Book & Love Letters #46 [Life Signs]

Books & Love Letters is a weekly post in which I discuss all the books I received in the previous week (for review, bought, borrowed, swapped ect...), tell you what I've read and reviewed and showcase all the pretty letters that come to my mailbox.

Lovely Laura from The Traveling Owl lent the name and hosts the original Books & Love Letters post.

Hello Readers and Fellow Bloggers!

Wow, this week went by completely without me. Work is killing me - we're closer to Christmas than you think and people are buying books like crazy - but I learn a lot and I'm having fun so all is good in my part of the world :) How are you guys doing?

New On The Shelves

Borrowed:

So I didn't buy anything new this week, despite the constant temptation, but I borrowed some books from the store's employee ARCs shelf.

Grischa. Goldene Flammen by Leigh Bardugo

This is the German edition of Bardugo's Shadow and Bone. It has been recommended to me by many friends, I like good fantasy every once in a while, and so I'm going to give this one a try. I hope it lives up to expectations!

Ich Soll Nicht Töten by Barry Lyga

This is Lyga's I Hunt Killers in German. Oddly the German title is one of the Ten Commandments: I shall not murder. I almost didn't recognise the title on the shelf but then luckily I did and now I'm looking forward to something not-paranormal to read :D BIG WIN!

Düsteres Verlangen by Kenneth Oppel

The German edition of Oppel's This Dark Endeavor. I had to have this when I saw it on our shelf! I've been eying it online for quite a while already, read a German teaser and now I borrowed myself a reading copy. I quite like a gothic tale every once in a while and I can't wait to get started on this one!

*thanks to the Book Shop and Carlsen, blanvalet and Beltz & Gelberg!

Recently Read

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan: I really enjoyed this one! I fancied myself to have an imaginary friend, too, when I was a kid and I still wish she had been real. Anyway, Unspoken was a fantastic read with great twists and turns, a breath-taking showdown and a heart-breaking finale and I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment!

Shelfability: Covet.

Giveaway Winner!

My House Of Night Store Poster giveaway ended last night and the winner is: SABINA!

You have been emailed!

Alright people, that's it from me! I hope you had a lovely week!

Leave a comment!

House of Night Storeposter Giveaway!

As I promised on Sunday, the German House of Night storeposter I brought home from work last week is going up for giveaway (please note: only the poster, not the books! LOL)!

It's 60x80cm in size, it's the seventh cover, it has not been used before (so no holes or tape marks) and it's from the German publisher Fischer.

The giveaway is international!
You have to be 13 years or older.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Books & Love Letters #45 [The Calm Between Storms]

Books & Love Letters is a weekly post in which I discuss all the books I received in the previous week (for review, bought, borrowed, swapped ect...), tell you what I've read and reviewed and showcase all the pretty letters that come to my mailbox.
Lovely Laura from The Traveling Owl lent the name and hosts the original Books & Love Letters post.

Hello Out There!

So apparently my hiatus went on a little longer than originally planned-or maybe a lot longer. I had a firm plan to get back to blogging right at the beginning of September, when all the CampNaNo craziness had calmed down a little.

Yeah.

And then life got in the way. And now it's two sundays before the next NaNo session starts. I will try to blog for those two weeks, there's a ton of reviews I have to write and post, there's a giveaway on Tuesday (I hope) and there are some really pretty covers I want to talk about...

But let's just have a look at my new books for now.

I haven't bought much while I was in the writing cave and I don't want to do a massive recap-post, so this is really what I brought home this week :)

New On The Shelves

Bought:

Nur Ein Kuss Von Dir by Sue Ransom

Finally, finally! The conclusion to Sue Ransom's awesome Small Blue Thing trilogy! I've been waiting for this book for ages! Will Alex and Callum find a way to be together or will death keep them apart?

While it is more geared at teens than young adults, it is so sigh-worthy romantic that I just had to love it-and the German covers are simply gorgeous. I'm sad to see this trilogy coming to an end, but I hear that Ransom is busy writing a new book!

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Another one I've been waiting for for ages! Admittedly I only read Lament at this point (Ballad & Scorpio Races are on my tbr pile), but Stiefvater's writing is just beautiful and the story sounds as creepy as it sounds romantic! I'm really excited for this one!

Duden. Spannend Schreiben by Hanns-Josef Ortheil

This little gem isn't actually a novel. For the non-Germans here: a Duden is usually an encyclopaedia or lexicon. This particular one is about writing crime thrillers and horror novels-so really, it's a craft book for creative writing. It came out last month and since I don't have a clue about writing murder mysteries, which could become painful in December (hint! hint! *blackerstoriesproject*), I snatched it up!

And lastly, a really big House of Night poster, which I didn't buy but got from the bookshop I work for. As you can see, in comparison to the books it is pretty big, it's from the German publisher of the series, FJB, and it has the cover girl from the 7th book on it.

