The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

I have always loved Christmas. I still do, with every beat of my heart; I love the smells, the warmth, the laughter, the decorations, the sweets, the presents... The list goes on and on, but what I most love about Christmas is that you get to be a kid again. Yes, I am still young (not adult, that is) but I don't really feel like a kid. Mostly, I think childhood is just a feeling - one that I happen to love.

But somehow, this time of year always seems to be the busiest one, and so Christmas sort of gets pushed out of sight by half a million exams and everything else life always throws at me in December. I don't want it to happen - my never-ending to-do list steals away my Christmas spirit. But honestly - my entire life would look a lot different if I could choose everything for myself. Reality: I can't.

Here's what I want to be doing:
›› Make Christmas-candy
›› Christmas decorate
›› Read Christmas-themed books
›› Wrap gifts prettily and rhyme
›› Buy a dress for Christmas Eve
›› Enjoy and appreciate my life and everyone in it

Here's what I am doing:
›› Studying
›› Studying
›› Studying

Even stealing a moment to write this post is something I know I really shouldn't be doing - I have a Math test tomorrow. But I'm sick of studying. And I'm sick of the most peaceful time of year becoming the most demanding one, the time when I am the most disrupted.

There are lots of posts I want to write, so hopefully, I can find some time to do that these next few days. Until then, you'll find me with my nose in school books.

Hope your December is wonderful, peaceful and cheerful!

November Wrap-Up + December TBR

So... December already. November was a pretty busy month for me! Writing, school... Life in general. I only completed one book this month, but I have a few in progress.

~ BOOKS I READ ~

Beautiful Sacrifice by Jamie McGuire

Reviews: 3

November-favorite: -

Pages read: 550 aproximately

In Progress: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch/Candide by Voltaire

WRITING:

NaNoWriMo was exciting and time-consuming! I'll write a more detailed post on it later, but generally, it went well! In December I'll continue to edit the story.

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:
›› Christmas!

~ DECEMBER ~
I'll try to read some Christmas-themed books in December, cause I really want to find my Christmas spirit.

›› A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
›› Prodigy by Marie Lu
›› Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

What have you read in November?

Book Review: Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire

Title: Beautiful Redemption (Maddox Brothers #2)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Pages: 260
Published: January 27th 2015

Summary: No-nonsense Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI. Deciding she is married only to her job, she breaks off her engagement and transfers from Chicago to the field office in San Diego. She loves her desk. She is committed to her laptop. She dreams of promotions and shaking hands with the director after cracking an impossible case. 

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Maddox is arrogant, unforgiving, and ruthless. He is tasked with putting away some of the world’s toughest criminals, and he is one of the best the Bureau has to offer. Though, as many lives as he’s saved, there is one that is beyond his reach. Younger brother Travis is faced with prison time for his involvement in a basement fire that killed dozens of college students, and the media want a conviction. Travis’s only savior is his unusual tie to the mob. In a deal that will spare his brother, Thomas has agreed to recruit Travis into the FBI. 

Liis is stubborn, defiant, and yet somehow softens Thomas’s rough edges, making her the perfect agent to accompany him to the ceremony. Posing as a couple, they must travel to Travis & Abby’s beach vow renewal and give him the news, but when the pretending ends, she finds herself wondering if they were pretending at all. 
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Review: (Spoiler-free)

The second - or third really, counting Travis - brother of the Maddox family to have his story put in ink is Thomas, the oldest one. His story is the one I was most excited to read after skimming through the summaries of all the books in this series, because, well, it simply sounded great. And after reading it, I can happily say that it was.

Beautiful Redemption caught me from page one. Maybe even from the first sentence - I loved Liis from the beginning. She doesn't put up with any bullshit and has Thomas on his knees from the start, which isn't saying little considering Thomas gets his way with everybody else. He is different from his brothers - where they're impulsive he's controlled, when they stay in their hometown working simple jobs, he is climbing the ladder as a fed in California. But though he might differ from his brothers, my eyes were glued to the page.

