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Showing posts from May, 2022

All The Days After by Erin FitzGerald

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series Atholton #3 number of pages 224 published December 21st 2021 genre romance, contemporary, adult ratingπŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ cover πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ Noah is a happy man. He is living with the love of his life, expecting a baby soon and has a good job. All is good. Then the tragedy strike and he loses it all. He has the support of his siblings, but he keeps sinking deeper and deeper. It takes a lot to climb back up. There is someone who is always there when he is at his worst, he is not even sure if she is even real, or just a figment of his imagination. Eve is a single mom, working hard as a nurse and takes care of her son basically alone. Her ex is rarely there and when he comes back into their life, he provides more disruption than ease. One day at the store they run into each other again. He can't stay away, even if it feels too soon to feel this way. Eve has demons of her own to tackle. Their path to happiness is not straightforward. There is heartbreak, agony, and terrible thing that

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

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series Bridgertons #2 published December 5th 2000 number of pages 384 genre historical, regency, romance, adult rating ❤❤❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤❤ Love this book (don't love the Netflix series anymore). Anthony has decided that he needs a wife. Also, he is very sure that he can't live any longer than his father, so he doesn't have that much time, to marry and have kids. He has a whole list of criteria for the future wife. Most importantly, it has to be someone he will never fall in love with. And he finds her. The only problem, is her older sister, Kate. Edwina loves her sister and respects her opinion, so any future husband will have to go through Kate. And Kate hates Anthony. :) So he sets out a plan, to convince Kate, but the more he convinces her, the more times they argue, and the more he wants her and not her sister. :) It's so good, and light and steamy. :) Goodreads || Amazon happy reading, anie

The Murder List by Jackie Kabler

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published May 31st 2022 by One More Chapter number of pages 338 genre psychological thriller rating ❤❤❤❤ ❤ cover ❤❤❤❤ ❤ Mary is a crime writer. Around Christmas, she gets lots of gifts from editors and friends, that she later gives to charity. So when someone gave her a diary she didn't think twice about it. Almost a month later, she discovers that the diary is not empty. On the 1st of January, it says MURDER LISA OXFORD, on the 1st of February MURDER JANE, BIRMINGHAM, 1st March MURDER DAVID, CARDIFF and lastly on the 1st of April MURDER MARY, CHELTENHAM. It looks like a sick joke, but there is a woman named Lisa from Oxford that was murdered on the 1st of January. Mary does the reasonable thing and notifies the police. With so little to go on, the police can't do much, but wait and look for clues. Until the next month starts. Mary is worried, mainly because it looks like the last victim is her. She does a bit of exploring independently, but can't find connections between t

The Tangibles by Natalie Blank

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published March 12th 2022 by Fire & Ice Young Adult Books number of pages 246 genre contemporary, ya, schizophrenia, romance rating ❤❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤❤ Rachel is battling schizophrenia since the eighth grade. She has medication for it but is not a fan of it. She feels like she has a metal pole in her head when she is medicated and the more she takes the pills, the more her intangibles disappear. So she skips a few days here and there, careful that her mother doesn't notice and that she doesn't hear her talking to the intangibles. She feels totally alone and doesn't talk to anyone tangible in school or anywhere else. Then she gets a new neighbour, Arnold, who has issues of his own. The more they spend together, the happier she is and the less of her intangibles she sees. But Arnold has some bad habits and convinces her to try to. It all comes to a blow and she has to face her past in order to move on. This story is something else. I was so mesmerised by it. I've never re

Mara's Awakening

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series The Mara Files #1 genre sci-fi, short story, space opera rating ❤❤❤❤ cover ❤❤ Mara was a peacekeeper, leader of the prestigious task force, and trained, lethal. Until one day, when it all when horribly wrong. Fast forward, it's the six-year that she has been locked up and alone. She forgot how to talk with other people, but she didn't give up.  Now she was finally allowed with other inmates. And with a bit of help, it's time to escape.  It's a well-rounded novella. The format fits very good with the story. It has improved a lot the first time I've read it, it was a bit different and shorted. The story expanded, the writing improved and the story got good. :) Can't wait to read more! Goodreads || Amazon happy reading, anie received from the author, all thoughts and opinions are my own

Boyfriend Lessons by Sophia Singh Sasson

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series Texas Cattleman's Club: Ranchers and Rivals #2 published May 24th 2022 by Harlequin Desire number of pages 224 genre contemporary, romance, adult rating ❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤ Caitlyn had a bad experience with her last boyfriend. It has shaken her so much, that she has trouble opening up to any new guy. When her friend tries to set her up with her brother, she instead talks to his best friend.  Surprisingly she feels comfortable around him and has no trouble talking to him. So she asks him to give her boyfriend lessons. If she hangs out with him and talks to him more, she will get comfortable around guys. Dev is in town for a little while, searching for a place to open his new restaurant. He agrees to hang out with her, but there is too much chemistry between them, to be able to just stay friends. I like the storyline, but it felt overly long. Goodreads  ||  Amazon about the author Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories that will give you hope,

