Fracture by Megan Miranda





Genre:Contemp.-Fiction, Paranormal (YA)
Published:January 17th 2012
Pages:262
Publisher:Bloomsbury
Websites:Megan Miranda | Goodreads
My copy:bought by myself
Purchase:BookDepository




Blurb: Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it? Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature or something much more frightening?

A lot can happen in eleven minutes.

(Delaney) "I shouldn't be alive."
(Decker) "You were in ice-cold water. It slows the body's metabolism. So you don't use that much oxygen. Or something."
(Delaney) "Then how come everyone's acting like I shouldn't be alive?"
(Decker) "Because it's rare. I mean, really, really rare. Like snow in August."
(Delaney) "That's never happened."
(Decker) "No, I guess not. But it's not impossible, right?"

My thoughts: Lured in by a beautiful cover, a more than interesting synopsis and not to forget some really good reviews by other book bloggers, I had to pick it up. I was a bit frustraded when I read Fracutre is "for fans of best-sellers like "Before I Fall" and "If I Stay", because Before I Fall doesn't work for me, neither the content nor the characters. So it's not a lie to say I was skeptical of reading Frature. Not another bad book in my shelf. But thanks God, this book is different.

Fracture is well-written and I liked it content and of course the characters but sadly it hasn't rocked my socks off, as I expected. Even so Delaneys fate is quite fascinating and you automatically will care about that issue - the fine line between life and death.

I don't like spoilers but sometimes it's too difficult to explain without giving some facts. So if you want to read this book, do not read on the next few sentences, please. There are so many questions Delaney had, because of her abilities. Do they predicting death or causing it? Well, what would you do when you saw people are going to die very soon? Do you want to save their lives? Yes of course, I would try. That's what my first toughts would say. But is it right? You have to ask yourself if you are a life preserver or not! What about the saved life who will it 'acting' or will it generally be livable again? There are so many questions you have to ask but much more answers you can give. These questions and thoughts I had during the read make the book working for me.

Fracture is a page-turning read, but it is although a book which doesn't let you go. You have to think about it more than an hour or a day and it is one of a few books which touched my innerself.

Easter Holidays on FBP

Hi guys,

From Books Paradsie has to go on Easter holidays!

Well, it's a little early, you're right! But my desk is exploding. There is a lot of work I've to finished this month. Normally I would go on holidays next week, but I think this won't work. Damn! In the hope I could still go on holidays next week, I've to work up to 16 hours per day (my two little children who want to be engaged not to forget). As you can see there is no more time for my blog. I'm so sorry!


I want to wish you all Happy Easter!



I'm looking forward to be back on April 10th.
Thank you all.

Love,
Stephanie from Books Paradise

Books In Paradise #13

Hi guys! Hope you all had a great week. Check out my actual GIVEAWAY! And take a look on my bookshelf on facebook. Have fun.

I've got two books for review (thanks to H.K. Savage) and I bought five new books:


ღ The Path - H.K. Savage
ღ Thoeba - Donna Milward
ღ Angels' Fight - Nalini Singh
ღ Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare
ღ Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare
ღ I've got your Number - Sophie Kinsella
ღ Die Erfindung der Violet Adams - Lev AC Rosen


I read two books and two short stories this week:

ღ Cruise to Murder - Zoey and Claire Kane
ღ Daughter of Smoke and Bone 1 - Laini Taylor
ღ A Fairy Tale Ending - M.T. Murphy
ღ Blind Sight - Kait Nolan


I'm reading right now:

ღ My Soul to Save - Rachel Vincent
ღ Bundle of Trouble - Diana Orgain


I added on my wishlist:

A Temptation of Angels - Michelle Zink
Die Bestimmung - Veronica Roth
The Selection - Kiera Cass
Touched: Der Preis der Unsterblichkeit - Corrine Jackson



Well. I haven't read a book for the TBR-Pile-Challenge yet. Damn! This is why I decided to make a plan for reading these books. I will post this plan next weekend!

The Cruise to Murder Tour Stop: Guest Post, Reviews and Giveaway

I am happy to be one of the first few stops on The Cruise to Murder blog tour. Thank you to Molly Snow for organizing the tour and to Zoey and Claire for the review copies, guest post and ebook giveaway (both novellas) for one winner! Be sure to stop by Zoey and Claire's blog to check out the other stops on the tour.



