Offline for 2 weeks! (Namibia)

Dear reader of my blog,

I will be offline for 2 weeks because I'm on a trip to Namibia!

I will be back on May 2nd.

There will be no blog posts, and I will not answer my e-mail.

All the books I've read during the trip, will get their review once I'm back!

April wrap-up and expected reviews for May can be found here.

See you later!

April Wrap up - Book Haul & What to Expect Next Month

Hi there! You're probably wondering why I'm writing my April wrap up already.

I'll tell you later today about that 😊

April was a pretty good reading-month so far! I'll also tell you more about the books I've bought or received and I'll show you what book-reviews to expect next month! Let's go.

 

  

DIGITAL BOOKS

(either from Netgalley, authors, giveaways or self-bought)

   

PHYSICAL BOOKS

(either from Celebrate Books, authors, giveaways or self-bought)

   

   

   

What book are you most excited about to read next month?!

Review: Wildman

Author: J.C. Geiger
Started reading: April 15th 2017
Finished the book: April 18th 2017
Pages: 336
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Published: June 6th 2017
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads score: Not enough reviews
My score:

Synopsis:
Lace Hendricks is homeward bound, four hundred highway miles from the best night of his life. There's an epic graduation party brewing, his girlfriend will be there, and they've got a private bedroom with their names on it. when his '93 Buick breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Lance is sure he'll be back on the road in no time. After all, he's the high school valedictorian. First chair trumpet player. Scholarship winner. Nothing can stop Lance Hendricks.

But afternoon turns to night, and Lance ends up stranded at the Trainsong Motel. The place feel ominous, even before there's a terrible car wreck outside his room. When Lande rushes out to help, the townies take notice. They call him Wildman, and an intriguing local girl asks him to join in their nighttime adventures. He begins to live up to his new name. As one day blurs into the next, Lance finds himself in a bar fight, jumping a train, avoiding the police. Drifting farther from home and closer to a girl who makes him feel a way he's never felt before - like himself.

My thoughts

It's a nice quick read, not to hard to get through. I did feel myself wandering off all the time. I kept doing other things than reading this book. My attention was not there, that's the reason I gave the book 3 apples.

Pros

• Cover and story: You think you've figured out the cover pretty quick, but you don't! It gets explained in the final chapter and that was beautiful. I got a flutter in my heart because of the explanation, I liked the aspect. The cover actually adds something to the story right now!
• Hidden message: Be yourself, make your own choices and live with the day. The hidden messages in this story are great. I feel like this could be a book for people struggling with choices in life.
• Transformation: I like the transformation Lance is undergoing in this book. He's so awesome the last few chapters, I like him a lot like that. I hope he'll stay that way!!

Cons

• Lance: Until the last part of the book I didn't get Lance. It was so hard to understand for me that he wanted to go home, but was not taking any action to get home. I understand the fact that the Buick is important for him, that got clearer during the time he spent away from home. But the first few days he was stranded I was like; You had 20 opportunities to get home, do something! It's hard for me to understand somebody who doesn't really know what he wants...
• "Friendship?": So Lance gets to know a group of kids who call themselves friends. I don't get the conversations they have and the things they do with and to each other. I usually enjoy conversations in a book, but not with this book, I didn't understand...
• Kept wandering off: Like I said before; I kept wandering off. It was hard at some parts to keep reading and I wasn't  that excited to pick up the book again. The last few chapters added something and made me more at peace with the book.

Overall

If you like contemporary, I think this is a book for you. This book has such beautiful life lessons and you go on a trip with someone who is getting to know himself. Lance is finding himself and is starting to make his own choices. Finally he is enjoying his freedom. That was the most exciting part about the book for me.

Memorable quotes from this book

"Stories matter. The stories we tell about each other. The stories you end up telling yourself."

"Are you having a midlife crisis?" Miriam asked.

"I'm eighteen."

"I know. But you've always been advanced."

Other opinions about this book

"A thought-provoking, hilarious, eloquent story of a young man realizing that the world is much larger than the one set up for him."

- Kirkus Reviews

What's your opinion on contemporary books?!

