Review: I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

February 11, 2019 Ali@abookishlife5 Comments

Main character Fixie Farr may have frustrated me but I very much enjoyed Sophie Kinsella’s latest rom com. It’s funny, it’s sweet and reminded my just why I love this author’s books so much.

THE BLURB

The irresistible new standalone from Sophie Kinsella is a story of love, empowerment and an IOU that changes everything . . .

Fixie Farr can’t help herself. Straightening a crooked object, removing a barely-there stain, helping out a friend . . . she just has to put things right. It’s how she got her nickname, after all.

So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees, she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank her, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, scribbles her an IOU – but of course Fixie never intends to call in the favour.

That is, until her teenage crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and needs her help – and Fixie turns to Seb. But things don’t go according to plan, and now Fixie owes Seb: big time.

Soon the pair are caught up in a series of IOUs – from small favours to life-changing debts – and Fixie is torn between the past she’s used to and the future she deserves.

Does she have the courage to fix things for herself and fight for the life, and love, she really wants?

MY REVIEW

Do you ever get so frustrated with the characters in a book you want to reach in and give them a shake. That’s pretty much the way I felt while reading I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella. This may sound like a bad thing, and for a lot of people it probably is, but for me becoming that invested in a character is a very good sign and I very much enjoyed this story. I mean it’s written by Kinsella so you know it’s probably going to be fantastic but this is for me was one of her best. Yes it’s frustrating but it’s also funny and sweet and just a pleasure to sink into.

I absolutely adored the meet cute at the start where both main characters are in a cafe when disaster strikes and Fixie’s rescue of Seb’s laptop means he feels he owes her a favour. In fact I loved the whole central concept of them constantly helping each other out in an escalating series of IOUs. They’re very cute together and with the chemistry between them it’s obvious they’re perfect for each other, if only they’d realize it.

I may have been driven nuts by Fixie but that was only because she was too darn nice, and there was a lot I could relate to. Not the need to fix everything (I’m quite happy with mess and chaos) but more her inability to assert herself and her feeling of not being good enough. What’s frustrating though is that she’s usually right, she’s good at what she does and she has good ideas, she just won’t stand up and insist others listen. I was desperate for her to take a stand and speak her mind but instead she lets everyone else walk all over her. If you want to know whether she does take a stand I’m afraid you’ll need to read the book but what I will say is I loved how her character developed.

As for romantic interest Seb, I have to admit I didn’t have any particularly strong feelings about him. He also seems nice (most of the time), he’s funny and sweet but it never really felt like we saw too far below the surface. I did however love all of his interactions with Fixie, they’re super cute together and he’s pretty much the only one who builds her up. I did want them to get together so badly.

The secondary characters were also very well done and I loved what an eclectic mix they were. I particularly loved some of the customers in the family store. They may only have appeared briefly but they certainly left an impression.

So with all of this combined with Kinsella’s always wonderful writing you may be wondering why this doesn’t get a full five stars, there are a couple of reasons. Firstly I didn’t like that Seb wasn’t single and I’m afraid I don’t like when one couple becoming involved breaks up another regardless of how horrible the girlfriend is.

The second issue was Fixie’s family. I loved that family and the family business was such a big part of the story. I loved the way the relationship between the siblings was portrayed and I loved how it developed and shifted. What bothered me was her mother whose actions didn’t really match up with the way Fixie described her. She’s absent for the majority of the book and never seems to give Fixie much credit or even to particularly appreciate her.

I can feel a rant brewing so I’d better leave it there, particularly as it’s such a small part of what is a fantastic read. Despite an unusual concept the story is a little on the predictable side but I enjoyed it so much I couldn’t stop reading and devoured it in one sitting.

If you’re a fan of Kinsella or if you just like a good romcom I would most certainly recommend this.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advance copy of this book. This has in no way influenced my review.