Reading Diary [week #20]

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Wednesday I did the stupid thing of opening Tik-Tok. And there went my reading time. :) Thursday It's been a week. I've read here and there, but not much at all. I did finish one beta read. I loved it. I love reading books before they are finished. There is something special about being a tiny part of the process. However, the best part is reading the book after. It gives me hope that maybe, I could do something like that. Before I got into reviewing and blogging and all this book stuff, I was sure that authors just sit down and write the book and that's that. I never realized how many edits and tweaks and rewrites it's involved in the final product.  I wrote in the past (it's Diary of a wannabe writer :)), but was always discouraged. What I typed up never looked just right, not like the story that filled my head and got so hooked up on the individual sentences that it just got too frustrating. But maybe if I just typed up what I'm feeling and left the judgement

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

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series Bridgertons #1 number of pages 384 published January 5th 2000 genre romance, historical, regency, adult rating ❤❤❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤❤ The book that started the obsession. Daphne is the oldest daughter of the late Viscount and 4th of the 8th siblings. She had a few seasons already, but no marriage proposal on the sight. She believes it's because everyone sees her as a friend, not someone you would desire. Simon thinks it has something to do with 3 older, overprotective brothers. Simon is the son of the late Duke. Returned home after many years abroad, only after his father dies. Determined to not get married and have children, he is set to miss this year's season, and when that goes the wrong way, he and Daphne form an agreement. They will pretend to form a union so that marriage hungry mamas will leave him alone, and the prospect of marrying a duke will make Daphne more desirable in men's eyes. But there is something brewing between them. :) While the story isn't perfe

Havoc by Paityn Parque

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series Engine's Game #2 number of pages 326 published April 5th 2022 genre dark, dystopian, urban fantasy, sci-fi rating ❤❤❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤ Shadow killed herself in the game. Then she woke up in the Engine headquarters. There is only one thing on her mind. Revenge. Soon she finds out that her team is there too. But before she could catch a breath she is made into an assassin for the Engine, she can't refuse but is planning to use her position to find a way out. The first book was about survival, doing what she needed to do to live, becoming someone other than fear, embracing her feats and letting her bloodlust rule her. The second book is about what happens after. Deading with the demons that plague her, with the horror of what she has to. Her mental health has been deteriorating since she woke up, with hallucinations, and nightmares, and she is crumbling. She is losing the team's trust, getting reckless and more unhinged. I just love her development, she is by far my favourit

The Forgotten Beach by Amanda James

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series Cornish Escapes #3 number of pages 309 published May 27th 2022 by One More Chapter genre contemporary, romance, adult rating ❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤❤ Sennen digs to find out about her grandmother's past and discovers that she was in love before meeting her grandfather. As she digs through the past, she discovers more about her love that wasn't meant to be, a song, a beach and finds the answers to her own story along the way.  There are parallels between her and grandma's life, but it also opens up her life to the possibility of more. I like the storyline but had a hard time getting into the story. Goodreads || Amazon happy reading, anie Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

the book that ruins you for all of the other books

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I was never one for romance books. Especially a full-blown romance, no paranormal, no superpowers, no vampires, it was a thank you, next. :) Fast forward to the last summer. I watched the Bridgertons on Netflix and adore it, and of course, the book is better so read the first one soon after. I was in love. A few months passed and I forgot all about it. Then I stumbled on the second book in the library. And by the time I finished it, I was hooked. Not just with the book, but with the whole series. I've the rest soon after and I'm obsessing over the series ever since. It has happened again. The Bridgertons have become that book for me, no the kind that opens a genre to a new reader, but the kind that put a locked door on it. :) The kind that becomes the only book that I can read in the genre. I've read a few books that are similar since. But it's not the same. And it's the only book/series that has ruined the genre for me. It's the same with the  Percy Jackson s

Don't Forget Me! by R. L. Stine

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series The Nightmare Room #1 number of pages 160 published September 30th 2000 by Avon Books genre ya, middle grade, horror rating ❤❤❤❤ cover ❤❤❤❤ I found the book in the library one day, for my niece. I started to leaf through it and got hooked. I read on the way out, in the car (got very car sick but was worth it:)) on the way home. I just couldn't stop reading. It's so good, so so addicting and very spooky. Danielle and her little brother moved with their parent to the new house. The parents went on a business trip and left Danielle in charge. Danielle and her friend pretended to hypnotize her brother. But even though it was pretended, Peter started to act weird after. Forgetting what he was doing, going to school and even who he was. There has to be more going on. It's scary, it intense, it is so so good! Highly recommend it! Goodreads || Amazon happy reading, anie