Guest Post: Zoey's Big Throwdown




An Excerpt from Cruise to Murder:


More guests started to arrive to the stage party. Larry had a few of his magician’s equipment lined against one side. Soon, there was standing room only.

People started to dance, and Larry said, “Claire, you are already in my arms. Let’s take this opportunity to dance, shall we?”

That left Butch looking at Zo and Zo looking at Butch. They knew what was coming next. “Ask me,” Zo said.

“Okay, okay. Madame, would you care to dance with me?”

“I guess so…”

“That sounds convincing.”

She giggled. “I didn’t mean it like that. Excuse me. I would love to dance.”

He struck a pose, holding a hand out to her elegantly, his feet apart. “Let’s see if you can keep up.”

“Well, there’s a lot to me you don’t know. I can head-bang, for instance. Ask my daughter.”

Without a moment longer, Butch had her twirled around him like a helicopter’s propeller. He let go of her and she unwound round and round, sliding across the floor with the lean of the ship—toward Larry’s large black, disappearing trick cabinet.

Zo made contact. Thud! Clank. Clunk. The handle was knocked and the door flew open. A woman leaped out of the cabinet, flinging her arms around Zo’s shoulders.

People gasped and screamed out.

Zo grabbed the woman by an arm, flipped her over and pressed her against the stage floor.

“You win!” Butch called out, rushing over. “Zo, don’t move. Your opponent is a dead woman.”







Commentary by Zoey and Claire:


Claire: I love this scene. It shows how unpredictable our adventures can be. It also displays Mom’s swift reactions to terror. She has a lot more guts than I do at times, and I don’t totally understand where she gets it.


Zoey: I rely on my daughter’s keen, cool thinking, which keeps us heading down the straightest, safest course. Her weapon is her cell phone.

While our stories seem at times somewhat over-the-top, they could happen. And if we didn’t have the strength to confront dead people, the bizarre, or hideous bad guys, then we wouldn’t be able to follow through with our adventures and solve the mysteries we fall into. Instead, we would be screaming, running away, sitting in front of the TV, watching someone else’s adventure.


Claire: If you would like to learn more about us, visit our blog http://zoeyandclaire.blogspot.com. Check out what others have said, and order copies of our books. We are also holding a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway, so don’t forget to enter. Thanks to Stephanie for having us on her blog :-)









Review: The Riddles of Hillgate by Zoey and Claire Kane





Series:Zoey and Claire Mysteries #1
Genre:Mystery (Novella)
Published:October 18th 2011
Format:ebook
Publisher:BreezyReads
Websites:Zoey & Claire Kane | Goodreads
My copy:received from the publisher
Purchase:Smashwords



Blurb: Zoey is known around her town of Riverside for making bad decisions when it comes to auctions and real estate investments. When her savvy daughter, Claire, learns her most recent purchase is eighty acres on the haunted, desolate side of town, she is simply flabbergasted. This purchase soon reveals some hidden inconveniences, like—murder, skeletons, secrets, and the riddles of Hillgate Manor.

Claire: "Maybe that's why The Fillmores abandoned it in such haste. Maybe that's why it was a secret for so long and all these crazy things have happened."
   Zoey: "I know. But don't worry, darling, we are safe for tonight at least."
   Claire: "Mom, I have never heard you so sure of yourselt."
   Zoey: "Well, having a colt .45 under my bed can do wonders."

My thoughts: The Riddles of Hillgate is the first book in the Zoey and Claire Mystery Series. I do not really want to give a summary, because this book is too short and I do not want to let the cat out of the bag.

The beginning of this novella is something less than spectacular and it seemed to be a bore. It is anything but boring, even though there are some ups and downs. When the murder is overwhelmed it seemed to be the end of the story, but the story still goes on. To be honest it costed me quite an effort to continue reading at this point, because what should be happening yet?! Well, you might be surprised what happen next!

Zoey and Claire are an amazing team. Zoey reminds me a bit of a Brtitsh upper-class lady. It's difficult to explain in detail, but it might be her character, her appearance, the marked preference for antique objects, her light-heartedness and her optimism to transform an abandoned estate into a glamorous one. And of course her quite deadpan humour - I loved it! But do not let Claire out of consideration. She is an exceptionally character too.

