[Review] Losing Hope

English Cover

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‚Losing Hope‘

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Colleen Hoover

Hopeless # 2

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Synopsis:
In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.
Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…
Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I admit that I didn’t wanted to read this book at first and only the spoiler scene of the ‘best non-kiss’ from Holder’s POV (here on Hoover’s website) has convinced me to try it nevertheless. Also at the beginning I was still sceptical because I thought it would become boring, because I already knew the plot and the secrets – but I lost this feeling more and more with every page I read. It was great how Hoover has begun this book and could present it really independent, even if much was already clear for the reader of ‘Hopeless’. Nevertheless it was entertaining, very rousing again so that I simply couldn’t put it aside anymore.

First I wasn’t convinced because the plot begins some time before the meeting with Sky, but later I recognised, how important this ‚prehistory’ is to understand a lot in the later action and to fully understand Holder’s behavior and his torn feelings. He has broken my heart during reading this book (just as Sky did in the first book) – even several times and I’ve suffered every page with him, like I hoped, cried and smiled alongside Holder. Together, I think, we’ve endured almost all emotions, which a book can offer and I was grateful for every single one of them. A very touching and emotional book!

I’ve fallen for Holder/Dean in the second book even more than in the first and also had to cry again at the end several times, but also for other reasons. It was great, beautiful and sad at the same time. Moreover I’ve liked that there were scenes, which weren’t written in Skys book, like the meetings with Brekin or the letters to Les. I don’t really know for whom I felt sorrier for or with whom I’ve suffered more – Sky or Holder … but yes, I suffered more with/ for Holder. *sigh*

Also the end was also really great and it was very nice that I could read on a little longer and get to know what happened afterward – like the thing with his mother and Sky, or the college … just a little forecast on their future lives together. I like such a thing very much and here I got it! *sigh*double sigh* 😀

With this book Colleen Hoover has written herself even further in my heart by her soulful, emotional kind of telling stories and now I will read every book of her that I get in my hands. I highly recommend it to all fans of part one and to the others –> please, please – get your copy of ‘Hopeless’!

Cover:
The Cover is perfectly suitable to the story and the first book, although I see Holder a little bit different. Nevertheless it is really nice made.

All in all:
Although I already know the plot, it has gripped me nevertheless and I couldn’t get enough of it. Holders POV is nearly even better than Sky’s and I’ve fell for Holder here even more than in the first book. I’ve no idea how Hoover made and she is my new idol – but it was stunning, beautiful and incredible. I’ve no more words for it! But just please, please, READ it!

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

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Quotes (© Colleen Hoover):

Holder: I casually lean against the mailbox and pretend to ignore the fact that she totally just checked me out. I’ll ignore it to save her embarrassment, but I’m definitely not going to forget it. In fact, I’ll probably be thinking about the way her eyes scrolled down my body for the rest of the damn day.
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Holder: It’s only been a few days, but since the moment I met her, no matter where I am, I’m constantly wondering about her. My attention is constantly homed in on her like I’m a compass and she’s my North.
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Holder: I can’t even explain to you how perfect this girl is. And when I say perfect, I mean imperfect, because there’s just so much wrong with her. But everything wrong with her is everything that draws me in and makes her perfect.     She’s flat-out rude to me and I love it. She’s stubborn and I love it. She’s a smartass and she’s sarcastic and every witty thing that comes out of her mouth is like music to my ears because that’s exactly what I want. She’s what I need and I don’t want her to change at all. There’s not a single thing about her I would change.
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Holder: A huge internal part of me was lost when I lost Hope, and I was convinced Les took the very last contents of my chest with her when she died last year. After being with Sky these last two days, I’m not so sure about that, anymore. I don’t think my chest has been empty this whole time like I thought. Whatever is left inside me has just been asleep, and she’s somehow slowly waking it up.    With every word she speaks and every glance she sends my way, she’s unknowingly pulling me out of this thirteen-year-long nightmare I’ve been trapped in, and I want to continue to allow her to pull me.
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I lift away from her cheek and look down at her.
Holder: „Thank you.“
She smiles. „For what?“ For being alive, I think to myself.
„For being you,“ I say out loud. Her smile fades and I swear she looks right through my eyes and straight into my soul. „I’m good at being me,“ she says. „Especially when I’m with you.“

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Thanks to netgalley.com for the reviewer’s copy!

