Don´t let yourself get fooled by the looks of the covers. There isn´t one cheesy line in here. Okay, you might want to arHoly f***! Inkvotary 3,5 stars
Don´t let yourself get fooled by the looks of the covers. There isn´t one cheesy line in here. Okay, you might want to argue about the main characters and how they are created, but that´s about it.
Ella is used to be in control of her own life. She never had a parent who told her how to behave, what to do and when or who told her a simply no, not going to happen. Her mother was always busy to earn enough money to keep them both above the waterline and Ella spent most of her life alone, waiting for her to come home. And when cancer became a part of their lives, it was Ella, who took care of them both. But one day a guardian in form of mega rich Callum Royal steps into her life and changes everything.
The language is simple and the plot not new. And yet, the world is making a huge fuss about it. The cover and the story are two different things. There is nothing sweet or playful in this novel, and the main figure Ella isn´t at all the sweet and easy to handle girl you might expect from such a novel.
Hate, drugs, alcohol, sex, intrigues and many other things bring this novel alive and show you how hard and mean life during Highschool can be. Especially when you aren´t rich and your mother was a stripper.
Ella and the five Royal boys are anything but ordinary. The boys are totally fucked up and even though they are handsome as hell and know it, they live as if there wouldn´t be any tomorrow.
When you have a sick mother at home and are responsible for a lot of bills, you can´t be very picky how you will earn money. Ella chose to have three jobs and one of them was being a stripper herself. That way she could make more money than with her two other jobs altogether and live an independent life. A tricky game that wasn´t supposed to last long.
What I liked about Ella was that she was always taking care for herself. Even when she had to go with Callum and got a lot of money all the sudden. She looked for a new job, and didn´t take anything her new guardian provided for granted. Nature gave her great looks, she was and still is very wary, fierce and sees right through the rich and glamorous style the Royal family has.
Good, I admit it, this first book of the famous The Royals series wasn´t really mine. Too many stereotypes, too predictable in some ways and not really new with all the Highschool drama going on. But for whatever reason I wanted to know how the story would go on and thankfully the next book was already waiting on my shelf. But judge for yourself. ...more
I am not sure how many more books this series will have, but from my point of view there shouldn´t be many.
This is a book for children around the age of twelve. Carlotta is a sixteen-year-old teenager almost seventeen and does everything teenagers that age like to do.
While reading this wonderful novel I found myself thinking that this should be one of the last books in this series. The main person isn´t a little girl anymore, she sees the world from a different perspective now and life starts to become complicated.
Don´t get me wrong here. There is a lot of fun scenes, hilarious dialogues and beautiful created characters in this book and I enjoyed reading it very much. And still I had that thought back in my mind.
The language is simple, clear and sometimes very blunt. And makes you laugh out loud when Manu is talking with or over the three girls called Barbie’s.
This book was fun to read, and I am looking forward to the next book of this series which will come out in fall 2018. This series is perfect for girls who want to read a series about a girl in boarding school from a bit different perspective than all the other boarding school books are written. ...more
Inkvotary 3,5 Stars After reading the first book, Aquamarin, I had to read this too. The cover is similar to the first one and fits in perfectly. And foInkvotary 3,5 Stars After reading the first book, Aquamarin, I had to read this too. The cover is similar to the first one and fits in perfectly. And for all those, who don´t know the author´s name yet, Andreas Eschbach is a German writer, who is also responsible for the great Out-Trilogy. Among other wonderful novels.
Almost two years ago I had read the first book and was thrilled. There was action, a struggling main figure and a secret that gave the story the special something. This second book, Submarin, was far from the intriguing style and story, its predecessor had.
Saha is now swimming across the sea to find her father. A man she never knew and is eager to meet. She has so many questions, needs so many things to know and hopes that she can help others to understand the sea people a bit better. But life at the ocean isn´t all shiny, nice and as adventurous as she´d thought. And within no time, she is bored and does everything to get some action and life into her life under the surface.
The author hasn´t changed his writing style. This novel is soft, easy to read and shows at the end the long-missed action. Saha soon finds out, that underneath the surface life isn´t as easy and great as she always thought. And it is boring. Every day the same things, the same routines, and the same stories. And the fact, that she has no control over time itself and can´t contact her aunt isn´t helpful either.
I liked it very much, that the author shows the reader in an entertaining way, that the sea is in danger. That the way how we treat our environment is showing its effects it has on the sea and that we all need to rethink our actions. And still. I was missing something. I missed the tone and plot he had used in his novel Aquamarin. This second book is far from the thrill I had while reading the first book.