All in all I want to say: Read this mind candy book and have a lot of fun with The Riddles of Hillgate.







Review: Cruise to Murder by Zoey and Claire Kane





Series:Zoey and Claire Mysteries #2
Genre:Mystery (Novella)
Published:February 2012
Format:ebook
Publisher:BreezyReads
Websites:Zoey & Claire Kane | Goodreads
My copy:received from the publisher
Purchase:Smashwords



Blurb: Zoey and her daughter Claire are bon voyage on an elite celebrity cruiseline. Little do they know they will run into Claire's publishing idol, billionaire Felix Belmont, and that trouble is following him on the seas. When they disembark at Kinikiwiki Island, this mother-daughter-duo get tangled up in voodoo, murders and an international conspiracy. Will they solve the mystery before their own lives are at stake?

My thoughts: The first book in the Zoey and Claire Mysteries series was quiet good and I hoped the same for the second. I am very happy to had the chance to read this novella too. Thanks to the authors and publisher. The second book in the series do leave no doubt about its entertainment. It was amazing.

Zoey and Claire really surprised me. "Cruise to Murder" seemed to be an 'normal' cruise-mystery, but it wasn't. You will find the first dead body very soon and of course Zoey and Claire won't be Zoey and Claire if they wouldn't get to the bottom of that mystery. You can be sure you can't stop reading. Well, I think Butch had described Zoey and Claire at best:

"You two are murder magnets and yet so sweetly enticing, so thrilling and heart pounding, filled with scary adventure. It is terrifyingly interesting to be around you two."

The story is quiet fascinating with an more ambitious content than the first novel and it affords lots of surprises. I was perfectly wonderful entertained! Take my advice and read this series. You will not regret, I promise!





Giveaway


Win a copy of the first two books in the Zoey and Claire Mysteries Series!





This giveaway is open to all and ends on March 25th 2012!
  • Both ebooks (format of the winner's choice) to one lucky winner
  • One entry per person only! Multiple entries will be disqualified!
  • The winner will be announced on my blog and also be contacted via email by the publisher. (you agree me to give your email-address to the publisher!) The email will include detailed information to claim your prize! 
  • The winner must complete the form to supply his full name and postal address, if necessary. If all your information is not completed, we will automatically pick a new winner!

GOOD LUCK!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Beach #10

Today I've found a book, a little eyecatcher, and its blurb sounds good. I will added it on "wishlist-maybe", because I have so many books on my wishlist (of course I have to add a lot right now...!) and I have to prioritize.



Wide Open by Deborah Coates






Genre:Urban-Fanatsy
PublicationDate:March 13th 2012
Format:Hardcover
Pages:304
Publisher:Tom Doherty Associates
Websites:Deborah Coates | Goodreads
Pre-order:BookDepository





Blurb: When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days' compassionate leave, her sister Dell's ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her. The sheriff says that Dell's death was suicide, but Hallie doesn't believe it. Something happened or Dell's ghost wouldn't still be hanging around. Friends and family, mourning Dell's loss, think Hallie's letting her grief interfere with her judgment. The one person who seems willing to listen is the deputy sheriff, Boyd Davies, who shows up everywhere and helps when he doesn't have to. As Hallie asks more questions, she attracts new ghosts, women who disappeared without a trace. Soon, someone's trying to beat her up, burn down her father's ranch, and stop her investigation. Hallie's going to need Boyd, her friends, and all the ghosts she can find to defeat an enemy who has an unimaginable ancient power at his command.






________________________________________________________________________
Cover Beach is a feature by Stephanie from Books Paradise. I love covers and I must confess that I usually buy my books by the cover. Yes, I know it isn't as right as rain... Cover Beach is also a post about covers I love (regardless of I would buy it), sometimes about the difference between German and English covers and something along those lines.
________________________________________________________________________

Daughter of Smoke and Bone: Zwischen den Welten by Laini Taylor (german)




Serie:Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1
Genre:Urban-Fantasy (YA)
Veröffentlichung:February 23rd 2012
Seiten:4924
Herausgeber:Fischer-FJB
Websites:Laini Taylor | Goodreads
Mein Exemplar:gekauft
Zu kaufen:Amazon (DE)