© netgalley.com

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Succession:

#1: Colleen Hoover – Hopeless »»
#2: Colleen Hoover – Losing Hope (Holder’s POV) »»
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(© goodreads)

About the author – Colleen Hoover:
She is addicted to diet pepsi and could tell you in a taste-test which restaurant it came from.
She gets stoked whenever she gets a message from goodreads saying I have a new friend request.
If you want to know when she have new books out or just want to be inundated by random, pointless blog posts, follow her at www.colleenhoover.com.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »».

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[Review] Hopeless

English Cover

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‚Hopeless‘

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Colleen Hoover

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Synopsis:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies… That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.
Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever….. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I’ve read the book in buddy read, although I actually had no time for it. Do I regret now that I’ve inter-pushed the book? Oh God – no – no way! The book was just so great and I‘ve no words for how thrilled I’m about it. *sigh*

However, I would like to start at first with the things, which have disturbed me and which are the reason, why it ‘only’ got 4.5 points, instead of the full five points. It is due to the fact that on the one hand some things in it were very foreseeable and most of my forebodings has turned out almost exactly like I’ve imagined it (the thing with Dean Holder, Karen, her father, … ). But nevertheless I’ve read it with great pleasure and have loved every chapter.
Moreover the book has dealt with a subject that I never really like to read and I also didn’t like it to read here about that, but now I won’t say too much about it, because I don’t want to spoil something. But it was tough stuff and not easy to swallow. But therefore I thing, Hoover made a good job and have treated the subject sensitively and in a way, that it was still okay for me.

In general Hoover has a great way to describe feelings and emotions and to express them, so you can really understand how you feel, when everything is just and on the other side, when everything falls apart and shatters you, as if you would life through it by yourself. All that was really awesome and I like her writing style and dialogues – now she is my new idol! 🙂
Particularly her dialogues were just perfect and well suited – maybe sometimes too perfect and beautiful, but I can ignore that fact. *lol*

And now to the characters, who I BOTH LOVE, which is very rarely the case, because I often fall for the boys, but then I’ve problems with the girl. But here I’ve also loved Sky and I found it so refreshing and exciting, that she simply always has babbled off about what she really thinks – without whining along and thinking everything till to the end… she was authentic and after some little difficulties at the beginning, she was through the whole book very likeable.

Now to Dean/ Holder – I just love HOLDER *sigh*
Again a guy, who goes straight on my Book-Boyfriend-List … slowly, it gets really crowded there, but I’ve to put him there as well. Holder hast just everything: From the appearance, sportiness, character, charm, humor, assertiveness, directness, strength, sensitivity … I could still babble on about what he has and how great he is, but I don’t want to take away everything from you, but I advise you to read the book and discover him for yourselves. I love Holder, although sometimes he is just too perfect and also always does the perfect things or says the perfect words, but that’s okay for me – sigh, if there were really guys like him. *sigh²* 😉

Moreover, I found great that the drama was not really between the two main characters, but because of other things and that they have always held together and got through it as a couple, as a unit. They have each other mutual strength and could hold on each other! I found this great and their chemistry together was simply unbeatable!
I also found even the sex scenes suitable, although I didn’t have thought about them in these exact moments in which they sometimes happened, but then, it was just right and I could understand it. *great*

Though the end was a little slower and unspectacular to the rest of the book, I still liked the last chapter because it was sweet and for me – this was the PERFECT last sentence. *beautiful*

Cover:
Wonderful cover and for me, this is the perfect Sky.