The author knows how to show his readers the beauty of the sea, as well as the land Australia is. But some parts of this novel are too long-drawn-out. And some scenes made me ask how in the world can that be, they are underwater. Well, obviously they can. Not logic, but it happened.
It turns out that the sea people see time a bit differently. And that they believe in completely different things than Saha does. Every time she is asking her guide when he will bring her to her father, or help her find information about him, she gets the same unsatisfying answer. That time will help them. Their understanding of what action is is something Saha isn´t happy about.
I was impressed how Saha handled the situation towards the end when she has to find a way to get the people´s attention. The people who don´t know what´s going on under the surface and that the sea is in danger. That was impressive and the location beautiful.
Guess, my expectations were way too high. This novel isn´t as entertaining as the first book has been and I am slightly disappointed. Too many questions stayed unanswered and too many new ones came up and I really hope that the author will give his readers some satisfying answers in the third book. Sad, but this one is only a bit above average for me. Without the great tension, that book one had there is simply no way for me to give it the rating, Aquamarin had deserved.
Lydia is a two times cancer survivor. But the second fight cost her the life of her father. Now she is struggling to gain her sisterInkvotary 3,5 Stars
Lydia is a two times cancer survivor. But the second fight cost her the life of her father. Now she is struggling to gain her sisters love and to gain back what others call a “normal life”. But Lydia has other things in mind, when she thinks about having a normal life. She wants to honor her father´s memory by opening her yarn store A Good Yarn. And soon after the opening day, she is involved in the lives of three other women, who have their very own struggle to fight.
This is a nice written novel. Fast-paced and set in the beautiful landscape of Seattle. The writing style is clear, easy to read and the language is soft. Though there are brought up some troubles and difficulties, the different women have to face, the tone is quiet and calm.
But I know the author from other books as well and there I was way more intrigued and thrilled while reading it. Here I sometimes had the feeling that something was missing. Sure, the story is beautiful, and the problems are nothing you would want in your own life. But on the other hand, the fun and humor, the irony the author shows in some of her other books are missing in this one.
Lydia´s sister Margaret is one of the figures I was wondering why she had to be in this novel. She is giving Lydia a really hard time and no support at all. In fact, she accuses her of having cancer on purpose! Can you believe it?
I know other books from Debbie Macomber that thrilled me a bit more. But for someone who is looking for a nice-to-read novel that doesn´t need much attention when it comes to details and logical things, this might be the perfect read. For me it was a bit above average.
I wanted this book because I fell in love with the cover the German edition has. And because of the summary, my expectations were hi3,5 stars Inkvotary
I wanted this book because I fell in love with the cover the German edition has. And because of the summary, my expectations were high. Way too high as it turned out. Sure, the plot is very interesting and the thought of a world where no judges are holding court was nice to see. But all the stereotypes, the dumb blonde, the rich bitch and the once poor guy who turned into a rich but cruel man holding up a clean image - not very helpful for the story.
So, sorry to say that, but for me it was only a bit above average....more
3,5 stars Inkvotary Good, I am not that enthusiastic about it, as I was when I read the other two books. And this one turned out to be something differe3,5 stars Inkvotary Good, I am not that enthusiastic about it, as I was when I read the other two books. And this one turned out to be something different then a reading pleasure. But judge for yourself.
The tone has changed again. This time the novel is written in a soft, but still very melodic way and the authors give the reader a nice insight into Antonia´s former and current life.
And though you can´t speak of deep profoundness in general, a bit of it was shining through the pages at some point.
It wasn´t as much fun to read as the other two have been. Sorry, but even though it is a nice to read novel with a touch of crime in it, I still think that it is the weakest book of this saga. I am not saying that it isn´t a good book, but compared to the other two of this saga, only a bit above average. ...more
Lorena is mourning the loss of Jason and her child. And starting to feel some kind of anger raising inside her towards the mighty Lady. And wInkvotary
Lorena is mourning the loss of Jason and her child. And starting to feel some kind of anger raising inside her towards the mighty Lady. And when she finds out, that Lucy and Raika have found a way to leave Gryphon Manor by night to have some fun, she knows that she has to change something. An old lady brings fantastic news and with them, hope back to Lorena. But hope is nothing you should play with. And when Lorena must learn that she was used again to fulfill the plans of others, she is furious and seeks for revenge.
This third and final book of this trilogy turned out to be a real surprise. The language hasn´t changed. Soft and simple and in the usual easy to read way. But the action has changed. Somehow the passive is gone. And with the Councilor coming in again and the fact that another figure is using Lorena as kind of a weapon to get what she wants, gives this novel a new turn and a hint of excitement that wasn´t in the others to find.