I don't read the series so I'm going to give it away, on Tuesday (if I figure out how to set up a giveaway) and it will be international - so come back here on Tuesday if you want it! :D 

Recently Read

Endure by Carrie Ryan: Another of my favourite series that came to an end :( But I really enjoyed this ending! It was fast-paces, well-twisted (there was a point where I was so shocked I wanted to throw the book against the wall in outrage) and I loved the ending; mourning the dead but celebrating the romantic couples - and the survival of the word!

Looking forward to a new series by Carrie Ryan!

Shelfability: Acquire!

The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faergan: The first book in the series, The Mephisto Covenant, turned out to be a real guilty pleasure, aimed much more at older YA because of the high amount of (graphic) sex. This one was really tame in comparison, and it had new protagonists, which made me sad until I warmed up with the new couple. Also there was more light on the relationships between the Mephisto brothers, which I found really interesting.

Shelfability: Borrow; unless you collect, then you should acquire.

Speechless by Hannah Harrington: Somehow I was disappointed with this one. I really, really loved Saving June, which was raw and emotional and a real page-turner. And while this one has had an interesting premises, too, it wasn't quite so painfully raw and I missed that. It's still a great read, but it doesn't measure up to saving June.

Shelfability: Acquire.

Alright, that's it from me this week. I hope that next time will be less re-cap and more actual book-news and actual posts to discuss. Until then, have a nice weekend, enjoy your new books and don't for get to come back on Tuesday!

*squeal* I MET JOHN GREEN!

John Green reading from TFiOS,
Hamburg 2012

Right, so yesterday the Harbourfront Literature Festival began here in Hamburg, it's the second year that I'm going (last year I met Maggie Stiefvater and Kathy Reichs) and this year there are another two authors on my list I really want to meet and get my books signed by.
JOHN GREEN is one of them.
And OMG he was really there! And he's such a babe! I got to sneak in on a reading session for a bunch of school classes who were more or less forced to sit there and so me and the two other other sneak-ins, Jana and Gabriela, had him all to ourselves after the signing finished! :D
Green is really great in person! He read from THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, talked about his life before writing, his blog, writing TFiOS, and he answered questions about writing in general. He's funny, charming, patient and supportive and just really, really nice! I had a really great day!

Tomorrow I'm going to meet Jay Asher and I'm just as excited!
I love Harbourfront Festival. Just wish there were more YA Lit authors!

In My Mailbox #44 [Christmas? Birthday? Both?]

Books & Love Letters is a weekly post in which I discuss all the books I received in the previous week (for review, bought, borrowed, swapped ect...), tell you what I've read and reviewed and showcase all the pretty letters that come to my mailbox.
Lovely Laura from The Traveling Owl lent the name and hosts the original Books & Love Letters post.

Hello lovelies!

I'm amazed people are still coming to read this, even though currently I'm writing as regularly as the weather forecast is right... :/ Two weeks ago I admitted that CampNaNo ate my soul and quite frankly it is refusing to give it back. I have produced another 5k and the end is not in sight.

I apologies for the spotty amount of posts and even more so for the fact that it's not going to get better at least until September :/ APOLOGIES!

Anyway, you are here for the books, so you shall have a look at them:

New On The Shelves

ARCs:

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Peter Pan is one of my most beloved classic fairy tales and I am so excited to finally get to read more about Tiger Lily's story. It is told from Tink's point of view and I've had my eye on this book for almost six months! So excited to finally have my own copy on top of my ever growing reading pile!

The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox
This sounds like a really delicious, witty read by the deputy editor of Cosmopolitan UK. It's about a dead girl stuck in limbo until she can solve her own murder. Help comes in the form of Nancy, Lorna, Tess and Edison - all dead, too. I've had this featured on my Grim Reaper post and I'm really eager to finally get to read this!

Arise by Tara Hudson
I really enjoyed Hereafter (review here) and I am so happy I finally got a review copy of the second book is the series. Can't wait to find out how Amelia and Joshua's (love) story continues :)
*big thanks to HarperTeen and Housing Works Bookshop Cafe for sending me these ARCs!

Gifted:

The squeal I emitted over this massive package could be heard though out the entire neighbour-hood! THANK YOU SO MUCH Becky from Stories & Sweeties! THANK YOU!!!
When Becky announced that she'd go to ALA I jokingly told her to get me a copy of The Archived, please, never thinking she actually would because I live so far away. But she did! Seriously, I can't stop staring at all the goodies she's sent me! O.O
There's this huge canvas bag with the first two covers of Ilsa Brick's Ashes Trilogy and bookmarks from Grave Mercy (loved this book so much!), The Wizard of Dark Street, Innocent Darkness, and a SIGNED one from Anna Dressed In Blood! And then there is an actual hardcopy ARC of

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Victoria Schwab's The Near Witch was the first ever ARC I read (review here) and I fell in love with it instantly. Schwab has a way of story-telling that transports you to the place she created and you just forget about the rest of the world. I've only just read the first 50 pages (at the time of writing this) of The Archived, but it's already in my top 5 of 2013 releases! Seriously, I want to crawl into this book and never come back out! Please?
I am so glad this is going to be a series! But Book 2 is coming out in 2014!!! >.<

Once again, Becky, I don't know where to start to say THANK YOU, I am hugely indebted to you!