All in all:
An amazing book which I’ll definitely read again sometime and I can recommend it to everybody, who likes Contemporary Romances. It’s not a YA book, but New Adult and therefore also a little more steamy – which I liked very much. A Must-Read for all fans of this genre and this was certainty not the last book of Colleen Hoover – I want more books by her! 🙂

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points – (soo awesome!)
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Thanks to netgalley.com for the reviewer’s copy!

© netgalley.com

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Quotes (© Colleen Hoover):

Karen: „Dammit,” she says, “I could have sworn I heard boys in here.”
Sky: “And you seem disappointed because…”
Karen: “You turn eighteen in a month. I’m running out of time to ground you for the first time ever. You need to start screwing up a little more, kid.“
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Breckin: “I’m new here. And if you haven’t deducted from my impeccable fashion sense, I think it’s safe to say that I’m…  Mormon.”
Six: “And here I was thinking you were about to say gay.”
Breckin: “That too.  In all seriousness, Sky. I noticed you in class today and it’s obvious you’re new here, too. And after seeing the stripper money fall out of your locker before fourth period, then witnessing your non-reaction to it, I knew we were meant to be. Also, I figured if we teamed up, we might prevent at least two unnecessary teenage suicides this year. So, what do you say? Want to be my very bestest friend ever in the whole wide world?
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Holder: „Let me inform you of something. The moment my lips touch yours, it will be your first kiss. Because if you’ve never felt anything when someone’s kissed you, then no one’s ever really kissed you. Not the way I plan on kissing you.“
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Holder: “I told myself to just stay away from you and let you be mad at me, because I do have so many issues that I’m not ready to share with you yet. And I tried so hard to stay away, but I can’t. I’m not strong enough to keep denying whatever this is we could have. And yesterday in the lunchroom when you were hugging Breckin and laughing with him? It felt so good to see you happy, Sky. But I wanted so bad to be the one who was making you laugh like that. It was tearing me up inside that you were thinking that I didn’t care about us, or that spending that weekend with you wasn’t the best weekend I’ve ever had in my life. Because I do care and it was the best. It was the best fucking weekend in the history of all weekends.”
My heart is beating wildly, almost as fast as the words are pouring out of him. He releases his firm hold on my face and strokes his hands over my hair, dropping them to the nape of my neck.
He keeps them there and calms himself with a deep breath, then continues. “It’s killing me, baby,” he says, his voice much more calm and quiet. “It’s killing me because I don’t want you to go another day without knowing how I feel about you. And I’m not ready to tell you I’m in love with you, because I’m not. Not yet. But whatever this is I’m feeling—it’s so much more than just like. It’s so much more. And for the past few weeks I’ve been trying to figure it out. I’ve been trying to figure out why there isn’t some other word to describe it. I want to tell you exactly how I feel but there isn’t a single goddamned word in the entire dictionary that can describe this point between liking you and loving you, but I need that word. I need it because I need you to hear me say it.”
He pulls my face to his and he kisses me. They’re short kisses, mostly pecks, but he kisses me over and over, pulling back between each kiss, waiting for me to respond.

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Succession:

#1: Colleen Hoover – Hopeless »»
#2: Colleen Hoover – Losing Hope (Holder’s POV) »»
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(© goodreads)

About the author – Colleen Hoover:
She is addicted to diet pepsi and could tell you in a taste-test which restaurant it came from.
She gets stoked whenever she gets a message from goodreads saying I have a new friend request.
If you want to know when she have new books out or just want to be inundated by random, pointless blog posts, follow her at www.colleenhoover.com.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »».

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[Review] Walking Disaster

Simon & Schuster UK Cover

Atria Cover

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‚Walking Disaster‘ by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful # 2

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Synopsis:
How much is too much to love?
Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.
In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire’s New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
Immediately at the begin I would like to mention that I loved/ adored ‚Beautiful Disaster‘ and the book has got almost the whole rating numbers. The only reason why the first part got only four points, instead of the whole five, was quite easy to say -> Abby.