Lorena isn´t willing any longer to do what the mighty Lady wants her to do and she´s no longer obeying to all the orders. There is a moment when she realizes that she has to stand up and fight not only for herself but for what she wants and feels that is right. She turns into a fighter and a woman how takes things into her own hands.
Good, I admit it, the best here (and that counts for the entire trilogy) are still the covers. This last one is one big cover beauty, that´s for sure. The novel itself turned out to be a surprise for me.
Inkvotary That was beautiful. Entertaining and well written. The soft language, the sensitive tone, the way how Anna solves things, how she feels and aInkvotary That was beautiful. Entertaining and well written. The soft language, the sensitive tone, the way how Anna solves things, how she feels and acts, absolutely great.
Needless to say that I fell in love with this beauty of a cover *swoon* - such a gorgeous thing! The novel itself is the first in a new series, where Anna and Sebastiano are back (the author wrote three other books about them in a trilogy) and try to build a new school. But with some awful things going on at the court of Henry the Eigth, they don´t have much time to teach others in Venice.
Eva Völler brings the modern technique of the presence playfully together with the old times, other centuries and how life was back then. You can literally smell the dungeon, feel the heat during a sword duell and taste the food that was brought onto the table at the court.
For the moment, this book is only available in the German language....more
That cover got me from the moment I saw it. Holy hell, what a color-and-motive-combination. But I am not so sure if I would have reaInkvotary 3,5 stars
That cover got me from the moment I saw it. Holy hell, what a color-and-motive-combination. But I am not so sure if I would have read it anyways, if I´d known what it was with all the birds. Still getting goosebumps when I think of all those scenes where they are playing a key role in it. I don´t know what I was expecting, but surely not what I was getting. The story is of great fantasy, no questions here. But how everything was set up – sometimes very nasty.
Things are addressed that are not always easy for the reader to understand and somehow scary if not disgusting. At least that is how I see it. No question, the idea of a city in the clouds, of imaginative explanations, why there is acid rain in the world, or why sometimes from one second to the other a bad weather breaks out or even entire crops are destroyed, are awesome. There is incredible potential in the plot, though the implementation is not always the best.
What´s annoying, from the first moment, is, the way Aza is treated by her people in Magonia. Everyone assumes that she is on the same level of knowledge as the others. Illogical if you consider that she didn´t grow up like the others. She learned completely different things than the rest of the people of Magonia. But no consideration is given to that. Instead she is treated as stubborn and stupid. A clear flaw. The language is simple and clear, and the style not always easy to understand. During the entire reading the story stays a mystery and at the end, the reader is left behind with an awkward feeling, mixed emotions and a very controversial sight of what is or can be.
Aza is not exactly what I would call an easy to handle girl. She shows a brash nature to her environment, is cynical and very sarcastic. And when she wants to speak with her parents about her coming death or demands their support, she is mercilessly abandoned. And she is not a character you just accept. She sees things incredibly complex, brings them together in a way, others would not dream of, and has a view of the world and herself - often pushing hard to the limit of what is bearable. But she does not give up. Neither herself nor her principles and for sure not what she believes in.
What a weird, unusual and strange novel. The idea behind it is beautiful, that´s for sure. And could be intriguing if the peculiar implementation were not. With the ghoulish elements that go sharply to the limit of disgusting, not exactly what I call reading pleasure. Shown is a brutal world which is in parasitic relation with the earth we know. In combination with the red thread of omnipresent death not exactly conventional. For me, due to some illogical things, and the distance I always felt, just an average novel. But judge for yourself. ...more
4,5 stars I probably won't write a review for my blog about it (haven't decidet yet if I want to publish there nonfiction). So my thoughts here:
If you 4,5 stars I probably won't write a review for my blog about it (haven't decidet yet if I want to publish there nonfiction). So my thoughts here:
If you can't stop your sugar addiction for good with this gorgeous book full of tips and delicious food - then I fear you won't be able to at all. Lots of new information about all the various forms of sugar, what you should better strike of your meal plan and with many alternatives to the white (but unhealthy) gold. Good the cover isn't really mine, but the content is quite something. Loved it!...more
Mila is so sick and tired of her mother and her never-ending-urge to control everything Mila does, thinks or writes. And god forbid, if Mila Inkvotary
Mila is so sick and tired of her mother and her never-ending-urge to control everything Mila does, thinks or writes. And god forbid, if Mila thinks that she could do something on her own. And when Mila caught her mother sitting in her room and reading her notes, for Mila the situation is crystal clear. She has to get out and do the unthinkable.