Klappentext: Es war einmal, da verliebten sich ein Engel und ein Teufel ineinander. Es ging nicht gut aus. Karou ist etwas Besonderes. Sie hat blaue Haare so glänzend wie Seide und filigrane Tattoos. Sie ist in den düsteren Gassen Prags genauso zuhause wie auf den Märkten von Marrakesch, und sie spricht fast alle Sprachen der Welt, nicht nur die der Menschen. Doch Karou hat ein Geheimnis. Manchmal verschwindet sie für Tage, ohne jemandem zu sagen wohin. Außerdem kennt nicht einmal sie selbst ihre wahre Herkunft. Bis eines Tages auf der ganzen Welt mysteriöse schwarze Handabdrücke an Türen erscheinen. Geflügelte Fremde, die durch einen Spalt im Himmel geschlüpft sind, brennen sie in Holz und Metall. Einen von Ihnen trifft Karou in der pulsierenden Altstadt von Marrakesch – und eine Liebe beginnt, deren Wurzeln tief in eine gewalttätige Vergangenheit reichen. Am Ende wird sie mehr über sich erfahren, als sie sich jemals hätte vorstellen können...

Es war einmal,
da veriebten sich ein Engel
und ein Teufel ineinander.

Es ging nicht gut aus.



Meine Meinung: Wow! Der Auftakt in Laini Taylors neue Serie "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" beginnt in  normaler Kulisse, in den kleinen Gassen von Prag. Karou befindet sich auf den Weg zur Uni, als sie plötzlich von hinten angegriffen wird. Das lässt Karou jedoch völlig kalt. Es ist nur ihr Ex-Freund der als Vampir verkleidet versucht Karous Herz zurück zu gewinnen. Doch seine Mühe scheint vergebens. Beim Aktzeichnen in der Uni begnet Karou ihrem Ex schon wieder und zudem sehr unfreiwillig: Er hat sich dort als Aktmodel angemeldet und posiert vor ihrem Kurs. Und dann erhält Karou einen ihrer geheimnisvollen Aufträgen und der Leser begibt sich zusammen mit ihr in eine andere Welt, eine Welt voller fantastischer Wesen und geheimnisvollem Wissen...

Daughter of Smoke and Bone trägt im Deutschen noch den Untertitel: "Zwischen den Welten", welcher dem Leser einiges verrät und erst im weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte in seiner Tragbarkeit gefestigt wird. Das Buch ist in vier Teile unterteilt. Ein jeder Teil beginnt mit "Es war einmal", wie im folgenden Beispiel:

Es war einmal,
da lag ein Engel im Nebel
und rang mit dem Tod.

Und ein Teufel kniete über ihm
und lächelte.

Es ist nicht nur die Einleitung eines neuen Abschnittes, es ist das gesamte Buch (Aufmachung & Inhalt) was mich komplett fasziniert. Und an dieser Stelle möchte ich das erste Mal die Widmung eines Autors aufgreifen, da diese dass Buch wundervoll beschreibt:

Für Jane.
Und eine neue Welt voller Möglichkeiten.

Eine neue, andere Welt voller Möglichkeiten ist ein Satz der mir einfach nicht mehr aus dem Kopf geht und sehr viel bewegt. Die Fantasie kennt keine Hindernisse, geschweige denn Grenzen. Lass deiner eigenen Fantasie freien Lauf und folge ihr. Seit mehreren Jahren habe ich meine eigene Fantasie aus den Augen verloren. Mein Kunststudium an den Nagel gehängt. Ohne Fantasie und die daraus entstehende Kreativität war es einfach sinnlos Stunden vor einem weißen Blatt Papier zu verbringen und noch nicht mal einen Strich fertig zu bringen. Irgendwann beließ ich es dabei, schloss mein kleines Atelier mit einem resignierten Blick und dem Glauben, dass es für immer geschlossen bleiben würde. Und dann las ich Daughter of Smoke and Bone!

