole lot like New Zealand, minus those freaky-looking wetas. Her debut novel, White Horse (Emily Bestler Books/Atria) hits shelves April 17, 2012. Her fingers are crossed that the world won’t end before then. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»
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.A huge Thanks for the reviewer’s copy to:

© Piper