  

Review: Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)

Author: E. L. James
Started reading: March 11th 207
Finished the book: April 15th 2017
Pages: 606
Genres: Erotica, Adult Fiction
Published: April 17th 2012
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 3.88
My score:

Synopsis:
Ana and Christian have it all - love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.
Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice and fate conspire to make Ana's deepest fears turn to reality.

My thoughts

So when Fifty Shades was totally hyped, I bought the three books and started reading. The first was okay, liked the second more, and then I started reading the third book (this one). I couldn't get through. I tried twice, but did not finish. A month ago I decided with a girl from the bookclub, to read the book together.

And look at me now! 4 apples! This is the favorite in the series so far, and I'll tell you why.

Pros

• Christian & Ana: I LOVE Ana. She is a fierce woman who know's what she wants and isn't afraid to say so. I LOVE Christian. He is so tender, smart and loving. But I LOVE them even more when they are together. I love their conversations. Ana being stubborn and Christian trying to cope with it. This is the third book, so these two know each other for a while now, that's what makes it so nice to read.
• Tension: This book has a real nice plotline. The sex is still there, but it's not about all that. There is real tension and danger and this made me read everything pretty quickly. The second part of the book is the best.
• Inner talking: What I adore so much about these books is Ana's inner speaking. Her "inner goddess" and the conversations she has with herself, are so funny! It's something pretty unique, not something you see everyday and I really enjoyed that part. I know it's something that's also in the first and second book and it's strong that it's still here in the third book!

Cons

• Sex overload: Okay, so it's not Fifty Shades when there is no sex in it, I totally understand.. Every time they have sex Ana has like 8 orgasms, just NOPE. I did enjoy the fact that the focus is not as much on the sex scenes in this book. It feels like the writer set the tone for that aspect in the first and second book. I know Ana gets spanking when she rolls her eyes, but sometimes I really rolled my eyes during the hot steamy sex they had, AGAIN.
• DNF once: So like I said, I tried to read this book before but I just couldn't.. Just be aware, if you liked the first and second book, wait a while before you pick up the third book. And also; fight yourself through the first 30%, those are pretty slow to my opinion. I can't really explain right now why I DNF this book before..

Overall

I actually really enjoyed this book, I did NOT expect that. I'm actually kinda sad now.. That it's "over" (I know there is the Grey-point of view book). I kinda have a book-hangover right now? I can't believe it!

I did give this book 4 apples, mainly because I DNF the book before, TWICE. So there is something in this book that wasn't okay for me before. I did really enjoy this book this time, its fast paced, full of tension and love and romance. Yay!

HATERS.. Don't hate me okay?!

Other opinions about this book

"In a class by itself."

- Entertainment Weekly

Memorable quotes from this book

"I think you can only be truly mad at someone you really love."

"My world was ordered, calm, and controlled, then you came into my life with your smart mouth, your innocence, your beauty, and your quiet temerity... and everything before you was just dull, empty, mediocre... it was nothing."

"Just remember that men are from a different planet, and you'll be fine."

Whats your opinion about the Fifty Shaded series? Did you read the books? Did you watch the movies?

  

GIVEAWAY: Walking Barefoot (25 free copies)

Hello everybody, Happy Easter!

In this post you can find the link and a free-coupon code to the book Walking Barefoot.

This is a Giveaway; there are 25 free copies available! All you have to do is follow the link and use the code at the checkout to receive the discount.

Synopsis:

Set in a futuristic London in a world ravaged by war, Walking Barefoot explores the life of Will, past and present. The cocksure eighteen year old who goes traveling in a bid to find himself. The city-living adult who struggles to be happy despite his well paid job, upper quadrant apartment and sexy girlfriend. When nightmares begin to haunt his sleeping and walking life Will is unsure whether he is suffering from the illness that killed his father or being led by unseen forces to uncover a city-wide conspiracy. As his paranoia heightens he must ask himself - is he willing to lose himself to find the truth?

About the author:

Grace Coleman is a thirty year old Londoner, working in the business side of Television. After years of tinkering with writing and completing a Curtis Brown Novel writing course in 2013, Walking Barefoot is her first published novel.

When not pretending to be an author or TV hotshot, she enjoys country walks, sitting in pubs and visiting the zoo.

How to receive your free copy:

Click the image to Smashwords, order the book and use the following code:

ZV79R

25 free copies are available until May 2nd! Happy reading!