The story is fast-paced and I loved that they worked as feds and that it was present in the story. It's something I have seen in tv-shows but haven't read many books on before and it was really exciting to read about that kind of work. Beautiful Redemption also had more conflict than the first book in the series, Beautiful Oblivion - when reading this I almost felt like the first book was a prequel to this one. It had it's own story and it's own characters, though, so not really. But you definitely want to read these books in the right order.

Which brings me to another thing I really appreciated - the connection to Beautiful Oblivion. Since we follow different characters with completely different lives, it was nice that the storylines still really built on each other. The line connecting the two plots is very clear. No, I won't spoil you, you're just gonna have to go read it for yourself. I also loved seeing Travis and Abby from Beautiful Disaster again, because they might just be my favorite couple ever. So yeah. Needless to say, I recommend this big-time.

Now I'm craving the next book! (Which I'm hopefully ordering this weekend.)

Really, 4.5!

Other books in the series: (Links to Goodreads)
1. Beautiful Oblivion
2. Beautiful Redemption
3. Beautiful Sacrifice
4. Beautiful Burn

Have you read this book? Did you like it?

Book Review: Effortless by S.C. Stephens

Title: Effortless (Thoughtless #2)
Author: S.C. Stephens
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Pages: 487
Published: January 8th 2013

Summary: (Contains spoilers from the first book!)
After being caught in the middle of a love triangle that led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain on anyone, especially the soulful, talented man who held her heart. 

But life offers new challenges for every relationship, and when Kiera's love is put to the ultimate test, will it survive? Love is easy;trust is hard.







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Review: (Spoiler-free)

The first book in this trilogy, Thoughtless, was one of those books that could have been a standalone but wasn't. Things were pretty tied up at the end, the whole triangle-drama got an ending, and though I was excited for this sequel I didn't really know what it would be about.

Like in the first book, and this might be a minor problem I have with Kiera, she makes a bird out of a feather. A problem that could have been solved easily isn't, and that problem is what the story is centered around. Both books portray a problematic relationship, only for different reasons, and while I read I'm thinking, why are you making it so hard? Because it doesn't have to be. This makes me feel, in a way, like the plot is a little thin - or maybe not the plot, but the conflict.

The thing is, though, that I don't mind. While I'm reading, I'm hardly thinking about it, because the characters feel like real, interesting people and I want to know what happens next in their lives even if it is just another day in their everyday life. And though the conflict might be a little weak, the characters feel so strongly about what happens that it doesn't matter, cause believe every word of it.

In this book, Kellan is (for reasons I won't tell you) not always close geographically to Kiera, and I thought this would be weird, since the entire story centers around the two of them. But Stephens is really skilled at what she does and I flew through this book, because it's fast-paced and constantly moving forward, the dialogue is witty and characters keep embarrassing themselves. Mainly Kiera.

This is a New Adult book, so I wouldn't recommend it to readers who are too young, but other than that I think this is something you might enjoy if you like contemporary novels. Just read the first book first, haha.

Other books in this series: (Links to Goodreads page)
1. Thoughtless
1.5 Thoughtful
2. Effortless
3. Reckless
4. Untamed

Have you read this book? What did you think?

NaNoWriMo Day 13 - The Struggle And The Newfound Wisdom

Hi there! Today is November 13th and I'm finally, finally writing the NaNo-update I've been wanting to write for about a week now. NaNo itself has kept me so busy I haven't even read anything this past week, at all. Puh!

But for the past three days I have been sick, and after finally catching up on the chapter I was behind on, I decided it was time to tell you how it's going. Yesterday I started editing the first chapter of the second part, and here's what I've learned during November:

First of all, I've discovered that editing is hard. Truth is, I don't really know what I am doing - I have never before gotten to the stage of editing and it's difficult to decide what to keep and what has to go. In my head, everything is mixed up and detangling it all is a huge process, this giant jungle where I am lost and alone without a map. So yeah, there's that.