And this is also the main reason why this book has also gotten only 3 points. Abby was here even worse, now when we see everything out of Travis’ point of view. Not only, that I can’t understand why he falls so hard for Abby, from his POV she also behaves really very mean and bitchy, particularly in the phases in which they have problems or break apart again. And the times/ parts, which would have been actually nice and were the good aspects from book one were supposed to be, they were describe only briefly/ short, or were rather let out completely because they were already to be read in first book.

Hence in there were much less time with both figures together this book, but it was mostly the time described when Travis was alone, what he did between the times when he wasn’t with her or how he has suffered when she dumped him twice or left him alone.
Thereby it was also not a linear, steady story, but it looked fragmentary and bumpy, because the good scenes weren’t described. Thus there were often jumps in the time of an event to the next and it made everything very choppy.

Also I missed the great emotions and the big GOOD feelings while reading. Often I was only sad and have suffered with Travis and could have strangled Abby, instead of drool over Abby and miss her constantly.

The only good thing in the book was that it went on a little further and didn’t ended right after the wedding. Here I found the epilogue good, although I know that this could be too much and too kitschy for some readers. But after the exertion and the constant suffering in the book, the big kitsch at the end, was exactly what I’ve needed to close the book happy.

But nevertheless, for a real fan it’s of course a must to read it, even if it didn’t offered a lot new … – who loves Travis, will read it. 🙂

Cover:
I find the cover with the biceps quite good, but I would like it even better if the proportions would fit. ^^ Therefore the second cover is made well and fits also better to the cover of part one.

All in all:
Although I had big problems with this book, here above especially with the plot which was torn and was built up rugged, I nonetheless give another 3 points, because I completely fell for Travis and he’s my kinky hero, who has hard earned his happy end. But Abby – I couldn’t care less about her, but as long as Travis is happy, I’ll go along with her. 😉

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

Travis and his mother: She was looking down at me, her lids two slits, just enough to let me know she knew I was there. That’s what I loved about her. When she looked at me, she really saw me. She didn’t look past me to the other dozen things she needed to do with her day, or tune out my stupid stories. She listened, and it made her really happy. Everyone else seemed to nod without listening, but not her. Never her.
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His mother to Travis: „One of these days you’re going to fall in love, son. Don’t settle for just anyone. Choose the gilr that doesn’t come easy; the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting.“
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Travis: „There’s a girl, Dad.“
He smiled. „A girl.“
„She kinda hates me, and I kinda…“
„Love her?“
„I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean .. how do you know?“
His smile grew wider. „When you’re talking about her with your old dad because you don’t know what else to do.“
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Travis: „You know why I want you? I didn’t know I was lost until you found me. I didn’t know what alone was until the first night I spent without you in my bed. You’re the one thing I’ve got right. You’re what I’ve been waiting for, Pigeon.“
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Travis: Even though we’d put each other through hell, we’d found heaven.

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Succession:
#  1:    Jamie McGuire – Beautiful Disaster »»
#  2:   Jamie McGuire – Walking Disaster »»

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Jamie McGuire:
Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa. She was raised by her mother Brenda. Jamie attended the Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.
Jamie now lives in Enid, with her three children and husband Jeff, who is a real, live cowboy. They share their 30 acres with four horses, four dogs, and Rooster the cat.
Books published by Jamie include the Providence trilogy, and The New York Times best seller Beautiful Disaster, a contemporary romance.
(Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »».

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Thanks to netgalley.com for the reviewer’s copy!

© netgalley

[Review] Dare you To

English Hardcover

English Paperback Cover

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‚Dare you To‘ by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits # 2

Synopsis:
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all…. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I was really surprised and sooo hooked by the first book of this series and accordingly of this, my expectations for that book were also really high. Particularly because now it was about Beth, who though seemed to me in the first book a little bit unfriendly, but has already shown in the first part briefly, that her life isn’t anything but perfect and hence, I could understand her behavior and also her defense.

