Falling for the Highlander (Highlanders #4) by Lynsay Sands (audio book)

  Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands

 Blurb:

Lady Murine Carmichael has known her share of bad luck. But when her debt-ridden half-brother tries to sell her off in exchange for a few Scottish horses, it’s the final straw. If keeping her freedom means escaping through harsh countryside alone, so be it. She has barely begun her journey when she lands an unlikely escort—the brawny Highlander who just refused to buy her virtue.

Dougall Buchanan was disgusted by Lord Danvries’ shameful offer, but Murine herself tempts him beyond measure. Even bedraggled and dusty, the lass glows with beauty and bravery. Dougall wants to do more than just help her flee. He wants to protect her—with his life and his heart—if she’ll only let him. For Murine may be pursued by a powerful foe, but nothing compares to the fiery courage of a Highlander in love.


I tried, I really did. I loved many other books by Lynsay Sands and I had been so looking forward to this book and I really wanted to like it, especially as I had been worried about Lady Murine and wanted to know what happened to her ever since she left with her brother in "The Highlander takes a Bride".
Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the book.
Don't get me wrong, it is well-written, it is sweet and nice and the narration (I listened to the audio book) was really well done and I really like to listen to Ellen Newlands but I just couldn't listen to the rest of the book.

I am pretty sure that it would have been different if I hadn't read so many books by the author before I started listening to "Falling for the Highlander" but I felt like I was listening to some interchangeable book whose story was rather foreseeable, everybody was doing what I expected them to do, the heroine was sweet, innocent and rather naive whereas the hero was strong and honorable and, well, you know the rest, right?
Apart from the story line that seemed very familiar, I was missing the chemistry between our hero and our heroine. They seemed nice together, right, but there was nothing that made me feel as if they were made for each other or the next dream team in the making. Nothing.

I would have loved to learn more about Lady Murine and her future but I don't think that I will try again to read this book or to listen to it.
It is still three stars because the audio book is well done and I like the narration, the book itself - it is alright but ...

★★★

Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle #1) by Diana Wynne Jones

 Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 

 Blurb:

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.


A family's favorite for a long time now, "Howl's Moving Castle" is the one book my daughter still takes with her, when she travels because it feels like home.

We've read it as a family ages ago and still love it.


It is pone of those books that gets to you and that you read and re-read and that is never far from your mind because it is so special and so much fun to read!

Some quotations are still used in our daily life, everyone of us knows that it is better to hide when Sophie starts to launch an attack against the weeds or starts to clean. Oh, and of course all of us know when something can't be found that we had just placed somewhere safe, well, we know that Sophie has been on one of her tidying sprees... again.

Witty, imaginative and simply wonderful - this book never gets old and my family and I, we just love it!

★★★★★

 

 

 

Wovon du träumst - Kira Gembri

 

Wovon du träumst von Kira Gembri 

Inhalt:

Die 18-jährige Emilia hat eine ganze Liste von Träumen: Zum Beispiel möchte sie gerne Klavierspielen lernen, ein Konzert besuchen oder einfach nur wissen, wie der Regen klingt. Hinter jedem dieser Punkte steckt für sie eine große Herausforderung, denn Emilia ist taub. Nachdem sie ihr Leben fast ausschließlich unter Gehörlosen verbracht hat, muss sie sich in der Welt der Hörenden erst zurechtfinden – und dann begegnet ihr auch noch Nick.
Nick, der sich so locker und oberflächlich gibt, obwohl seine Augen immer müde wirken.
Nick, der als virtuoser Geiger berühmt war, bis ein tragisches Ereignis alles verändert hat ... 


Es gibt bisher kein Buch von Kira Gembri, das ich gelesen habe, das ich nicht begeistert verschlungen hätte - und dann am liebsten gleich noch einmal gelesen habe.

In ihren Jugendbüchern gibt es immer ganz besondere Protagonisten, immer die mit den "kleinen Macken" oder den größeren Problemen und Behinderungen. Immer nimmt sie sich dieser Figuren und ihren Probleme auf sehr sensible und einfühlsame Art an und zeigt, dass man auch unter widrigen Umständen sein Leben in die Hand nehmen und leben und lieben kann.
Liebenswert sind sie allemal, egal wie kauzig oder besonders sie auch sein mögen und was sie in der Vergangenheit erlebt haben.

Auch Emilia und Nick sind zwei sehr besondere Menschen. Emilia, die zwar unter Gehörlosen aufgewachsen ist und, selber taub, sich in dieser Gesellschaft, die, wie man sehr schnell merkt, eine ganz eigene Welt für sich darstellt, auch sehr wohl fühlt, die aber trotzdem Hören und Laute erfahren möchte.
Nick hingegen, dessen Leben sich lange ausschließlich um Töne und Laute drehte, als er als geigendes Wunderkind gefeiert wurde, ist der genaue Gegensatz zu Emilia.