There's also the second thing I've discovered: Editing takes time. Since I have a long way to my school, and school five days a week, this is tricky. I squeeze in as much editing as I can at night, basically I have gotten home and gone straight to my computer these past two weeks. Then I've sat there until I can no longer avoid sleep. I've mostly managed to make it work though, mostly managed one chapter a day, which is something I'm really proud of. But I know I'm gonna have to go back through everything again, because though I edit I don't edit everything in the chapters. Then I really wouldn't have enough time.

Picture from my Instagram @teacupreads - My new Favorite Sweater and Notebook of Ides, where I go back and find strength when I need it. 

Third thing, the one I am most delighted to tell you about, is the great support I have found in my new-found writing friends this month, my most cherished ones Amanda and Martine. Last year, I didn't know anyone who participated in NaNo, so I did it all alone. I am completely taken away by the difference it makes to have someone else you can talk to, who is also struggling by their keyboard. Talking to them while writing sometimes takes my focus elsewhere, but also reminds me that it is okay not to know what I am doing or if what I am doing is good or bad, because it's like that for everyone.

If you are doing NaNo, please add me on the site! Over there I'm Teacupreads :) And tell me, how is NaNo going for all of you? What are your biggest struggles right now? Almost half the month has passed!

Also, for the chance that you're reading this, Hanna, I love you for being my biggest supporter in real life, even though you don't even know what I'm writing about <3

Have a great weekend, people!

October Wrap-up + November TBR

Since I am wrapped up in my writing/editing, this will be a short wrap-up. I didn't have as much time to read in October as I would have wanted, and unfortunately, I won't be reading almost anything in November either because of NaNoWriMo.

~ BOOKS I READ ~

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Fortunately, though, the books I did read I really enjoyed. One of the reviews are up, the other one is in the making.

Reviews: 3
October-favorite: An Ember In the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Pages read: 850
In Progress: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

WRITING: 
During October, my writing was generally slow, but I plan to more than make up for that during NaNoWriMo this month!

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:

• Candles of all sizes, everywhere
• My new cozy sweater

~ NOVEMBER ~
Like I mentioned above, I won't be having a TBR this month because of NaNoWriMo. Frankly, I plan to not read anything at all, and instead put all of my spare-time into my writing project. I have already done 1/4 weeks of NaNo and I will post an update here soon.

I hope you are all enjoying the last month of autumn, and reading lots of great books. Are you writing, too?

Book Review: An Ember In the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Title: An Ember In the Ashes (An Ember In the Ashes #1)
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 446
Published: April 28th 2015

Summary: Laia is a slave. 

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

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Review: (Spoiler-free)

A few weeks ago I read An Ember In the Ashes with a friend of mine - we both had it at home and thought it would be fun to do a buddy-read. I had ordered it home without really knowing much about it, except that a lot of people loved it and that the cover was stunning.

But there is a lot more to this book than a beautiful cover, although that doesn't hurt, either. We follow the events from two perspectives, Laia's and Elias' - at first their stories were separate but slowly they worked their way towards each other until they were intertwining. Though the two of them come from very different worlds, they have a lot in common and I was hooked from the start.

What I liked most about Laia was that she was scared, because we seldom get to read about scared people and that is what I really can identify myself with the most. The situations they are in are terrifying, and I know I would be scared. Getting to read about a young girl who was scared too, was nice. And inspiring, because she didn't let her fear stop her from doing what she believed was right, and she developed a lot through the book.

I really liked Elias as well, how he had to balance between who he was in his heart and who the people around him forced him to be, how he was searching for a life where he could just be himself. I also liked to read about his relationship to Helene, his best friend, and how it changed and became weird when things started changing between them. At times it bothered me that they kept avoiding it when they obviously should have just talked, but it also felt realistic. Nobody jumps at the chance to lose the people closest to them.