This story is from the beginning to the end all about the power of words. And the French town Paris has a very special meaning. Not only for the figures, but also for the story itself.
Kathrin Lange wrote this novel with an easy to understand language. Her style is clear, mystic and with a touch of darkness. Her figures have to go through a lot, suffer a lot and yet show a strength that is exceptional.
Not everything is what it seems at first sight and some figures are more or less intriguing.
Mila learns that she has a special ability. A gift, if you like to call it that, that empowers her to change things. Within no time she starts to understand that everything has consequences – at least if she does it in a certain way. And that there are rules to obey. And that those rules are there for a reason. On the other hand, it seems that she is given a power that is different from the one the others have. And while Mila learns to handle and use her power she also starts to see that not everything is changeable and that the consequences are not always foreseeable.
The author gives you at first a little insight into a – what seems – to be a normal teenage life and then changes that very quickly into something dark and arcane.
Nicholas is not quite honest with Mila. Oh, he is not lying to her, not at all. He´s just not telling her everything. And why? Only because he believes that she´s not ready for the entire truth. That she will see him in a different light when she knows who he is.
And Mila´s mother. What on earth is she thinking? I am not very fond of her and the end of this book made me start thinking what secret she is carrying around. Because one thing is crystal clear: She´s got something to hide. During the ongoing story she changed from the all controlling mother who doesn´t show any feelings towards her daughter to a woman who still needs to be in control but now with a smile and in a very helpful way.
I am quite impressed. The way how Mila solved things, how she reacted and what she did to save herself and Nicholas, was wonderful to read. And that end, seriously?! I wasn´t happy at all when a certain figure had to die. And I am for sure not happy with that cliffhanger. ...more
Shikanoko has survived the fall from a mountain cliff. But the price he has to pay for being alive is tremendous. His uncle wants his dead, aInkvotary
Shikanoko has survived the fall from a mountain cliff. But the price he has to pay for being alive is tremendous. His uncle wants his dead, a powerful man wants to control him and the woman he loves is out of his reach. Only the dark powers are willing to help him. But with them danger and death are always near. To gain back what is rightfully his, he must learn to control his new abilities and defeat his uncle.
Lian Hearn is no author of the loud tones. Her writing-style is decent, classy, melodious and soft. There is a hint of elegance and every word matters. There is some brutality to find in her stories, but even in the bloodiest scenes the style is simple and effective. The story is full of intrigues, eagerness for power, passion, hate and the thirst for revenge.
The Tale of Shikanoko is a novel that lets you dive in the ancient life and traditions of Japan where honor is everything and a man can´t afford to lose face. The broad variety of words and the diversified story is told over various lines of action that work very harmonic over the ongoing novel.
The mixture of tradition, mystic and ancient believes combined with beautiful created figures lets you see and feel the pain, hunger and despair some of them must endure. Destiny and faith are a huge part of everything going on in this very complex story.
Men are greedy for more power; the destiny of the country is at stake and only one man is able to fulfill the destiny of the real emperor. But will he succeed?
Lian Hearn has created characters who are strong and weak at the same time. Magic brings out the worst in a man, women are seen as a man´s belonging but not equal and ghosts are everywhere. But don´t expect very profound characters. Yes, they all have endured at some point some cruelty, have suffered a loss and are not living the life they actually wanted. Or what is rightfully theirs. But the author isn´t going too deep into that. She tells a bit about it, scratches a bit on the surface, just enough to keep you fascinated, but never too much to give you a hint how the story could unfold.
With this book the author starts her new The Tale of Shikanoko Saga and introduces you to the important main figures. It is no fast-paced read, that´s for sure. But if you are in for some ancient Asian traditions, life-style, believes and setting, then this might be the right choice for you. ...more
Finally got to the end. Doesn´t mean that the story was bad, no. This novel shows the unique style the author has. It was only that I couldn´t read itFinally got to the end. Doesn´t mean that the story was bad, no. This novel shows the unique style the author has. It was only that I couldn´t read it the way I had planned.
Denizen has to learn a lot of things. About his mother, about himself, about everything. He feels very old is yet a little boy who is at the beginning of his teenage years. Hormons are flying high, his voice cracks whenever she wants and only his best friend Simon is able to help him in certain situations.
But the new life both are living now isn´t exactly what they thought it would be or could be. And it took quite some time to figure out what Uriel´s role in this novel was. Because the author takes an awful long time to bring both strands together -which is almost at the end of this book.