Frostfire by Ethan Avery

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series Sword and Sorcery #1 published April 22nd 2022 by Stories By Storytellers number of pages 440 ratingπŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™ coverπŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™ There are two main storylines. I like the way the story switched between different story arcs, it kept me on my toes and wishing that I read faster, to see what happens next.  Aireyal is a human without magic in one of the best schools for magic, courtesy of her mother. She is desperate to awaken the magic within herself but riddled with self-doubt and anxiety. Hers is the story of self-discovery and also love. Erevan wants nothing more than to follow in his father's footsteps as a mercenary. But father thinks he is not ready. When he can actually follow him on real-life emission, he gets to see just how difficult and complicated this life actually is. And that is only the start of the story filled with magic and mystery and all sorts of awesomeness. :) My favourite was definitely the world-building. The mythology, the history, and the magical system it

The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman

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number of pages 369 published May 5th 2022 by One More Chapter genre contemporary, romance, adult rating  ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ cover  ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ Anna's life has just turned upside down. She broke up with her boyfriend after she caught him cheating and lost her job and house at the same time. Back at her father's house, she looks for the dream job. And she finds it. Management of the gorgeous castle on the shore of Lake Come. Only, the owners want to hire a couple. There is someone she could ask, Jake. Jake was her neighbour, but they never got along. He has had a tough past few years and going away to Italy for a while doesn't sound so bad. At first, it's hard to pretend, but the more they talk, the more they connect and the sparks fly. It's a fun fake to real romance, but that wasn't my favourite part. I loved the dialogues and the way they communicated. They butted heads a lot and were mean to each other, but somehow they worked out all of their issues- talking, apologising,

Books of April || Monthly Wrap Up

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I don't even know where April has gone. It's been a blink of an eye since February and it's almost summertime. :) I've read 16 books in April. So far my yearly challenge is going well.  I found so many awesome books - new favourites for sure and finished my Bridgerton re-read. There were also a few books in between that I wasn't a fan of, but no one can like all books, right? :) New favourites When the Moon Shines by Lucia Ashta Little town trapped in a pocket portal, that is western-inspired. :) Maddie by Candace Robinson & Amber R. Duell Alice in Wonderland retelling with sexy vampires. :) Don't Forget Me! by R. L. Stine So spooky 😧 Can't Help Loving You by Eve Kasey A second chance romance -heartfelt, full of emotion, and so beautiful. Also, a new book boyfriend. :) The Songs You've Never Heard by Becky Jerams & Ellie Wyatt Music, famous siblings, influencers, trolls, secret crush,... It's totally awesome. :) Rereads of past favourites To

Oath-Breaker by River Starr

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series Angel of Death & Demons #1 published May 5th 2022 number of pages 202 genre adult, paranormal, angels/demon, romance ratingπŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™ coverπŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™ GoodReads || Amazon giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway follow the tour here She lost her mate and is now a leader of Paladins. When her best friend is in trouble, she risks breaking the rules of engagement and her own life, just to save her. She offers to take her place and the Angel Of Death agrees. The punishment for the crime is death. She expected that. But what she didn't expect is to find her soulmate, when she looked at the eyes of the Angel of Death for the first time.  Their bond is strong and grows each time they are close, but that is only the start! :) An awesome paranormal story, about light vs. dark, about good vs. evil and how the line between isn't always clear. I liked the world created, the characters, and the tension, but that ending, I didn't expect that! :) synopsis No one survives their meeting with

The Songs You've Never Heard by Becky Jerams & Ellie Wyatt

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number of pages 368 published June 16th 2022 by Clock Tower Publishing genre ya, contemporary, romance, music ratingπŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ cover πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ So so good! <3 Meg McCarthy has it all. An Influencer, with a super famous brother, a picture-perfect family, and everything a girl could want.  Or so it seems. In reality, she resents her brother. He is not the nicest person and fame didn't help either. The whole family was uprooted for him to follow his dream and parents are always at his beck and call no matter what. She is strongly encouraged to continue posting on social media, to promote the products, their family name and the picture they are trying to create. She doesn't like it. Especially the ugly comments that come with it, that are slowly eating away at her. She feels trapped by the image and is very lonely. It's hard to trust when everyone just wants to use her to get to her brother. So just assumes no one is there to talk to her, just to use her as a steppin

Mother's Day Deal

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Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers, Stepmothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and any other kind of women who raise or help to raise little humans.  If you or the mom in your life love to read romance of any variety, Harlequin has an awesome new subscription, just for the romance fans. Click here , to check it out. happy reading, anie