As well as also here in the second part, in which I still got a lot bigger and more exact look at Beth and her life – particularly on her mother and her relation to her, and also on her flubbed childhood, which I even wouldn’t wish my worst enemy. Therefore I can understand as already said, Beth’s reticence and her actions, which would have led to shaking my head with any other character. Beth often runs away and wants to close her eyes before problems, but then her uncle Scott gets custody for her, she has to live with him and his wife and there she gets to know the sportsman and god-boy Ryan. And, yes, here we also have found our romantic, male protagonist of the book.

First I had my problems with Ryan because he apparently has everything what one can wish for and looked rather superficial. But luckily this has changed during the book and a part for it, was probably also due to the fact that he’s a baseball player, a sports with which I have no interest in it at all. Luckily this aspect became less and less. 😉
I find Ryan was quite okay and a nice character, and then also Beth was a better, but they weren’t as awesome as the couple Noah and Echo from the first book. Unfortunately here I’ve missed this ‘wow-effect’, for which I can’t really find a reason.

Other readers often don’t like it, that in a further book you still see how happy the couple from a previous book is, when they whisper sweet nothings and kisses and so on, but I found that nice and I liked it, that Echo and Noah also showed-up it this book briefly – very briefly – and that they are still happy. I find something like that always absolutely sweet and also okay, if it’s not too much as it was here.

What has disturbed me very much was the fact that there were many clichés in the book, especially Beth, who comes from bad house, and Ryan, from a putatively intact, good and rich family. Also the bet, the reason because he has spoken at first to Beth, was not for my taste. It was not original and too similar to ‘Perfect Chemistry#1’ by Simone Elkeles, even if it has turn into a differently course.

I’m really sorry, but for me the big enthusiasm was missing, because there happened much surprising or special things in it, anyhow it was just too poor. Although I found her uncle Scott very great and it was a pity that at the end, there wasn’t more with him, or more together with him and his wife – or also that there weren’t any more occurrences with her friend Lacy, which I found also very interesting and I liked her at first sight.

At next the third book is coming out in autumn/ winter 2013‚ which will be called ‘Crash into You’, which will host the story of Isaiah. At the moment I’m not so glad about it, because right now I don’t really care much about Isaiah, but I will read it nevertheless, because I would like to conclude the whole series.

Cover Hardcover:
I like this cover as much as the first book and again, here are people on it, which fit well to the descriptions in the book (that’s not always the case ^^)

All in all:
It was a good book and all in all, I also had my fun while reading it, but nevertheless, I’m a little disappointed, because this great wow-effect was missing, which I had with the first part.

Rating:
3,5 of 5 points – (I really liked it)
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Thanks to netgalley.com for the reviewer’s copy!

© netgalley.com

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Quotes:

Chris to Ryan: „You need a girlfriend.“
Lacy: „Exactly! I’ve been saying that for months. Not an evil girlfriend. We are not doing evil again. I was tired of wearing crucifixes. I considered carrying holy water, but then I would had to sneak into a church and then-“
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Ryan: „You’re a lot like that bird in the barn. You’re so scared that you’re going to be caged in forever you can’t see the way out. You smack yourself against the wall again and again and again. The door is open, Beth. Stop running in circles and walk out.“
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Beth: ‚That must be love: when everything else in the world could implode and you wouldn’t care as long as you had that one person standing beside you.‘

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Succession:

#1 Katie McGarry – Pushing the Limits »»
#2 Katie McGarry – Dared to You »»
#3 Katie McGarry – Crash into You

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Katie McGarry:
KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.
(Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »».

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[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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[Review] Lover at Last

English Hardcover

English Paperback

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‚Lover at Last‘ by J. R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood #11/
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Synopsis:
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I’m so glad that Ward has got her will and has written this great book. We had to wait so long for it and now finally we also have the story of Qhuinn and Blay. Though I still think that Blay is quite okay, but Qhuinn is just one of my favorites in the series (beside some other characters^^). And he has broken my heart over and over again with his past, his family and also now, when he had to watch almost a whole Blay with Saxton. Particularly because he now finally knows what he wants and what he feels – of course it is still a process also in this book, but finally he confesses his feelings to himself, instead of ignoring them.
Already only for Wards courage and balls, which she has proved by writing this book, she got an extra point from me because this wasn’t as easy as you would like to think. I’ve read in a book-forum that Ward even has to swicht her agency to fulfill her wish to write this homosexual love, because it’s not quite a conservative subject and some people still have a problem with that – which I personally find really sad in nowadays. But Ward hasn’t scared away of it and I find this great! Hats off.