The world was really interesting too - it took me a while to grip it, but I liked the different cultures that existed and how stories were truth in some places and myth in others. Tahir really managed to create something unique, and I can't wait to get answers to all of my questions in the next book. Because I have a lot of questions.

The pace, the suspense, the characters, all of it mixed together in something I would like to call an easy five stars. Pick this book up, you won't regret it!

Other books in the series: (Goodreads links)
1. An Ember In the Ashes
2. A Torch Against the Night

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Movie Review: The Martian

A few days ago, I went to see The Martian on the theaters with a friend of mine - a lot of bloggers have been talking about this lately since the story is originally a book. I haven't read the book myself, but now that I've seen the movie, I really want to.

Because it was great! A lot of movies set in space tend to be very serious, bordering on boring. But though The Martian has some very serious moments and makes an important statement of a person's worth, it is filled with humor and had us laughing most of the time. Thumbs-up!

The way he solved things were just genius - it made me feel very not-smart watching him solve impossible things and how the entire world worked to help him get home... Goosebumps.

Yes, that's all I have to say - definitely worth your time. It is a long movie, 2h 22 min, but time flies when you're watching and you will not regret it. Watch the trailer below!

NaNo-Prep: Only two days left!

Yesterday I spent a few hours NaNo-prepping. Today is the 30th of October, so NaNo is only two days away. Exciting!

My November:

I might have mentioned it in an earlier post, I'm not sure, but in any case I will be revising the novel I finished this summer during NaNo this year. Meaning, I won't be working towards a word count, but rather towards revising the entire novel during November.

Yesterday I structured up the entire thing, and came to the conclusion I will have to revise 1 chapter each day. Which will be really intense and take most of my time, but NaNo is the time to make what sounds impossible possible.

HOW I AM GOING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE:

• Do as much homework as I can in advance
• Buy lots of candles and chocolate
• Make pep-notes to myself
• Make sure my friends and family understand why I won't have time for them next month

So that is what I will be doing for the next two days. And then I will make sure I'm off to a good start, because the beginning is everything. How are you guys prepping for NaNoWriMo?

Book review: 1984 by George Orwell

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Dystopia
Pages: 328
Published: July 1st 1950

Summary: The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell's prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 

1984 is still the great modern classic of "negative utopia" -a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel's hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions -a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time. - Goodreads





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Review: (Spoiler-free)

This will be a short review, mostly because I don't have a lot to say. The booktuber Ariel Bissett has been talking a lot about 1984 and so when I got the chance to read it for English class in school, I did. If I hadn't read it for school, though, I probably wouldn't have finished it.

Fact is that I like it more now than I did when I read it, because it was so slow and boring to read, but it has a message that is interesting. I read more for entertainment and this was focused on the political message. Maybe if it had been written differently I would have enjoyed it more.

What is good about it is that it differs from other dystopian stories. Firstly, it isn't YA so of course some elements are different from what I usually read, but mostly because of the ending, which I'm not gonna spoil. The end saved the book in my opinion, because it's what I remember most afterwards.

I don't really recommend this book. It has a good political message and it's a classic, so a lot of people know about it, but I found it slow and frankly, quite boring. If you want to read it though, don't let this review stop you.

Have you read it? Did you like it?

Book Review: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

Title: Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers #1)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Pages: 337
Published: July 1st, 2014

Summary: Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt. 

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red. 

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Review: (Spoiler-free)

So, I don't know if you knew this but one of my all-time favorite books is Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It was one of those you need to keep reading, but don't want to because you don't want it to end. When I heard every Maddox brother would have a book of their own, I was all for it.

