Short Update - Podcast

A New Bookcase

Yesterday we went to IKEA to get me a present for my birthday.
We had french fries at the restaurant. Yum!


And this is what I got:
A bookcase on wheels!


More room for my books.
We immediately began rearranging.


Doesn't it look awesome!?
Because of the wheels it can be easily moved to get to the books in the bookcase behind it.


After midnight we celebrated the start of my birthday.

Inherit the Stars - Book Review

Inherit the Stars (Inherit the Stars #1)
by Tessa Elwood

What is it about:
LOVE AND LOYALTY.

As the youngest daughter of the House of Fane, Asa lives every day of her life in honor of both, for herself and her people. But as her kingdom's food and energy crisis peaks, Asa must find more to fuel Fane's survival.

Taking the place of her older sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the prosperous House of Westlet, seems like a straightforward solution. Forging an unforeseen bond, however, leads to an unavoidable division of loyalties. One simple truth lies at the heart of the matter, and only Asa can decide which one to tell.

What did I think of it:
This is a cool read.

Asa is impulsive and naive. In the first chapter she trying to get her sister to a medic on the moon of a planet where riots broke out, telling the commander of the army to not retaliate while the rioting civilians are bombing the army.

This naive, idealistic view of the world keeps influencing Asa throughout the story: Food shortage? Can't be, she just bought a pastry at a shop!

Instead of being annoyed by this (like many other reviewers apparently are) I actually liked this. Asa was steadfast in her naive view of the world, making it an actual character flaw instead of an easy tool to get the story going. I will tell you that her naive bumbling made me suspect all kinds of other characters of all kinds of nasty plots, just because she was so trusting and not because they did anything to deserve my mistrust.

Out of love for her oldest sister she takes the place of the middle sister in an arranged marriage and that's when she really gets herself in over her head. I loved seeing her blunder about trying to make the allegiance work and to prove she is an asset instead of a liability.

If there's two things I could say against this story it's that I'd have loved to see a bit more of Asa and both her sister and her husband together. Most of what Asa does is out of love for her sister, but we never get to see the two of them interact. Same goes for Asa and her husband: I wanted more scenes where I could really feel them connect.

Even without those things I did very much enjoy this book and I'll definitely get my trotters on the other book in this duology.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable SF YA read.


buy from bookdepository

To Ruin a Gentleman - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

To Ruin a Gentleman (The Scarlet Chronicles #1)
by Shana Galen

What is it about:
The true story of the Scarlet Pimpernel . . .
Angelette, the recently widowed Comtesse d'Avignon, only invited Viscount Daventry to her country house party as a favor to her sister. When the handsome British lord arrives—two days late—he's full of unnerving tales of unrest and violence in Paris. Angelette assumes it's all exaggeration...until her chateau is attacked and her life threatened. Daventry rescues her, and the two are forced to run for their lives. But when danger closes in, will the viscount stand at her side or save himself?

Is not the one you've been told.
Hugh Daventry visits France frequently to import wine for the family business. On his way out of the country, he stops at the comtesse's house party out of obligation. But after meeting the raven-haired beauty, he tries to persuade her to leave France with him. When the peasants attack, he realizes he's already too late, and now he must protect Angelette, whose sharp tongue is far from angelic. Too soon the couple is caught up in the rising revolution, dodging bloodthirsty mobs, hiding from soldiers, and embroiled in the attack of the Bastille. Hugh wants nothing but to leave tumultuous France for the calm of England. He knows Angelette is intelligent and resourceful—a survivor. But can Hugh survive without her?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a delicious and suspenseful novella.

Set at the start of the French Revolution this novella shows a bit about the tumult and riots that take the country. Hugh and Angelette have to flee from the angry revolutionaries to stay alive and fall in love in the mean time.

This novella is the start of a series and it manages to deliver both in the whirlwind romance between Hugh and Angelette and in making you eager for more in this series. I couldn't put this book down. I had to see how the two of them would make it out alive and I wanted to see them give in to the attraction that sparked between them from the start.

I liked that Angelette is strong and independent. She might have been surprised by the outbreak of the revolution, but that doesn't mean she will just lay down and surrender. Hugh wants nothing more than to return to his own country, but can he leave Angelette behind?

All in all a satisfying read. I'll be sure to get hold of the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a delicious Historical Romance.


find buy links here

Always and Forever, Lara Jean - Book Review

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3)
by Jenny Han

What is it about:
Lara Jean is having the best senior year.

And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.

Life couldn’t be more perfect!

At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks . . . until she gets some unexpected news.

Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

What did I think of it:
This is an awesome conclusion to this trilogy.

Where there was a bit of a love triangle thingy in the other books, it was absent here. I liked that the conflict in this book was about where they wanted to go with their life and relationship and about growing up and becoming your own person.

Lara Jean certainly showed a lot more maturity than in previous books, and while once again they weren't communicating enough, I loved how Lara Jean and Peter were together.

All in all this book is the perfect fun and fluffy farewell to Lara Jean and you bet I'll reread this trilogy and will investigate other books by Han.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable fluffy YA read.


buy from bookdepository

P.S. I Still Love You - Book Review

P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2)
by Jenny Han

What is it about:
Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, so I eagerly picked up the next book.

And this is once again a very enjoyable and mostly fluffy read.

There is a bit more drama than in the first book. There were moments I wanted to bang Lara Jean's and Peter's heads together. Yes, this may be the first time for Lara Jean to be in a relationship, and the second time for Peter, but why they couldn't just communicate was beyond me.

Kitty and Margo were both just as annoying as in the first book. Kitty with her petty meddling and attention seeking, Margot with giving the worst relationship advice ever. Why she thinks she is an expert is a mystery for the ages.

That being said: I did have a great time with this book. It's mostly light, fun, and entertaining. I could mostly relate to how Lara Jean felt, and I loved that there was a healthy relationship between Lara Jean and her father. All in all a great read and I immediately picked up the last book after finishing this one.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and enjoyable YA read.


buy from bookdepository

Anniversary and Drama