The writing manner of Ward was again typical ‚wardic‘ with her own expressions and many swearwords, curses and the famous f*** word. But here this language doesn’t disturb me because it simply fits to the brothers of the Black Dagger. They are hard men and also express themselves in such a way, which makes them only more real and authentic. For me the characters just feel so alive because of that and I can’t explain it, but for me they are kind of feel real… not like some novel figures, but almost like friends, who are really living somewhere. And I like this thought.

In contrast to ‘Lover Reborn’, in which the plot played over a whole year, here everything happens within some days, namely in the time frame sometime in the winter. Unfortunately I’m not quite sure, when it plays ecaxtly or whether it plays after ‘Lover Reborn’ or in between. Actually at first it also was intended that Qhuinn and Blay only get a short story, as well as Bella’s and Z’s baby story, but then we have got a whole book. For which I’m really glad, but it doesn’t happen much in the background story. As said, the period is quite short and also the Lessers remain in the background, as well as the Band of Bastards. The point, that it doesn’t happen a lot – except the love story of the two main characters, which work off their past and clear it, finally get together and solve their misunderstandings and really start talking – would have disturbed me. But again I’ve read in a book forum, that this was made on purpose (to write only a little about the background story) so that people, who have a problem with homosexual couples, can simply let this book out, and start reading the series right with book # 12, so they won’t miss something important in the main story of the Brotherhood. If this should be right, I can’t reduce the rating by one point and secondly, I would find it really sad and bad in the enlightened time, in which we live – or at least supposed to live. Apparently not everybody is yet as tolerant as I’ve thought. It’s a shame.

So instead of the plot, new characters are gotten embedded or other characters, which before always were shown briefly, got more space and the opportunity to tell also their story – for example Assail, Trez or Xcor. Unfortunately I found this not so great, because thereby a lot of it plays outside the basic formation of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but because of a special twist at the end of this book, I hope that the next part deals again more with the old characters (with JM, V, Z…).
And also the turn with Qhuinn’s brother Luchas was just awesome and I’m really very curious how this will turn out and I hope there will be more about him.

For me all in all it was really a very great book and I couldn’t put it aside. What surprises even me is, although I have no problems with homosexual love, were that I really liked the scenes with Qhuinn and Blay, which again were described very visual and they could persuade me completely. *really hot hot* 😉

And the end was of course again completely for my taste. Maybe some found it too kitschy and, yes, something so soppy even for Ward is very rare at the end, but I was happy nevertheless with it and glad that it has come so. Isn’t it about the fact that you want to finish a book with a smile on your face? I think so and Ward has fulfilled this again totally perfect! Thanks! 🙂

Cover:
Great cover and I don’t know at all which one I like more – the hardcover or the paperback. I’ve got the paperback format of Pitakus at home and find it as great and suitable as like the hardcover version, which also shows Qhuinn perfectly.

All in all:
Almost all expectations were totally fulfilled and it was again a great trip into the world of the Black Dagger, which I love to visit over and over again and leave it again only with a sad heart. Still it is one of my favorite series and I hope it still will go on for a long time.

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points (soo awesome!)