Won:

This package also caused quite a squeal! At the beginning of June I won a copy of FADE OUT by Nova Ren Suma from Nova herself and this package finally arrived, too, after customs has held it for ages :P (sometimes I wonder what they think I'm getting all the time LOL) And look at the pretty, pretty Imaginary Girls (review here) bookmark she sent, too! :D Once again: THANK YOU NOVA!!!

I've already finished reading Fade Out and I loved it to bits! It's a contemporary MG and it's exquisitely written! So can't wait to get a copy of Nova's new book, too! Is it March 2013 yet?

Recently Read
The Game of Triumphs by Laura Powell: Absolutely loved this! I had my eyes on it for a while and now the US paperback has been released and I read it in pretty much one sitting! It's hard to describe, real London over-layered with a supernatural card game that lets you win your heart's desire but might be fatal if you lose! It's really well written and I loved going in and out of the Arcanum. Book 2, Master of Misrule, is already in my review-inbox! :D

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross: I didn't realise how much I missed this world until I got back into it! I love Finley, Griffin, Emily, Sam & Jasper and this book was just as good as The Girl in the Steel Corset! I admit I had a pretty early inkling about the main twist of the story, but still, it's well written and a joy to watch the characters unfold and entangle with each other! Harlequin Teen already whispered me that there's going to be a 3rd book :)

Fade Out by Nova Ren Suma: As I said above I won this from Nova and it is a really, really great read! I love Nova's writing voice, her descriptions are beautiful and Dani is such a believable character, a true 13-year-old, serious and silly at the same time, deeply caring and loyal yet as stubborn as they come. The only thing I missed a little was that creepy intrigue from Imaginary Girls - I'm so glad it will be back in 17 & Gone!

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen: Unfortunately a DNF for me. After 50 pages I felt absolutely nothing for the characters or what was going on and I felt dangling and left alone. After forcing myself twice to pick it up again I finally gave it a pass. Sorry.

Recent Blog Activity
Cover Appreciation: 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma
Waiting on Wednesday: #35 Foretold by Jana Oliver
Books & Love Letters: #43 [CampNaNo ate my Soul]


Alright, that's it from me this week. Long post O.O But yay, so many pretty books :D
Leave me a comment and I'm sure to check back to your post!

Cover Appreciation: 17 & GONE by Nova Ren Suma

The cover and synopsis were revealed last week, actually, while I was still in the writing cave and not blogging. So this is not a "reveal"-post, it's an appreciation post!

I fell in love with Nova Ren Suma's writing after finishing Imaginary Girls. I loved the haunting creepiness of the set up and that I was never quite sure about what was real and what not.

So I am more than happy to have the cover and synopsis of Suma's new book on my blog today:

"Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything."

Cover & Synopsis taken from Distraction no. 99

17 & Gone sounds just as creepy and mind-boggling as Imaginary Girls! Missing girls, waking nightmares (those words alone would hook me), a brush with death and a shocking truth? This book is already in the top 5 of my most anticipated 2013 books!

And I love, love, love the cover! The orangy-red, the shifting light and the silhouette of a girl have the feel of a fading memory, there yet illusive, and the Missing Person report enhances that, makes the memory more urgent.

And I love the reflections of light on/around the 17, it's blinking is enticing and luring, yet still the memory is out of reach.

March 21st 2013 can't come fast enough.

Waiting on Wednesday #35

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly awaiting.

I am excitedly awaiting the release of:

Foretold
(The Demon Trappers #4)
by Jana Oliver

Publication Date: August 2nd 2012
Publisher UK: Macmillan










Summary (courtesy to Goodreads):
Stand by as Riley prepares to kick some serious demon butt for the last time in this thrilling, dramatic and sexy conclusion to The Demon Trappers series.
Riley’s always known that Beck had a chequered history, but she’s not prepared for what it actually means to be in love with a guy with this many dark secrets. Now that he’s finally admitted to himself that he’s in love with her too, there’s no more hiding the truth about his past. And as it turns out, fending off a demon apocalypse is nothing compared to what’s to come...

Why I want to read this:

I have to admit that this time the US cover is way more pretty! But that aside, I'm so excited for this book! It's the last one in the series and I'm more than curious to see how everything will play out in the end.

And most important of all: Will there be a happy ending for Riley & Beck?

Can't wait for August!