Beautiful Oblivion is the first of the books in the series The Maddox Brothers, alas the first brother of Travis to have his story told. We get to follow the story from Cami's perspective, and one of the things I really appreciate is that she's a person of her own, with a different voice from Abby (Beautiful Disaster). I feel like often when spin-off series are made, they are too similar to the original story, character-wise. Beautiful Oblivion is not, instead it is compelling for it's own reasons.

Let's start off by swooning a little over Trenton. A lot, more like it. I don't know what it is, but every single one of those brothers have me drooling, and Trenton is definitely no exception. He is a tattooer, a bit rougher than his younger brother but with a soft side. He's light with an easy smile, but carries a sorrow that sometimes cuts through and calls for truth. Which is perfect for Cami who, bartender and all, is a bit tough herself but needs someone who one back down on her.

“I was just thinking now was as good a time as any to acknowledge that you’re perfect and it wouldn’t suck if you fell madly in love with me anytime soon."

There was this underlying secret, never outright named but always there, as to why Cami wouldn't just break up with her boyfriend and go be with her obvious right choice, Trenton. I had a feeling of what it was and was right too, but at times I felt it became a little too much - just tell him already, you know? It only bothered me a little, though. The story still had enough conflict to keep me going, witty dialogue and good pace.

I loved revisiting the places, the people, and I really liked how McGuire managed to make this a story of it's own, sometimes recognizing the characters from her first book but not letting them take over - this was the story of Trent and Cami, and it was good enough for me to read it again sometime. I definitely recommend it if you liked Beautiful Disaster, and if you haven't read that and think this one seems good, I'll recommend you start by reading it first. You'll get this story better if you do. Happy reading everyone!

The Maddow Brothers: (Links to Goodreads)
1. Beautiful Oblivion
2. Beautiful Redemtion (Review)
3. Beautiful Sacrifice
4. Beautful Burn

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend (Legend #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Dystopia, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 305
Published: November 29th 2011

Summary: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

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Review: (Spoiler-free)

I've wanted to read Legend for quite some time now, because it's one of those books that has been all over book blogs the last couple of years. I'm glad I finally took the time to do it, because Legend was a hit.

The thing with dystopians nowadays is that even though I love them, sometimes they tend to blend together from being to alike. I can read a book and puzzle together pieces of it that I have read about in other books, until nothing is really original about it. I didn't feel this way with Legend - from the moment I picked it up, I couldn't get it out of my mind. Some parts of it, like mentioned above, is similar to other books but it still draws me in and the similarities I do find have a fresh take. Thumbs up.

“If you want to rebel, rebel from inside the system.That's much more powerful than rebelling outside the system.” 

I love to follow both June and Day, because they are smart and passionate and unselfish, constantly trying to save or avenge the people they love. Without too much insta-love, they have chemistry from the start, and what feelings they develope through the book feels realistic and still intense. I won't spoil you, you'll just have to pick it up and read for yourself, but as the story goes and you learn more and more, details fall into place, I think the story gets even better. They are two kids trying to make the best out of their situations and their feelings, and that's what pulls me in. I could relate to them.

Also, hints of something bigger, nastier in the background makes me drool for the next book, which - thankfully - I have waiting for me on my bookshelf. The government is obviously up to no good, and I want Day and June to find out what's going on and put a boot in their faces, which I have a feeling they will.

It's a slow burner - it wasn't mindblowing but I feel a pull towards it, and still afterwards it makes me smile. I think I will continue to put in a good word for this one for a long time forward, even after I've forgotten the details. Right now, I'm telling you to go read it, because you won't regret it. I certainly don't.

The Series: (Links to Goodreads)
1. Legend
2. Prodigy
3. Champion

Have you read Legend? Did you like it as much as me?

September: Wrap up + October TBR

This month has been good, but even though August feels like years ago I can't believe yesterday was the last of September. Anyways, this was my reading-month.

~ BOOKS I READ ~

Legend by Marie Lu

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

1984 by George Orwell
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The review for I'll Give you The Sun is already posted, both the others I am still working on. Titles are linked to Goodreads!

