AWOL

I am sorry I've been AWOL for a while, but I've just been swamped with the house and all. We've spend every evening and every weekend there for the last months to get it inhabitable before moving in, which happens tomorrow. Yay!

However, that still doesn't mean that I'll be able to blog more. Au contraire my friend. Due to a mix-up from the telephone/Internet company we probably won't get any Internet until earliest 2nd October. I am honestly not sure how I will cope! I hope you'll stick it out with me.

In my mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox is a meme created and hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

It is a great way for everyone to share their new books with the world: bought, gifted, won, borrowed or from the library. 

All links go to Goood reads. 

Bought:

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

The other day I found myself if pursuit of books with some romantic and/or sexual tension, you know the kind that makes your stomach full of butterflies. I've felt that missing from many books I've read lately. The Personal Demons series might be what I'm looking for, according to many reviews I've found. Any thoughts on these books?

Review: The Single Girl's To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk

Plot: A hilarious and romantic standalone novel from the bestselling author of the I Heart series Rachel Summers lives every area of her life according to a to-do list and so far, she is ticking most things off. She has a job she loves (make-up artist to the stars), the perfect boyfriend, a cosy London flat and a fantastic circle of friends. All that remains on her life to-do list is to get married, have a baby and live happily ever after. Simple. Well, not quite! Suddenly, Rachel's perfect boyfriend wants to take a break. She's convinced it's just cold feet but when the break turns into a split, her best friends Emelie and Matthew step in and come up with the ultimate heartbreak cure -- the single girl's to-do list, the top ten things Rachel must see and do to kick-start her fabulous, new single life. But nothing can prepare her for the adventures that unfold as the to-do list takes them all over town and even abroad, and proves to all three that love is out there if you're willing to take a chance! (Summary from goodreads.com)

My opinion: Before I read Twilight and found the whole YA scene (about 2,5 years ago-ish) I mainly read chick-lit, especially Sophie Kinsella. The Single Girl's To-Do List is the first chick-lit novel that I've read in about a year and I was looking forward to reading it. That pretty cover also helped selling it. 

I did, however, not like it as much as I'd though. I found the idea of Rachel changing her life after a tough breakup interesting and being a list-girl myself I could relate to that part. One would think, with so many crazy things for Rachel to do, the novel would be hilarious and fast-paced, but sadly I found the novel slow and at times even rather slow. I was actually not very interested in Rachel's new love life at all. It has taken me over two weeks to finish this book and that doesn't make for a good read, because I've been know to devour a book that I love in less than two days during the time I worked full-time. With this one, I just didn't have the urge to pick up the book wherever I was because I wasn't interested enough to know how it ended. However, I did finish it eventually so it wasn't a bad book, just not a very good one.

The part I liked best was the reader's Single Girl's To-Do Lists at the end of the novel. They were fun.

Long vs short chapters

I prefer a book with more but shorter chapters over a book with few and long ones. My reading always progresses much shorter with longer chapters, as odd as it may sound. But if I read on the train on my way to work or just before bedtime, I usually look at the length of the upcoming chapter and decide if I'm to start it or not. If it's short I most probably will but if I find it too long I won't bother because I will no be able to finish all of it anyway and I don't like stopping the reading mid-through a chapter. Short chaptered books thus are often faster reads for me. 

The book I'm currently reading has rather long chapters and it's taken me forever to read because I don't bother to open the book and read just a few pages and not coming to any kind of ending. Not even a cliffhanger ending but almost mid-sentence. I'm all for short chapters. How about you?

In my mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and is a way for everyone to share their new books with the world: bought, gifted, won, borrowed or from the library. All links go to Gooodreads. 

Gifted:

Epic fail by Claire LaZebnik

This was sent as a RAK in August by Sara @ Just Another Story and due to some problems with the mail it finally arrived this Friday. Thanks so much Sara! It seems so good! A modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into it. 

Bought:

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles 

This book has gotten many great reviews and it does sound like a great read. What more reasons do you need? 

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver 

I would've preferred to get the UK version (called Forbidden) because it is so much prettier and I am obviously very shallow... but then I had the first book in the US version and shallow me wants the books to match.  

And also bought... 