WWW Wednesday: 6th February 2019

February 6, 2019February 5, 2019 Ali@abookishlife26 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I just finished a book last night so I’m currently trying to decide what to read next. I have signed myself up for a group read of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han so I’m kind of tempted to just start it a little early. This is one of those books I’ve had and been meaning to read for ages and never got around to. I have watched the movie and really enjoyed it so I have high hopes for a cute and funny read which is just what I’m in the mood for right now. There is of course a danger that if I read this I’ll end up having to read the whole trilogy though.

On audio I lost my hold on Mythos by Stephen Fry and given there were 55 people waiting it seems like it may be some time before I get it back. On the plus side this does mean I have some time to listen to In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire. I have been loving her Wayward Children series so I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages. They’re quite short so I’m already half way through and while I don’t think it’s gonna be my new favourite in the series it’s a great listen.

Recently Finished

I’m still struggling to concentrate on anything for any length of time and just don’t know what book to pick up so my reading has been a tad eclectic over the last week.

The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson, #9) We Should All Be Feminists A Cat, a Man, and Two Women A Night to Surrender (Spindle Cove, #1)

I did manage to read Dirt on the Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones, the ninth book in the Charley Davidson series so I’m getting closer to being able to read the galley of the thirteenth and final book. I did have some initial doubts about this installment (I’m fairly certain the accepted treatment for amnesia is not leaving them as a Jane Doe and pretending you don’t know them) but I did like that this was a more straightforward story than the last couple have been. It was nice to take a step back from the whole saving humanity from the forces of evil thing.

I also managed to make a start on my reading around the world challenge with A Cat, A Man and Two Women. It is a short read but there are some great characters, and a wonderful depiction of the relationships between them and Japanese culture in general (plus there’s a cat being a typical cat). Not entirely sure it counts but I also read essay We Should All Be Feminists by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which was a really great take on what being a feminist means. I’ve also picked up a short story collection by the author so that will no doubt be up soon.

Reading an essay on feminism then reading a historical romance was probably not the best idea but yeah that’s kinda what I did. I usually love Tessa Dare but A Night to Surrender really didn’t do it for me. There were far too many instances of Bram forcing himself on Susanna and her initially keeping quiet so as not to be ruined before succumbing to the desire she didn’t realize she had for him (hmm). It had some good moments but I’m afraid this is probably my least favourite book by Dare so far.

Reading Next

Work’s still busy and I’m feeling like I’m in a bit of a reading slump so I’m not entirely sure what I’ll pick up next. I keep doing that thing where I pick something up read a few pages then put it down because I’m not in the mood. I may try and continue on with Charley Davidson, they do seem to be the only books that hold my attention right now or I may go pick something off my NetGalley shelf. I am looking for some books for challenges too so if anyone has any recommendations for books with yellow covers or that are set in the southern hemisphere (but not in Australia or New Zealand) let me know.

The Curse of Tenth Grave (Charley Davidson, #10) Nocturna Empress of All Seasons

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Reading ❤

Teaser Tuesday: Someone Like Me

February 5, 2019February 4, 2019 Ali@abookishlife1 Comment

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.

I was struggling to decide on a book to use for this week’s teaser so adopted the complex selection process known as picking up the one closest to me which just happened to be Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey. I haven’t had a chance to dive into this one yet but I do love the sound of it and I loved Carey’s other books The Girl with all the Gifts and The Boy on the Bridge so I have high hopes.

My Teaser

Fran simply wasn’t ready for a change on this massive scale. With a yelp of dismay, she sank down on her knees among the weeds that were there to the touch although she couldn’t see them anymore.

Pg 153 Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey

Blurb

SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. SHE SOUNDS LIKE ME. NOW SHE’S TRYING TO TAKE MY PLACE.

Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get.

But there’s another side to Liz—one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent.

And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating.

The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.

Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

February 4, 2019 Ali@abookishlife8 Comments

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Believe the hype, this is a wonderful story. It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s very cute and more than a little steamy. I adored it.

THE BLURB

It’s high time for Stella Lane to settle down and find a husband – or so her mother tells her. This is no easy task for a wealthy, successful woman like Stella, who also happens to have Asperger’s. Analyzing data is easy; handling the awkwardness of one-on-one dates is hard. To overcome her lack of dating experience, Stella decides to hire a male escort to teach her how to be a good girlfriend.