Reviews: 5
September-favorite: I'll Give you The Sun was amazing.
Pages read: 980
In progress: None

I've also read about seven different manuscripts for school this month, which have taken time. I'm so looking forward to Fall break in a month when I'll have lots of time for reading, hopefully.

WRITING: 
This month I printed the first draft of my fictional story, and I had never before printed something I'd written so it was a pretty big deal. Now I'm in the process of editing but things are going slow. I hope I can pick up inspiration and speed during October, and then NaNoWriMo is upon us after that! Puh...

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:
• What little spare time I can find
• My new Bookstagram-account, @teacupreads , do check it out if you want to :)

~ OCTOBER ~
• An Ember in the Ashes
• Blue Lily, Lily Blue
• Throne of Glass

All of these books I have recently gotten home (bookhaul is on its way) and I'm so excited to read them, I'll definitely make space in my calender to read them during October. I like to leave some space though in my monthly TBR so that I can read whatever I feel most like :)

What have you been reading in September? What are your plans for October? 

Book Haul: I love Gift Cards

Hey guys!

I made an amazing find in my closet a couple of months ago - gift cards for my local bookstore worth 1400 kr, (140€) from my sixteenth birthday. I finally got a chance to use them, and this is what I've bought so far.

~ THE BOOKS ~

Legend by Marie Lu -- BookDepository || Goodreads

Prodigy by Marie Lu -- BookDepository || Goodreads

Champion by Marie Lu -- BookDepository || Goodreads

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson -- BookDepository || Goodreads

I've already read both Legend and I'll Give You the Sun, and I loved them both - now I'm looking forward to continuing with the Legend series. I also have some money left on the gift cards so I'll see what more I get!

Have you read any of these books? What books have you gotten lately?

Book Review: Lethal by Sandra Brown

Title: Lethal
Author: Sandra Brown
Genre: Detective story, Romance
Pages: 472
Published: September 20th 2011

Summary: When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.

But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society.

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Review: (Spoiler-free)

This was the second book by Sandra Brown that I read, the first being Low Pressure, one of my favorite books. No, it is not YA fiction, but this author is definitely worth for you all to check out, because, well, she's brilliant. I'm not usually a fan of detective stories, but her books are the perfect mix of suspense and romance, and I think a lot of you would like them.

Lethal centers around Honor Gillette, a widowed mother of a four-year old child, but the story is told from multiple perspectives, around five or six different, I think. It works well, mixes things up a bit, but my favorite perspective was still Honor and I would have liked if the other perspectives, for example the perspective of Diego, would have interlaced even more in the main storyline.

“I don't panic unless I have to. Wastes energy.”

What I really liked was that every character really had their own life, their own problems and in the end, a great reason for their own motives. At times reading, I didn't understand why some things were included - some peoples' stories felt distanced from the main plot, but it all intertwined very well in the end. I think my favorite character was Emily, Honor's daughter, because she was so genuinely good and kind. I had moments during the read where I doubted almost every character and their true intentions, which was really exciting but also made me feel like I couldn't trust anyone. But I could always trust Emily.

The romance, too, felt real, the chemistry between Lee and Honor present from the start. I really liked how the third part in their relationship was Honor's dead husband - always in-between them. It felt like their personalities fitted so well with how they acted towards each other, and how they both handled their chemistry in this weird situation they were in.

Lethal was packed with plot-twists, lots of characters and a general feeling of 'What is really going on?' which kept me on my seat. Sandra Brown has a real talent for mixing romance with detective stories and keeping you wanting more. Still, I didn't love it quite as much as I did Low Pressure and I would recommend that book to you first. Though, if the summary intrigues you, definitely pick this up!

 (A 3.5, really!)

Have you read anything by Sandra Brown? Do you want to read this book?

Book Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2)
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Thriller
Pages: 528
Published: October 23rd 2012

Summary: Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can't. 