Wie diese beiden zueinander finden, in ihrem Leben Raum schaffen für den anderen und dabei auch immer bisschen mehr über sich selbst erfahren undzu sich selbst finden, hat mich ebenso verzaubert, wie die kauzigen und liebenswerten Nebencharaktere und Kira Gembris wunderbarer Schreibstil.
Sehr schön fand ich auch die Einblicke in das Leben Gehörloser, die Kira Gembri dem Leser wie gewohnt sensibel und mit viel Hintergrundwissen ermöglicht, ebenso wie die eindringliche Beschreibung von Nicks Leben, das von seiner Liebe zur Musik und dem Verlust seiner Karriere ebenso geprägt ist wie von einem traumatischen Ereignis einige Jahre vorher. Es ist schön, zu lesen, wie er nicht nur seine Liebe zu Emilia entdeckt und erkennt, was wirklich wichtig ist, sondern auch die Freude an der Musik und seine Liebe zu ihr wiederfindet.

Alles in allem ist "Wovon du träumst" wieder einmal ein wunderbares Buch aus der Feder einer Autorin, die mich bisher noch nie enttäuscht, aber dafür immer begeistert hat!

 

★★★★★

 

 

 

Release Day: Rough Rider by Aria Cole

Rough Rider by Aria Cole

Blurb:

After years of living alone, Nash Campbell sets eyes on curvy beauty Eden Sutherland again, the day she steps out of her brother's pickup truck and falls directly into his arms. He may have made a promise to her brother to take care of her, but it isn't long before Nash is fixed on wrangling his best friend's little sister into his bed—and his life.

Eden Sutherland enjoys living alongside her brother in the old farmhouse where they grew up, but when he's deployed, she's uprooted to Circle C Ranch and dumped in the arms of her brother's best friend, irritatingly moody and maddeningly sexy cowboy Nash Campbell. The boy who pulled her pigtails and made the butterflies jump in her stomach for the first time when they were kids. She may have grown up running through the pastures at Circle C, but that doesn't mean seeing Nash again is easy on the heart. She's been purposefully avoiding this man for years, and now she has to call him roommate…

Warning: When this filthy-talkin' cowboy falls, it's hard and fast. Insta-love obsessed, countrified goodness is the best way to describe this rough rider. Sit back, relax, and grab a sweet tea, it's about to he heart. She may have grown-get sticky down south.


I must admit that this book wasn't exactly what I expected it to be and, well, actually it wasn't really my cup of tea.
I had expected a bit more of a story and even though both were adults, consenting adults and everything, I didn't really like the way how Nash forced his way into Eden's life.
To top that off there was a lot of talk about punishing and sometimes submission so don't get me wrong it's not a BDSM tale, it's just not my cuppa.

If you don't mind a story that consists mostly of sexual innuendos or sexual intercourse and that there's much talk about it and rather filthy talk to boot the story might be right for you. It is easy to read but somehow in my eyes it was lacking some substance.

 ★★★

Demon Flames (Resurrection Chronicles #2) by M.J. Haag and Becca Vincenza

  Demon Flames by M.J. Haag and Becca Vincenza 

Blurb: 

As hellhounds continue to roam and the zombie plague spreads, Drav leads Mya to the source of her troubles—Ernisi, an underground Atlantis and Drav’s home. There Mya learns that the shadowy demons, who’ve helped devastate her world, are not what they seem.

Trapped in Ernisi, Mya tries to convince Drav to return her to the surface so she can continue her search for her family. However, he’s determined to keep her where he knows she’ll be safe. When Mya falls ill, Drav must choose between her and his people.

**Recommended for adult readers
***Part 2 of 3

 
This is the second book in this series so you should make sure that you have read Demon Ember first. If you haven't read it yet, well, just do it - now! This series should definitely be read in the right order.
Demon Flames is a great sequel and I really enjoyed reading it even though I was really really upset about the cliffhanger at the end of the book.

Right, a cliffhanger, and a really bad one, at least that's what it feels like. Fortunately, we won't have to wait too long for the next book so if you have a problem with cliffhangers you should wait till the next book is out otherwise you might end the book bellowing out something almost unintelligible like "Oh no, you can't...!" (Nope. Never ever did I.... Yup. Totally did. I was really upset.)

Apart from that cliffhanger, the book is really great and I enjoyed getting to know our hero and our heroine better, especially as we learn a lot about Drav and his people in this book.
I loved the action and everything that happened with Drav's people but missed learning about the things happening. ..elsewhere.