Faced with mounting bills, Michael decides to use his good looks and charm to make extra cash on the side. He has a very firm no repeat customer policy, but he’s tempted to bend that rule when Stella approaches him with an unconventional proposal.

The more time they spend together, the harder Michael falls for this disarming woman with a beautiful mind, and Stella discovers that love defies logic.

MY REVIEW

I am always a bit skeptical about books that seem to have a lot of hype around them, particularly when it’s a romance, but this really blew me away. It’s most definitely an “adult” romance (there are more than a few fairly explicit sex scenes and a lot of time talking about sex) but it’s sweet and funny and I really shipped Stella and Michael.

The story is essentially a gender switched Pretty Woman, with wealthy and attractive Stella hiring escort Michael to pretend to be her boyfriend. Needless to say what starts out as a fake relationship very quickly develops into real feelings but given Stella is paying Michael to be the perfect boyfriend and they come from very different worlds could it ever become something long term?

So far so tropey right? We’ve all read the fake relationship becomes real story a million times before but what makes this one unique is main character Stella and the reason she needs a fake boyfriend. Stella may be extremely good at her job, be wealthy and beautiful but she’s also autistic. She struggles with social interactions and physical intimacy so hires Michael initially to teach her how to get better at sex and later how to be in a relationship.

I absolutely loved the portrayal of Stella in this story. It’s an #ownvoices book as the author is autistic so it’s very sympathetically and sensitively done and Stella always comes across as completely believable. She’s just so socially awkward, honest and unsure of the right thing to say or do. It is funny at times but in quite a sweet/cute way rather than a nasty one. I have to admit that I related a lot to Stella, possibly too much, leading me to look into autism in women further. I suspect I will not be the only one to read this and recognise a lot of the traits in themselves so if nothing else this book will definitely raise awareness of what it turns out is an often missed condition.

I also have to say how much I loved Michael and how fantastic he is with Stella. He’s incredibly sweet and kind (new book boyfriend material for sure) and never pushes her for more than she can give. It would be all too easy for him to take advantage, something a lot of previous men seem to have done, but he never does and it feels like a genuinely equal relationship. That’s not to say it’s all sweet and innocent, there are plenty of steamy moments and as a couple they have a real spark. It’s clear from the very first moment that if they can each overcome their issues and insecurities they could be perfect together.

If I had one gripe about this book it would be those issues which felt like they were dragged out a little too long. They were built up into something they really weren’t and could have been resolved fairly easily without all of the drama, although like all good romances I suppose there had to be some roadblock to throw things off course just before the big finale.

The focus is very much on Michael and Stella but I should also mention how wonderful the secondary characters were too. I loved Michael’s family and the way the author used them to bring in a little of the Vietnamese culture, it really added something extra to the story. I would have maybe liked a few more nice people in Stella’s life but for the most part they do try, and really none of this story would have happened without her mother giving her a push.

This really is a fantastic read and even though I will admit it’s not perfect I enjoyed every second of reading it. I’m very excited to see what the author does next.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book. This has in no way influenced my review.

Review: A Curse So Dark & Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

February 3, 2019 Ali@abookishlife10 Comments

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

This may be yet another Beauty and the Beast retelling but it is one of the best I’ve come across. I absolutely loved the new spin the author put on this classic tale and main character Harper is truly awesome.

THE BLURB

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

MY REVIEW

I absolutely adore retellings, reading pretty much every one I can get my hands on, but even I have to admit my first thought on seeing this was not another Beauty and the Beast retelling. I must have read at least a dozen of them so it was difficult to see how Kemmerer was ever going to make this one stand out. Somehow however she does and I can say, hand on heart, that this is one of the best versions of this classic tale I’ve come across.