She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren't. 

She couldn't imagine that after everything she's been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She's wrong. 

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? - Goodreads





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Review: (Spoiler-free)

I first started reading this book back in October 2014, but I only finished it a couple of weeks ago, which makes this book one of those that are really hard to review. I can't exactly recall my feelings for the first part of the book, and I also have a hard time recalling all of the events. But I will try my best to remember. 

The reason why it has taken me so long to finish this book is not, as one might guess, because I didn't like it. I really did like it - the story is fast-paced and the mystery of what is happening to Mara and what is real and not makes it a real page-turner. You simply need to know. The reason why I did not finish this book in one sitting is because it is also very creepy, and I'm both paranoid and easily scared. Yup. 

For a while, I was scared of the mirror in my bathroom because I felt like Jude would be standing behind me in it, smiling creepily. I have a wild imagination and it haunts me when I try to sleep at night, especially when I read stuff like this. Creepy can be both good and bad. If you like creepy, you'll love Mara Dyer. If you don't like creepy, you might like Mara Dyer anyways, but you won't like sleeping alone anymore. 

“Everyone is a little crazy. The only difference between us and them is that they hide it better.” 

Aside from this, what makes this story so special is that when I read, I really have no idea if what I'm reading is real or not. This, to me, is fascinating, and very well done by Michelle Hodkin. It draws you in like a hurricane, and it goes faster and faster the farther in you get. It also has a love story worth swooning over, so it definitely deserves all the attention it has gotten. 

The only thing I can think of that isn't so good is that compared to the first book, I feel like this one was a bit drawn out. It could of course be a side-effect of the fact that it took me a total of ten months to read it, but I still get the feeling of "Oh, this is happening. But something similar has happened before, though, right?" and that it is a bit slower to get trough. Also, while I do not complain on the love that we are given in this book, I would want the love itself to take more space in the story. Love keeps me going. 

Over-all, this book is creepy but in a lot of ways brilliant. It has a quick pace and an easy-to-love love-interest, also an interesting story-line. If you haven't read this book, you should do it! Myself, I will buy the last book in the trilogy soon, because I need the rest of the story!

Other books in the series: (Links to Goodreads)
1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
2. The Evolution of Mara Dyer
3. The Retribution of Mara Dyer


Have your read this series? Did you like it?

19/9-15: First draft of my manuscript printed

Today was a really big day for me. As in historical! The first draft of the story I've been working on for a few years now is now printed, and I hold it in my hand. Aaah!

I have never before printed something that I have written, and I have never before been this far along in the writing-process. It's so exciting and I feel so good and happy! All of today was spent marking in the script and making a new disposition for the story, since big parts of it are going and others are replacing them.

Currently, the manuscript is 220 A4 pages long, aka about 150 000 words. It is way to long so this is also going to be a challenge for me. But I feel like anything is possible right now and have high hopes for the future of this story!

Anyways, I just wanted to share this big moment in my life with you here on my blog. I'll probably be doing lots of work on this in the nearest future. Yay!

Are you writing anything right now? Do you prefer to read or write?

Movie News: Before I Fall to the big screen

I am so excited about these Movie news. It was quite a while ago that I read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, and I just found out it is actually going to become a movie!

It seems to me as if often the rights to great books are sold, but a movie rarely actually comes of it. Now, Zoey Deutch has been cast to star as Samantha Kingston in this production, so things seem to be moving. Nothing else has been announced yet but if I hear something more I will of course post it here!

Zoey Deutch is not what I imagined Sam to look like when I read, but I think (and hope) she can do a good job with the role all the same. Since so many people disliked the Vampire Academy movie-adaption, I never saw it, but Zoey played the role of Rose in it. Hopefully this will do the book more justice - we'll see, right?

What do you guys think about this? Have you read the book?

Book Review: I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

Title: I'll Give You the Sun
Author: Jandy Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 379
Published: September 16th, 2014

Summary: Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. 