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Quotes:

Qhuinn: „I think that’s Justin Bieber.“
Standing in front of a line up of Lay’s potato chips, Qhuinn looked overhead to the speaker inset into the ceiling tiles. „Yup, I’m right, and I hate that I know that.“
Next to him John Matthew signed „How do you know?“
Qhuinn: „The little shit is everywhere. I swear, that kid is proof the Antichrist is coming.“
John: „Maybe it’s already here.“
Qhuinn: „Would explain Miley Cyrus.“ (*haha* 😀 )

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Vishous: „I’m sorry? I didn’t catch that.“
Qhuinn: „I left the keys in it.“
V: „That was a dumb-ass move, son.“
No. Fucking. Kidding.
V: „Listen, I gotta go. I need both hands to hold my gut as I laugh my ass off attcha. Later.“

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„You good?“ Rhage prompted.
Qhuinn: „Yeah. Yeah. I’m okay.“
Rhage: „Fritz hates dead bodies in the front hall.“
„But there’s not a lot of blood with strangulation,“ somebody pointed out. „Clean-up would have been easy.“
„Just a floor polish afterward,“ another guy chimed in.
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Qhuinn: ‚As he washed himself, the soap wasn’t half as soft as Blay’s skin, and didn’t smell a quarter as good. The water wasn’t as hot as the fighter’s blood had been, and the shampoo wasn’t as soothing. Nothing came close. Nothing ever would.‘
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Layla: „If any harm shall befall him, I will come after you, and find you where you sleep. I do not care where you lay your head or who with, my vengeance shall rain upon you until you drown.”
That last word was drawn out, until its syllable was lost in more growling. Dead silence.
Until Doc Jane said dryly, “Annnnd this is why they say the female of the species is more dangerous than the male.“

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Blay: ‚In the silence that followed, Blay knew he had something he was supposed to say. Yeah…it was right on his tongue. It was… Shit. With Qhuinn looking at him like that, he couldn’t remember his own name. Blaysox? Blacklock? Blabberfox? Who the fuck knew…‘

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Qhuinn to Blay: „You guys were what got me through it,” Qhuinn heard himself say. “I lived for the night, because I could go over to your house. It was the only thing that kept me going. You were the only thing, actually. It was…you.“.

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Succession:
# 1: J. R. Ward – Dark Lover »»
# 2: J. R. Ward – Lover Eternal »»
# 3: J. R. Ward – Lover Awakened »»
# 4: J. R. Ward – Lover Revealed »»
# 5: J. R. Ward – Lover Unbound »»
# 6: J. R. Ward – Lover Enshrined »»
# 6.5: J.R.Ward – BDB: An Insider’s Guide »»
# 7: J. R. Ward – Lover Avagened »»
# 8: J. R. Ward – Lover Mine »»
# 9: J. R. Ward – Lover Unleashed »»
# 10: J. R. Ward – Lover Reborn »»
# 11: J. R. Ward – Lover at Last »»
# 12: J. R. Ward – The King
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copyright: jrward.com

About the author – J. R. Ward:
J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times and USAToday Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot. (Source: jrward.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Review] The Eternity Cure

(© goodreads)

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‚The Eternity Cure‘
by
Julie Kagawa

Blood of Eden # 2

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Synopsis:
In Allison Sekemoto’s world, there is one one rule left: Blood Calls to blood.
Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire, Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie’s birthplace in New Covington, what she finds there will the change the world forever – and possibly end human and vampire existence.
There’s a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago – deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries. If Allie can get to him in time…..  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I’m just speechless and that doesn’t happen very often 😉
But after the end I don’t know whether I should be glad about the hopefully soon released next part or should cry because we don’t know what is going to happen next…

However, better I start right with the beginning:
Some months after Allie’s and Zeke’s ways have separated at Eden, she is still following the psycho-vamp Sarren, who has Kanin in his catches and torments and massacres him over and over again – Allie can feel this, because of her blood connection with Kanin. But instead of him, Allie hits in further results other old friends. At first by some of them, I immediately would have liked to turn around again and by others I’ve been enormously glad!! ♥
But about that I’m going to write more of it, further down.