It may be based on a story we all know and love but the author has put her stamp on it and turned it into something a little bit different. There’s no beautiful but misunderstood young girl held captive by a hideous monster who turns out to be nice on the inside and they fall in love. Instead we have a contemporary heroine who accidentally manages to get herself kidnapped and transported to a new and magical world. There’s no beast either as the prince she meets is handsome and charming and maybe just a little too smooth. There is a curse placed upon him (it’s in the title) but this curse is that he’s doomed to repeat the same season over and over again until he manages to find someone to fall in love with him. At the end of the season, if he hasn’t found true love he is transformed into a terrifying beast who will kill everyone and everything in sight before time resets and he begins the season anew.

It really is a wonderful take on the story and I absolutely loved this notion of time repeating for Prince Rhen and also the sense of urgency his impending transformation brings to the story. I loved that the enchantment caused everything within the palace to repeat despite Rhen and captain of the Guard Grey being the only ones there. Food magically appears at certain times, rooms tidy themselves and musical instruments play the same music they did for Rhen’s first season (even without the musicians). There’s something wonderfully magical about it but it’s also a little bit sinister too.

What truly made this book for me however was main character Harper. I think she may possibly be one of my all time favourite characters. From the very start she has incredible strength and resilience and over the course of the book she develops into something even more, finding confidence and self assurance. Physically she’s not perfect, she has cerebral palsy which limits what she can do and means she struggles with a lot of things, but while it does slow her down at times it doesn’t curb her determination.

I truly admired how she coped with everything thrown at her. She’s magically transported to a new and more primitive world, is held captive in a cursed palace, becomes entangled with local politics and has the incredible pressure of being told she can save a kingdom on the brink of war. She has the odd wobble (fair enough I would too) but she doesn’t wait around for someone else to rescue her or fix things but instead steps up and does it for herself. Yes she does do some incredibly stupid things and doesn’t always listen but she acts which in my opinion makes her awesome.

Her relationship with Prince Rhen is also very well done. For a Beauty and the Beast inspired story it’s pretty light on the romance, there’s no insta love here or even an instant attraction. Harper isn’t naive and knowing about the curse pretty early on she never buys into his charm (and actually calls him on it). They bicker and they fight as neither wholly trusts the other and I have to admit I was never fully sure their relationship would turn romantic (and I wasn’t sure I wanted it to).

Rhen is an intriguing character but his guarded and thoughtful nature make it difficult to really become invested in him. He doesn’t show much of what he feels and to be honest he’s so dispirited and defeated at the start of the story that it’s not clear he feels much at all anyway. He does develop over the course of the book and by the end I did come to really care about him but I’m still not sure I ever really felt like he and Harper made the best match.

Captain of the Guards Grey however I almost instantly loved. From when he first accidentally kidnapped Harper for Rhen there was just something about him that made me happy. He’s incredibly loyal, brave and stoic but there’s a really soft and fun side to him that I thought made him a better match for Harper. Some of my favourite moments in this book were in fact between him and Harper which is probably not the way it should have been.

The writing is great and I thought the pace of the story was pretty much spot on. It’s a fast and easy read and there’s just enough intrigue and action to keep you hooked throughout. I loved the world building and while some of the secondary characters were a little stereotyped there was enough depth and complexity in the leads to make up for it. I will say I wasn’t wholly convinced by Harper’s back story and family and it felt a little bit forced to fit what the story needed but given how much I loved Harper I can let it slide.

Overall therefore, this is one of the best retellings I’ve come across and one I’d recommend all lovers of the genre pick up. The ending left things a little bit open so I can’t wait to find out what’s next for these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are very much my own.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

WWW Wednesday: 30th January 2019

January 30, 2019January 29, 2019 Ali@abookishlife33 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece Yet again I’m not really reading anything right this very moment. I just finished a book on Monday night and have been feeling too tired to start anything new.

I am still listening to Mythos by Stephen Fry on audio and making some not bad progress despite not doing much driving which is when I do most of my listening. So far I’m really enjoying it. There have been a few parts which seemed almost like lists, who was descended from who, what they are known for, which words are derived from their name, but there are some great stories in there too.

