Little announcement

I have some bad news. I'm taking a little break from my blog. 

As you probably noticed I haven't been posting regularly anymore. It started off because of my traveling but now I haven't been able to catch up with my schedule due to some "personal problems" too (sorry, I'm being so vague).

That's why, instead of fussing about the fact that I have no posts for you, I decided to take a little break. I don't know for how long yet, though. It may be for a week, two weeks or a month. As soon as I feel like I can do this again, I'll be back in full force, I promise. 

But right now, I just need a little time to get everything sorted again.

But I won't disappear completely :) I'll still be updating my Goodreads and Instagram. Reviews on Goodreads will take a bit more time than usual, but I'll still continue with my reading.

I promise you, when I'll be back, I'll have so many reviews on my blog, that you won't even notice I was gone :)

And just in case I haven't been clear in the past: I love you all for following my blog. I thank you for all the time you spent on my blog, reading my random (and crazy) posts and review. Just thank you, thank you, thank you.

See you soon! <3

With much love,

Melissa

Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

Series: A Wicked Thing #1
Genre: YA, fairy tale, romance 
Release date: February 24th 2014
Length: 337 pages

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before. 

My rating: ★★★★

 *I listened to the audiobook*

When I asked on Instagram how people experienced this book, I received “weird” and “different” as a response. It made me a little nervous and worried, because the reviews on Goodreads aren’t splendid either. But I already bought it on Audible, so I had to give it a chance.

First of all, saying this is a retelling is wrong. It’s just continues the story of The Sleeping Beauty we all know so well (with the slight change that it starts where she’s kissed). I think that’s why people end up being disappointed. They expect to know what will happen. So, NO, this is not a retelling, but more like… a continuation or a re-imagination.

The storyline had his ups and downs, but it was definitely way better than I expected! I liked the storyline a lot and yes, it was “different” like people said, but it was a good different. It has some romance, friendship, betrayals and deaths.

And the characters are very interesting! Aurora is confused about how to proceed with her life (100% understandable if you wake up after 100 years), but she’s very brave too. Rodrick is a blushing sweetheart, Finnegan was more interesting that I could have imagined and Tristan is complicated and irresistible at the same time. Trust me, although there are not only one, or two, but THREE interesting hot guys, there’s no love triangle (or square?) going on. Every guy fit perfectly in the story.

This first book in the Wicked Thing series is a very promising start and I cannot wait to find more about the characters and how everyone will react after that big ending. I also feel like there will be an epic sci-fy twist with the magic and the dragons (!!). February can’t come any faster!

I hope you all won't look too much at those 1 or 2 start reviews and still will give this book a chance. It might surprise you and make you love it more that you can ever expect!

Review: Yours Truly/Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Series: standalone
Genre: YA, romance, mystery, contemporary
Release date: October 7th 2014
Length: 288 pages
 
Dear Mr. S. Harris,
Ignore the blob of red in the top left corner. It's jam, not blood, though I don't think I need to tell you the difference. It wasn't your wife's jam the police found on your shoe.
I know what it's like.
Mine wasn't a woman. Mine was a boy. And I killed him three months ago exactly.
Zoe has an unconventional pen pal--Mr. Stuart Harris, a Texas Death Row inmate and convicted murderer. But then again, Zoe has an unconventional story to tell. A story about how she fell for two boys, betrayed one of them, and killed the other.

Hidden away in her backyard shed in the middle of the night with a jam sandwich in one hand and a pen in the other, Zoe gives a voice to her heart and her fears after months of silence. Mr. Harris may never respond to Zoe's letters, but at least somebody will know her story--somebody who knows what it's like to kill a person you love. Only through her unusual confession can Zoe hope to atone for her mistakes that have torn lives apart, and work to put her own life back together again.
Rising literary star Annabel Pitcher pens a captivating second novel, rich with her distinctive balance between humor and heart. Annabel explores the themes of first love, guilt, and grief, introducing a character with a witty voice and true emotional resonance.

My rating: ★★★★

“That's not how you're going to live, Bird Girl. Not on my account. Spread those strong wings of yours. Fly.”

When I saw this book in the store I was immediately drawn to it because of the cover. After reading the blurb I realized this was "Ketchup Clouds", a book that has been sitting on my tbr for ever.
I decided to buy it and on my way home I started reading it immediately.

When I saw it was in letter form I started getting annoyed because I was NOT in the mood for this kind of book. But I'm SO glad I continued reading, because although it's in letter form, there are still conversations. And it's written perfectly. It reads so easily (I read this one in a day and a half!) and the anticipation to know what happened is very enjoyable.

But.. as much as I loved the story of Zoe, I have to admit that the big reveal was a little disappointing. I saw it coming and I don't know why I kept hoping for something big. I also don't really like that the ending was so open. I mean, a million things could still have happened and... we will never know. I'm left with too many question to be satisfied about this book.

“I never realized there was so much of it,' Sandra muttered. 'Hours. I feel every minute.” 

 

The title of this book has been changed from "Ketchup Clouds" to "Yours Truly"

 

Review: Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

Series: standalone
Genre: non-fiction, memoir, humor
Release date: October 28th 2014
Length: 329 pages

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book full of words to live by.

My rating: ★★★

*I listened to the audiobook.

I'm not sure if three stars is the correct rating for me. To be honest I'm not 100% sure of what I think about this (audio)book.
The beginning where she talked about writing this book was very funny and I certainly enjoyed that part. But then... I don't know... it's not that it was boring, but it wasn't very exciting either. I guess memoirs aren't really my thing.

I did loved the way she read her own book. Because she did not only read it, she made it a personal audio and I loved that. I guess that's what kept me listening. She's definitely something.

So if you enjoy Amy and haven't read this book yet, you totally should. But listen to the audiobook and experience the whole thing!