Es ist ein Buch so voller Leben und fantasiereich wie ich es noch nie erlebt habe. Eine Welt neben unserer Welt die keine sichtlichen Grenzen kennt, in Hass und Krieg verloren gelaubt, doch durch die Liebe einen Funken Hoffnung gewann. Und eben diesen Funken gilt es zu bewahren.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone ist atemberaubend, unglaublich spannend und zu gleich voller Leidenschaft. Und es ist mehr als erstaunlich, wie es die Autorin schafft, soviel Geschehnisse, vor allem aber auch Eindrücke und fantasievolles in ein so "kurzes" Buch zu packen, ohne den Leser weder zu langweilen noch zu erdrücken. Von ihren Ideen und Beschreibungen der Dinge und Wesen mal ganz abgesehen.

Ich kann es jedenfalls kaum abwarten den zweiten Band zu lesen, doch bis dieser im Original erscheint, wird es noch eine ganze Weile dauern, geschweige denn bis zur deutschen Übersetzung. Nichts desto trotz bin ich davon überzeugt, dass sich das Warten lohnen wird und freue mich "Days of Blood and Starlight", den zweiten Band.

Wordless in Paradise #11 - yummy cupcakes


Black Short Monday #11 ~ Blind Sight




Short Story:Blind Sight - A Story of the Mirus
Author:Kait Nolan
Anthology:Kiss me, Kill me
Genre:Paranormal Romance
Published:February 25th 2011
Format:Kindle ebook
Websites:Kait Nolan | Goodreads
My copy:bought by myself



Blurb: Isla's ability as a Seer has made her a life-long captive of a paranormal crime lord. Fae assassin, Ransom, offers her a chance at escape, but when she touches his hand she sees only blood, horror, apocalypse. What reason can Ransom have for wanting to rescue her, and can she possibly trust a man who deals in death?

Okay, pissing of assassin by denying him the job...probably not the smartest thing you've ever done.

My thoughts: This version of Blind Sight is not the current version. But you can get the current version for free. In Kiss me, Kill me the story stops without another vision and this is why the story of this anthology is a bit boring and I can only reccommend that you should have to read the current version. (You can get it HERE.) Blindsight is an awesome short story of Kait Nolans Mirus series and I really liked it. It seemed to be an interesting series, with a lot of paranormal creatures and a cracking good story. This is why I added the first two novellas on my basket.




_______________________________________________________________
BSM is a feature exclusively titled by Stephanie from Books Paradise. Mondays are definitely black. I thought what could I do to make it better. In the last time I consistently read short stroies, novellas or something along those lines and what lends itself better for reviewing those stories as a black monday? - Right, a black Monday!

Cover Beach # 9

Since one week I'm in love with the beautiful cover from the German version of "All Men of Genius". I absolutely love colors, book covers and synopses, which fit together so harmoniously. What do you think about this amazing cover?



Die Erfindung der Violet Adams by Lev AC Rosen







Genre:Steampunk, History (YA)
Original Title:All Men of Genius
PublicationDate:March 8th, 2012
Format:Hardcover
Websites:Lev AC Rosen | Goodreads
Pre-order:Amazon (DE)





German Blurb: London, 1883: Im Zeitalter des Fortschritts halten Erfindungen wie Luftschiffe und Roboter die Welt in Atem. Violet ist selbst ein Ingenieursgenie. Schon immer war es ihr Traum, am berühmten Illyria-Institut zu studieren. Aber das ist den Männern vorbehalten, da von jungen Damen in erster Linie erwartet wird, ihr hübsches Aussehen zur Schau zu stellen anstatt sich den Kopf über mathematische Formeln zu zerbrechen. Kurzerhand schlüpft Violet in die Rolle ihres Zwillingsbruders und wird an der Eliteschule angenommen. Ihr falsches Spiel bringt bald schon seine Tücken mit sich, vor allem, als sie den charmanten Grafen Ernest kennenlernt. Dazu gesellen sich noch größere Gefahren für Violet: In Illyrias geheimen Laboren treiben vom Ehrgeiz zerfressende Wissenschaftler ihr Unwesen. Die Gier nach Macht lässt sie vor nichts zurückschrecken...






________________________________________________________________________
Cover Beach is a feature by Stephanie from Books Paradise. I love covers and I must confess that I usually buy my books by the cover. Yes, I know it isn't as right as rain... Cover Beach is also a post about covers I love (regardless of I would buy it), sometimes about the difference between German and English covers and something along those lines.
________________________________________________________________________
 

Copyright © 2012 From Books Paradise
Template by Ipietoon. Sponsored by Online Shop. Vector by Artshare.