Recently Finished

My focus over the last week or so has been on finishing writing up some reviews to try and clear off my NetGalley shelf so I’ve been mostly re reading over the last week rather than starting anything new. I have this terrible habit of finishing a book and instead of writing up a review (or at least the notes for one) I pick up my next book. It’s great at the time but not so good four months later when you finally get around to writing said review and have to resort to reading the blurb to remember what it was about.

Rather than reading blurbs I decided this time to skim through the books and ended up just reading them. It was The Kiss Quotient and The Other Miss Bridgerton both of which are fantastic (and very addictive) so I was more than happy to read them again (and the reviews are now drafted).

The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1) The Other Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys, #3) The Enchanted Sonata

I did pick up one new book this week, The Enchanted Sonata by Heather Dixon Wallwork, but unfortunately it was a little bit of a disappointment. I loved the concept of it (a retelling of the Nutcracker with some Pied Piper thrown in) and there are some magical moments but the writing was a little clunky. It’s not terrible, it just didn’t live up to expectations.

Reading Next

As is the norm for me in January and February I’m working crazy hours so not sure I want to start any of the books I’ve been overly excited about until I can properly enjoy them. I do have some library books that should be easy and enjoyable reads so I think I’m going to focus on them for a bit.

Next up I suspect will be book 9 in the Charley Davidson series which I picked up last week, hopefully that’ll get me closer to reading that ARC of book 13. My hold on the fourth Wayward Children book In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire also came in so I don’t think I’m going to be able to resist for long. And speaking of things I can’t resist I don’t think I’ll be able to wait much longer to read 99 Percent Mine.

The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson, #9) In an Absent Dream (Wayward Children, #4) 99 Percent Mine

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Reading ❤

Teaser Tuesday: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

January 29, 2019 Ali@abookishlife5 Comments

I know I’m really late with my teaser this week but I wanted to post something from King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo and I only managed to get my hands on a copy a few hourss ago. I am ridiculously excited about this book, I feel like I’ve been waiting since Siege and Storm for Nikolai to get his own book and it’s here at last (I’m kind of scared to read it).

Anyway, as I haven’t even started it yet you can have a few sentences from the first chapter, I’m not risking skimming any further forward 🙂

My Teaser

“Listen,” said Pyotr, and as the wind shook the roof of the house and the fire sputtered in the grate, Dima thought he heard something more than the storm – a high, distant cry like the yowl of a hungry animal or the wailing of a child. “When the wind blows through the graveyard, it wakes the spirits of all the babies who died before they could be given their Saints’ names. Malenchki. They go looking for souls to steal so they can barter their way into heaven.”

Pg 5 King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Blurb

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

WWW Wednesday: 23rd January 2019

January 23, 2019January 22, 2019 Ali@abookishlife20 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece Ummm… I’m kind of between books at the moment. I finished one at the weekend and between work and not feeling particularly great I haven’t started anything new yet.

On audio, I lost my hold on the Diviners by Libba Bray yet again (I still have 10 hours to go) but I’m kind of ok with that as the hold I’d placed ages ago on Mythos by Stephen Fry came in. Stephen Fry also narrates which is a bonus as he really is a wonderful narrator. I’m only a couple of hours in (creation of the earth) but finding it absolutely fascinating. I knew bits and pieces of the myths but nothing like the detail and depth in this. Myths have always been something I’ve loved so have high hopes for this.

Recently Finished

It’s been a bit of an odd reading week for me, work has gone crazy as it always tends to in January, so I’ve been finding it difficult to focus on any one book and have had days where I’m just too tired to read anything. I did however manage to finish a couple of books, the first of which was Slayer by Kiersten White, which I’d received from NetGalley.

I am the biggest Buffy fan so I was very excited to get my hands on a new book by White set in the Buffyverse and it’s really great. It took a little while to get going, there’s a lot of backstory to get through in the beginning, but once it got past that I very much enjoyed it. It’s a little light on feels and the story is a little predictable but it’s got a similar feel to the show and a lot of the same humour. It is the first in a series so I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next one. A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Second book finished was actually a re read of A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I got this from NetGalley way back in August last year and couldn’t resist reading immediately. I did not however review it so when I realised it was due out and I needed to get my review written I thought I should have a quick skim through to refresh my memory… and a quick skim through turned into a full re read. It just sucked me in yet again. Harper is such a wonderful main character you can’t help but get behind her and I loved how unique the author made a story that’s been told hundreds of times before. If you like retellings I highly recommend.