Drav is sweet, a teeny tiny bit overprotective and unfortunately he has still a lot to learn about emancipation and women who... well, actually he has to learn everything about women because.....right, just because, you know.
I am really really looking forward to finding out more about everything that happens at the surface in the next and final book, though. Oh, and I absolutely have to learn more about Mya's family and everything that happened to them and of course, there's also Drav's people and their future. We learn a lot about their past in Demon Flames and I am looking forward to the next book in this series to find out more about their future.

I've read many books by Melissa Haag up to now and several by Becca Vincenza and I loved them all. Demon Flames is another one of those amazing books and I can definitely recommend it.

★★★★

 

 

 

 

 

Lie Down in Roses by Heather Graham (aka Shannon Drake)

  Lie Down in Roses by Heather Graham

Blurb:

 The willful and beautiful Lady Genevieve would do anything to save her beloved Edenby Castle
. . . even if she had to share the name—and bed--of her most treacherous foe . . .

He was Lord Tristan, nobleman and knight. Magnificent in battle, he would lead his invading army across the land, only to become captive to the sensual charms of the bold enchantress who was secretly plotting his destruction . . .

They were born to be enemies and destined to be lovers—players in a perilous game of intrigue and passion where the price was one woman’s innocence . . . and the prize was one man’s heart.


I had a hard time deciding whether I liked this book or not. I've already read several books by the author that I've really enjoyed. Heather Graham has a very unique style that I love and her characters are always interesting, complex and intense.

All of these things apply to "Lie Down in Roses" as well but....I simply hated the way the hero treated the heroine and no matter how good it felt in the end and how much they came to care for each other, I also hated that the hero forced the heroine to sleep with him. He didn't rape her but some kind of forced non-rape is not much better, at least in my eyes.

Yes, things were rather tough and she wasn*t exactly the kind of girl to give up and welcome him into her home, seeing that they were enemies and he had invaded her home, but....

Okay, and I must admit that I was completely shocked at the beginning when I read what Lord Tristan found when he came home (and I must also admit that this was the moment where I really, really started to hate the Duke of Gloucester, just saying) and it haunted me for a while.

I liked the story on the whole and I loved the characters but I didn't like their interaction. The end was very satisfying but I'm not sure if I will read this book ever again. Considering the fact that I've read all my other books by Heather Graham several times and that "Ondine" is one of my all-time favorites....well.
Well-written, interesting and intense story but a huge BUT when it comes to the characters and their actions so I decided to go for three stars
 

 ★★★

*This is a re-release of the book*

Aim: A Circle of Justice Novel (Circle of Justice #3) by L.P. Dover

  

  Aim: A Circle of Justice Novel by L.P. Dover

Blurb:

 *~* STANDALONE NOVEL *~*

When someone asks what I do for a living, I answer it plain and simple . . . I’m a hunter. I hunt the dregs of society and I’m very damn good at it.

I’m Ian Chandler, FBI agent and a member of the Circle of Justice, an organization of justice seeking vigilantes. My mission is to solve a string of ‘accidental’ hiking deaths occurring around my Wyoming town. When Grace Myers –a woman who’s been missing for days –shows up on my land, it turns out she’s the key to it all. Someone is hunting her, and I make it my duty to keep her safe.

However, the deeper I get into the case, the more dangerous it becomes; especially, now that I’ve fallen for the woman I have to protect. If hunting is the game, I won’t fail. I always hit my mark.
 

Yep, I really, really liked this book. Okay, I must admit that the story itself really gave me goosebumps but I was so proud when Grace shows just how strong and amazing she is, when she fights to get free and finds her way to Ian's place after having been missing for days.

You can feel the chemistry between Ian and Grace and I loved how much they respected each other and what they did, how they acted and that, even though he himself is a real badass, Ian can accept that Grace is not just a damsel in distress who has to be rescued all the time but that she is pretty tough herself. They respect each other, they help each other when necessary and, well, they fall for each other. Alright, Ian was much taken with her even before everything went down so it didn't take much, actually, to fall for her when they have to work together and have to rely on each other.

I liked both, our hero and our heroine a lot. Our tough, sharp-shooting hero Ian Chandler, who is not just an ordinary FBI agent but a member of a secret group and our equally tough, very lovable and competent heroine Grace Myers are both great characters and together, well, I think they are perfect together.

The story was thrilling and captivating and even when I knew what it was about and what they were dealing with, it kept me on my toes and kept me reading.
"Aim" wasn't my first book by L.P.Dover as I've read several other books by her already and it definitely won't be my last. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!

★★★★