Criminal Minds Season 3 (5-disc set) 

I am well aware of the fact that Criminal Minds is not a novel but a television series. For someone who says that she's not into crime stories and police work I've found myself totally obsessed with this series during the summer. And I do have an every so slight crush on Dr Spencer Reid. I always did like a nerd! 

What was in your mailboxes? 

100 YA Books

This list of 100 YA books seems to be circling the blogosphere. I myself found it at Boktycke. And being slightly OCD'd, I like lists. I live by lists, especially to-do lists. Anyway I decided to answer the 100 YA Books list myself too. Bold titles include books I've read and titles in italics are books that have a place on my bookshelf but that I have yet to read.

So, here it goes.

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Callagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals  (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)
13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)
18. Christopher Paolini  - Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)
31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
38. John Green – Paper Towns
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)
44. Lemony Snicket -  Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)
50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
52. Markus Zusak  - The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
66. Michael Grant – Gone  (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld  - Leviathan (1, 2)
86. Scott Westerfeld  - Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)
92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host
93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

Well, not too shabby, eh? Although I do have a long way to go before I've finished them all!

In my mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and is a way for everyone to share their new books with the world: bought, gifted, won, borrowed or from the library. All links go to Goodreads.

Bought:

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

I've read some great reviews on this paranormal novel and I do love boarding school novels/movies. Maybe because there hardly are any in this part of the world.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Also one of them pre-ordered books that arrived this week. Around the time that I pre-ordered it, I read loads and loads of raging reviews but lately I have come across a few not so great as well, so I guess I'm just gonna have to see for myself.

How was your week?

Review: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Plot: I see him and I know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.

KAYLA is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying-and thrilling-gene that will change her life forever.

LUCAS is dangerous, gorgeous ... and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny. (Summary from goodreads.com)

My opinion: When I showcased this novel in an IMM the other week, I got a comment that this book and the others in the Dark Guardian series were a guilty pleasure, and I might just have to agree with that. For me, a guilty pleasure is something you like although you know you shouldn't and that is sort of the case with Moonlight. There are no existential questions to ponder, very few twists you don't see coming and the end is incredibly predictable, but still I could not bring myself to stop reading.

The novel started off with a prologue, and I have mixed feelings about prologues. They can be awesome when carried out well, but they can also ruin a lot if they're not and I find that this prologue is almost a spoiler and I would've though it better to have left it out completely.

If you're looking for a deep philosophical novel this is not a book for you. You enjoy it while you read it but afterwards you never think of it again. However, it was a cute and incredibly fast and straightforward read. You get what you expect in a sweet package. And sometimes that is exactly what you want.

Book Blogger Hop (7)

The Book Blogger Hop is a place for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  Hosted by Crazy for Books,  this weekly meme is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, get to know someone new and basically just share our love of books! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list! 

This week's question:
What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season? - A particular book release? Halloween? The leaves changing color? Cooler temperatures? A vacation?

The thing I look most forward to this fall is moving in to our new (but old) house. This summer, me and my husband bought an old school house in the Swedish countryside. It was built in the 1860's but renovations have been made since and there are running water and electricity. However, it still needs some updating to the 21st century regarding wallpaper and such, so we've been working hard evenings and weekends on with what will be the master bedroom.

Beside that I also always love the air in the fall, so I also look forward to long walks on countryside roads beside forests of yellow and red.

August RAK Wrap-Up

Another RAK month already passed by. I think it's almost scary how fast time flies nowadays. The RAK idea is marvelous and it's so exciting to see if you'll get something and what it will be. However, it is also exciting so send books out and see how they'll be welcomed.

For me, if July was a little slow in the RAK department, I had better luck in August!  

Gifted:

I was sent Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne from The Reading Owl @ Graceful Reads. Thank you so much! Review's coming up soon.

Sara @ Just Another Story also sent me Epic Fail by Clair LaZebnik but that novel has yet to arrive. I do look forward to it though! Thank you Sara! 

Sent:

I only had the finances to send out one book this month and that was to birthday girl Kelsey @ Enchanted Books. I decided to get her The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han because it was on top of her wish list and because I loved it when I read it last year. Now that I think about it, I sent this one last month too...