Reading Next

January is proving to be a bumper month for new books so I think the remainder of the month is going to be taken up with them rather than ARCs. I bought a copy of The Wicked King by Holly Black and have pre ordered King of Scars and 99 Percent Mine (all of which are on my most anticipated list) so I think they’ll be up soon.

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1) 99 Percent Mine

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Reading ❤

Teaser Tuesday: A Curse So Dark & Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

January 22, 2019January 20, 2019 Ali@abookishlifeLeave a comment

This week my teaser comes from Beauty and the Beast retelling A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I received this from NetGalley during the summer last year and being the biggest fan of retellings I couldn’t resist reading immediately. Needless to say while I loved it I did not write a review or any kind of notes after I finished so ended up re reading it over the weekend to refresh my memory. And, it was just as good as the first time. I’ve read quite a few Beauty and the Beast retellings and I think this is one of the best.

My Teaser

“What would you have done,” I ask quietly, “if we had not arrived?”

“Did you see their swords?” she says against my back. “I’m pretty sure I would have died.”

loc 718 A Curse So Dark & Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Blurb

In a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer gives readers another compulsively readable romance perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer.

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

WWW Wednesday: 16th January 2019

January 16, 2019January 14, 2019 Ali@abookishlife13 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Pretty safe to say my reading plans went out the window when my NetGalley request for Slayer by Kiersten White was approved. I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer so I’ve been really looking forward to this book and while it’s still relatively early days it is not disappointing. There’s a lot of the same humor the show has and I’m loving all of the references to the characters I love, although so far none have actually appeared yet 😦

On audio, I’m still working my way through The Diviners by Libba Bray. I did manage to make some decent progress at the weekend while I was out digging up the garden (I’m starting a veg garden in preparation for the Brexit food shortages … no not really). Not convinced though I’m going to get it finished before it returns itself to the library this weekend.

Recently Finished

I’ve had a great reading week with three books finished and all of them pretty great albeit very different. The first book finished was Fallen Angel by Chris Brookmyre which I’d received from NetGalley. I’ve been a big fan of Brookmyre for a long time so I was very excited about a new standalone contemporary thriller from him (he’s been venturing into some unusual territory with his last few books) and it proved to be a great read. Conspiracy theories, narcissistic personalities and family secrets (pretty much all of my fave things) play a big part of this story and there are some wonderfully well developed, and horrid, characters to enjoy. A little too early for a full review but yep, I’d recommend.

Next up was Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones, the eighth book in the Charley Davidson series. I am completely addicted to this series about a private investigator who’s also the grim reaper. I have to admit however that while I did enjoy it I do think this is the weakest book in the series so far. There were some big events and reveals but I felt like not very much happened. There were also a couple of little inconsistencies and actions that didn’t really make sense and some foreshadowing of what’s to come that’s rather concerning. It did still make me laugh and I love the characters so will read on but keeping everything crossed what I think is coming won’t actually happen.

Third and final book finished was I Owe You One by another long time fave author Sophie Kinsella. It feels like forever since I managed to read a book by Kinsella so it was really nice to sink into one again, and yeah I really disappeared into this one. I started it early afternoon on Saturday and read the whole thing in pretty much one go (I did break for food occasionally). I should hopefully have review up this week but if you’ve read Kinsella’s other books, think Got Your Number. It’s not quite as funny but has the same kind of characters and chemistry.

Reading Next

I probably need to slow down a little on my reading to catch up with some reviews but if I get the chance I would like to pick up Twisted by Steve Cavanagh, I did read the first few pages on Friday but then Slayer came in so it got kind of bumped down the list a bit. I may also attempt to pick up one of my older galleys. I’m thinking possibly The Trouble with Emma by Katie Oliver which has been on my shelf for almost three years.

Twisted The Trouble With Emma