This book or trilogy is a great way for boys to use their own imagination to see what Denizen is seeing. Dave Rudden has a fantastic way to let come scenes alive, to describe how he sees some things and let them tell their own story. So, for all boys 12 up in the world, this is definitely for you *smile* And girls, of course, too. But be aware that the tone in this book is that of a little boy *double smile*...more
Wow, this book was pure fun, entertainment and really, really wonderful to read. The author used a sensitive and decent way to write even abInkvotary
Wow, this book was pure fun, entertainment and really, really wonderful to read. The author used a sensitive and decent way to write even about the ugliest things. And created characters who will make you laugh out loud, shake your head in disbelief or give you a broad grin all over your face.
This book is crime, romance and novel in one. And to be honest, I didn´t see it coming who the dead person was. Not until I read that scene and thought "Holy heck!"
There is a lot of cynicism, sarcasm, irony, wit and humor to find in this story. Jane sometimes made me going up the wall with her defensive and quiet way. The moment her son Ziggy is accused of being rude to a girl, she thinks a lot of bad things but instead of starting to defend him or standing obvious by his side (like every mother would do) she acts like a helpless young woman (young she is indead) and does nothing. Her instincts tell her, that her son didn´t do it, but there is still the fact how she conceived him and that a slight chance is there, that he could have done it. Her doubst and her past make life a living torture for her which she trys to compensate by chewing a lot of bubblegum the entire day and by being as invisible as possible (with her clothes, hair and no make-up at all). It takes almost the entire book to make her change things and how she´s handling everything. And her mother! Oh boy *lol*
This was my first Moriarty book but for sure not the last. Read. ...more
Inkvotary My first book by the author and it turned out to be something I hadn't expected at all. The future filled with rules and an partly oldfashioInkvotary My first book by the author and it turned out to be something I hadn't expected at all. The future filled with rules and an partly oldfashioned lifestyle, and a heroine who wants way more out of her life. Things the water colony isn't able to give her. The way how she handles things, how she deals with everything and her courage are very impressive.
There is a lot of action, blood, death and desperate people in this story. And the knowledge, that hope is a light during dark times....more
One thing is for sure. Don´t expect huge profoundness when it comes to this books. Yes, the setting is wonderful, anInkvotary 4,5 stars Very emotional.
One thing is for sure. Don´t expect huge profoundness when it comes to this books. Yes, the setting is wonderful, and the passion for polo comes through every line and word. And some drama is underneath the surface as well, but this is a light novel with a language shown as one single melody. Good, the tone is a bit darker and the story is wilder as book one was, but it fits for Kat and Sebastian.
And you will see, Georgie and Alejandro as well. With a little surprise.
I read it in one single swoop. Could barely lay it aside to do something else. Wild One is emotion, passion, romance and feelings all over the place. If you read the first book already, then this will be another thrill for you. And to be honest, during one scene I had tears running down my cheeks. And nope, I am not ashamed to say that. ...more
Inkvotary 3,5 stars Uff. Done! Lilly is such a drama queen. All the time a situation isn't the way she had imagined it and not at all matching her colorInkvotary 3,5 stars Uff. Done! Lilly is such a drama queen. All the time a situation isn't the way she had imagined it and not at all matching her colorful dreams - she literally freaks out, panics and her thoughts run wild. Even after one year of changes she hasn't really changed one tiny bit. New haircut, new color, yes, but the rest stays the same. Crazy, freaking out thoughts, senseless fear and panic over nothing. And that woman calls herself a grownup? Not in my world.
The writing style the author uses is sarcastic, sort of fun to read and full of drama. Some hilarious scenes show the humor Jo Watson has and the setting is really beautiful. But the rest? Not sure if I will read another book of this series or the author in general. Too exhausting ....
For me the tone was way too dark, though it was very fitting for the story itself. But somehow, I couldn´t get really into it. Couldn´t get iInkvotary
For me the tone was way too dark, though it was very fitting for the story itself. But somehow, I couldn´t get really into it. Couldn´t get in touch with Jo Marie or all the other characters as I had while reading the other books of this series.
No doubt, Debbie Macomber hasn´t changed her soft style, the way how she uses words and creates her figures. That was again, well done. But there were scenes I thought that weren´t necessary. Like the author needed to stretch her novel for whatever reason before she set the final end to it.
That was, at least for me, sad. I believe that if you write a good novel, you don´t need to use stretching material to get a certain length in pages.
An average novel in my eyes. Sad to say it, but this isn´t the best book written by the author and for sure not a good end to this series. Sure, the author tied all open ends neatly and left no unanswered questions. But I missed something I found in her other Rose Harbor Inn books.
Vi ~ Inkvotary
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