But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. 

The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world. - Goodreads


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Review: (Spoiler-free)

Oh my lord.

When I was twelve years old, I read Jandy Nelson's debute book, The Sky is Everywhere and I loved it so much. That was a long time ago now, and this book, I'll Give You the Sun, is the first book she has released since then, and ever since it came out I have wanted to read it. I heard great things about it, and though at first I thought the storyline sounded a bit vague, I still wanted to read it because I remembered how much I loved her first book.

I loved this one more. Nelson is such an incredibly talented writer. I don't know how she does it but she has a way with words that just makes me feel so much. It is beautiful and heartbreaking both at the same time, the entire book is so colorful and well-planned that it takes my breath away.

“Meeting your soul mate is like walking into a house you've been in before - you will recognize the furniture, the pictures on the wall, the books on the shelves, the contents of drawers: You could find your way around in the dark if you had to.” 

The characters are amazing - I love them. Not as part of a story, the way we love characters when we read. I love them as humans, I love the way their minds work and even their flaws. They feel so real and raw and so exposed on the paper that I could not stop reading about them and hope that things would work out. Often when a story switches between two different PoV's, I favor one of them, but this time I loved both just as much. When one PoV ended, I wanted to say "Stop, wait, not yet!" but the other story caught me right away and I soon forgot about the other one.

I think Nelson is a genius when it comes to giving that little extra to a story. Small details that make the characters and their lives special, excentric, different - I felt this with both of her books. The way Noah describes how he feels by painting in his mind, the way Jude hangs on to every word of their grandma's superstitious bible, it so well describes who they are without actually saying it out loud.

Also, it jumpes back and forth in time, since Jude tells the story when they're 16 and Noah when they're 13. You find out things in a jumpy manner, but not the messy kind but the one that leaves you hanging for more. In the end it's all tied together so well and I just love the entire concept.

This review has been all praise, I know, but it was a long time ago that I fell this hard for a book. I thought it was amazing, it made me cry and it was seriously impossible for me to put down. I read it in one sitting, and I wish it had been longer. I also hope it doesn't take another five years for her next book to be released, but I will gladly wait that long if it is this good.

Now go read it!

Have you read this book? Did you like it as much as I did?

Book Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Genre: Classics, Fiction
Pages: 192
Published: April 10th, 1925

Summary: THE GREAT GATSBY, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. 

The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s. - Goodreads







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Review: (Spoiler-free)

I haven't read a whole lot of classics, but I have read enough of them to see a pattern - in my opinion, they tend to be slow reads. With this in mind, I was excited to start this book. It is quite short, but the movie is so long (haven't watched it, I just saw on netflix that it was over two hours ;) ) I simply guessed it must have a lot of content instead. Also, it's The Great Gatsby. If only to understand the references, I would want to read it. 

It was as I had thought - The Great Gatsby had the typical language of a classic novel - slow, reasonable, somewhat distant. A man telling a story, not living in it. But since it was something I expected, I actually enjoyed it. A slow burner, but it also burns longer afterward, and it suits both the time and the story. The character Nick Carraway is the one retelling what has happened and he is the definition of a reasonable man.

“I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

On to the story itself - I had thought this would be more of a love-story. It was, of course, but I feel like the focus wasn't on the love itself but on the dream of the past, on Gatsby's fame and what, in the end, it was worth. The more I think about it, the more I like it. It is a good story, of loneliness and how different events can line up to disaster. What's nice about the story also is that you get to know what you need to know - what happens in between the important events is not told, because it isn't needed in the story. 

There's not a lot to say besides that. The story was good, the pace was slow but still moving forward and I found myself liking most of the characters, flaws and all. If you haven't read the book yet and your thinking of doing it, you should, definitely! But take it for what it is, because then you will really appreciate it.

Have you read The Great Gatsby? What did you think?