Now to the writing style of Kagawa, which I find simply brilliant, admirable and desirable. Though she sometimes stretches her descriptions a little, but she makes the surroundings-descriptions so special and fantastic that it don’t disturbs me and so I’m just even more enthusiastic about it – whether it is about a fantastic fairy kingdom or like here about a cruel, somber area in tunnels or in wastelands, in which hope stands shortly before the end. *great*

Without any problems Kagawa also could create characters which got me, carried me away and with which, I simply fell in love with and I constantly worried about them. Even with Jackal I had this feeling, although I only wanted to strangle him at the beginning – but he could persuade me with his cheeky, unabashed behavior and change my opinion about him. (To tell the truth, he reminds me a little of Grimalkin from the Iron Fey series ^^)
But also Kanin was one of my favorites – and now that where I’m okay with the idea, that there will be no romantic incident with him – I’m glad about his fatherly behavior and for me he is a little like a grumpy bear, on which you also can lean on or is able to give you a good advice.

Now to the two main characters: Allie was just great once again and totally great. I like her even more than back then Meghan in the Iron Fey series, because she sorts things out and doesn’t hesitate long, doesn’t whine and in addition, she still has feelings and tries to hang on to her humanity. Alas, she is awesome and we could use more such female main characters in books. 😉

And ZEKE – what I should say more about Ezekiel than that I’m absolutely in love with him! ♥ Although, in the first book I already liked him, but there he was sometimes too blue-eyed for me and was too nice for this sad, dreary world, which he lived it. BUT now he has grown up and has become more masculine and a fighter. That sounds stupid, but it is like that! 😀 Moreover I buy everything from him and he is in the right mood, he is still sensitive, sweet and caring, like in the first part. He virtually had a tuning, which made him a lot better and yeah – now, I’m in love! xD

So – and now to the end – which has totally got me down and made me cry like a little baby! Therefore, now I would like to address only those, who have already read the book – because I would like to know your opinion on this subject and what you think, how it goes on now in the third part … because on the internet I can’t find any info about when part three is going to be published or how it will be titled, never mind a synopsis! *whine*

So from here -> SPOILER!!!

I saw it coming when Allie has said goodbye in the evening to Zeke, especiallay because she saw Stick lurking around in the shadows … this was just soo evident! And then when Zeke was really gone and we hear the tortures and the screams – oh god, I’ve cried like a baby and also yet, when I think back of it, it’s killing me. It was really very hard and sad and I felt so sorry for Allie. :‘-(

Now to my questions: What do you think after this prologue – do you think he has also become a vampire? Which I liked, to be honest – or do you think, Sarren just let Zeke live as a human? But this would be too easy for me! Moreover, then he could be together with Allie – be together for a long time, because they both would be immortal. Of course he didn’t wanted this, and hence, I think, the third part will be focused on the fact that Allie has to find her humanity again and Zeke has to master his existence as a vampire and to try not to perish – and yeah, they also have to find a cure against rabidsm and to kill Sarren – this psycho-asshole. Okay, do you think my opinion is right or is my supposition totally wrong? What do you wish for in the last part?

Cover:
Once again it fits perfectly to Allie, but I liked the cover from the first part a track better.

All in all:
An emotional rollercoaster, which though gets starting a little slowly, but then takes up such a rapidly drive and doesn’t stop up till to the end, until you are breathless when you read the last page. *wow*

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points (soo aswesome!)
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Quotes:  (Between Allie and Zeke)

Allie: „Promise me you’ll keep fighting, for as long as it takes. We’re not dead yet.“
Zeke gave me the smallest of grins. „Technically, you are.“

Zeke: „You haven’t changed. You’re still beautiful and dangerous and incredible. and I’ll keep telling you that for as long as is takes you to believe it. But right now, all I want to do is kiss you, except I’m terrified that if I try you might throw me off this balcony.“

Zeke drew back, looking a little dazed. Gazing down at me, he gave a wry smile, licking his lips. „That… didn’t have anything to do with him over there, did it?“ he asked, sounding suspiciously amused, and a little breathless. I bit my lip.
„Does that bother you?“
„If it involves kissing you? Please, use me to prove a point anytime.“

His hand framed my cheek, brushing my skin. „No one who fights so hard to do the right thing is evil.“

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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Immortal Rules »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Eternity Cure »»
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. Then she worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.
Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.
(Source: juliekagawa.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Snapshot] Notes from Ghost Town (engl)

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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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