Sonntag, 24. September 2017

German Review: Stars Over Castle Hill (On Dublin Street #6.6) - Samantha Young

Titel: Stars Over Castle Hill - Schicksalhafte Begegnung (On Dublin Street #6.6)
Autorin: Samantha Young
Bewertung: 3.5 - 4/5

Danke an NetGalley und Ullstein das digitale Rezensionsexemplar dieses Buches.
Joss and Braden Carmichael sind glücklich verheiratet - doch was wäre, wenn sich die beiden nicht an jenem schicksalhaften Tag vor über zehn Jahren begegnet wären?

Joss Carmichael ist erfolgreiche Autorin und lebt mit ihrem Mann Braden und ihren drei Kindern in der Dublin Street. Als sie gebeten wird, eine „Wäs-wäre-wenn-Geschichte“ über ihr Leben zu schreiben, muss sie sofort an den Tag denken, an dem sie Braden kennengelernt hat. Wo stünde sie jetzt, wenn sie ihn nie getroffen hätte? Das kann sich Joss kaum vorstellen. Sie ist sich sicher, dass es ihr Schicksal war, Braden früher oder später zu treffen. Aber was, wenn sie bei dieser Begegnung schon 30 und nicht erst 21 Jahre alt gewesen wäre? Vielleicht wäre sie selbst reifer gewesen und hätte vor der großen Liebe nicht solche Angst gehabt. Aber was, wenn Braden bereits von der Liebe enttäuscht worden wäre? Hätte er dann auch mit aller Kraft um sie gekämpft? Oder wäre ihre Liebe zum Scheitern verurteilt gewesen?

Mir war nicht bewusst, wie sehr ich diese Reihe vermisse, bevor ich begann, Stars Over Castle Hill zu lesen. Die alternative Geschichte um Joss und Braden macht mich damit nicht unbedingt zu dem größten Fan der beiden Charaktere (ich mag eher Jo, Cam, Olivia, Nate, Grace und Logan), aber dennoch fiel es mir schwer, das "Buch" aus der Hand zu legen. So viele Erinnerungen an die Charaktere wurden wach, so viel Liebe und so viel Schmerz noch einmal verdeutlicht.

Ich finde die Idee an sich, dass Joss als erfolgreiche Schriftstellerin eine alternative Geschichte verfassen soll, großartig. Das ist etwas ganz besonderes und nicht einfach nur ein Nachtrag, weil Samantha Young nicht weiß, wann Schluss ist. Man merkt während des Lesens, wie sehr ihr besonders diese beiden - Joss und Braden - am Herzen liegen, immerhin begann mit ihnen alles und seither begeistert die Reihe Fans auf der ganzen Welt. Anstatt also weiter über die glückliche Familie, die die beiden mittlerweile gegründet haben, zu schreiben, entschied sich die Autorin für einen anderen Weg, einen super kreativen, wie ich finde. Was wäre wenn... Ja, die Frage haben wir uns definitiv alle schon einmal gestellt und ich fand es toll, wie die Autorin mit dem Thema umging.

Kein Fan von Joss und Braden muss befürchten, dass es irgendwo dort draußen ein Universum gibt, in dem die beiden kein Paar sind. Früher oder später hätten sich die Wege der beiden gekreuzt. Ich brauche nicht erwähnen, dass es trotzdem in keiner dieser Dimensionen einfach für sie war, einander zu vertrauen und zu lieben. Gerade das macht es so spannend. Denn auch in Stars Over Castle Hill stehen einige Hürden im Weg, die es gilt, zu bewältigen. Eine großartige alternative Welt wurde da für sie entwickelt, eine, die glaubwürdig und überhaupt nicht unrealistisch erscheint. Ihre Charakterzüge sind genau dieselben, wovor ich etwas Angst hatte, dass es daran eventuell scheitern würde. Tat es aber nicht, seid beruhigt. Joss ist genauso stur wie in On Dublin Street und Braden ist immer noch der Typ zum Anschmachten. Es ist unglaublich, wie Samantha all ihre Charakterzüge beibehält, so als handelte es sich bei ihnen um wirkliche und keine fiktiven Personen. Ich bin begeistert.

Warum also keine volle Punktzahl? Nun, die Begegnung der beiden war mir etwas zu "zufällig" und wie bereits erwähnt bin ich generell kein riesiger Fan der beiden, was meiner Liebe zu der gesamten Reihe aber keinen Abbruch tut. Ich bin glücklich darüber, dass wir einen erneuten Einblick in ihr Leben bekommen haben, finde es schön, zu lesen, wie weit Joss gekommen ist, wie gut sie ihre Ängste überwunden hat. Bradens Reaktion auf die Geschichte, die Joss über sie beide verfasst hat, fand ich überzogen, um ehrlich zu sein. Klar, sie passt zu ihm, sie passt zu den beiden als Paar, aber es war mir zu störrisch. Dennoch empfehle ich dieses Buch aus tiefster Seele, denn Samantha Young ist eine grandiose Autorin und jede Seite, die aus ihrer Feder stammt, beschert einem eine wundervolle Zeit.

Dienstag, 12. September 2017

Fraternize (Players Game #01) - Rachel van Dyken

Title: Fraternize (Players Game #01)
Author: Rachel van Dyken
Rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Skyscape for letting me receive a digital copy of this book before its official release.
Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…

No fraternizing with the players.

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.

There are so many five stars ratings for this one so far (it's not even out yet as I write this review) and I'm really glad about that. The thing about Rachel is that I love her. I love her humor, I love her writing style. She's one of my favorite storytellers, but... I usually never agree with her couples in books. And that's the case with Fraternize as well. I didn't like the endgame. Like, at all! Maybe I'm immature like that, because Em's "decision" makes sense, but I just didn't see it. No, no, no.

And so that's why I can't be very fair. That's what made me suffer so much while reading the book. It's great. I mean, the humor is fabulous and so like Rachel. You don't feel like you're reading a 300-something pages novel, but like you're reading about friends and funny dialogues, and it all flashes before your eyes like it's a TV show. It's not even annoying, because it's too good. That doesn't mean the author doesn't take her job serious, because she obviously does. She picks up heavy topics and includes them into her stories, she makes her characters suffer and she also makes the readers fall in love with them. That's real talent there!

I'm not a big fan of cheerleading, probably because it's not that popular in Germany, same as football. But thinking of other stories about cheerleaders, I liked this one much better. Maybe also because Emerson isn't the typical super model, but has got curves. I think we need more of those types of cheerleaders in real life, too. I also liked that Rachel van Dyken's focus wasn't set on rivality between the cheerleaders. There was a scene in which Emerson and Lily clearly hated each other, but we read much more about Emerson's friendship with Kinsey and then of course her love triangle. Miller and Sanchez. If you think one bad boy makes you swoon, then you'll most likely die reading about these two hotties.

Truth be told, during the book, I wasn't sure who to ship her with. Sometimes it was Miller, sometimes it was Grant (that's Sanchez' first name). It all came down to one person I won't name, because it'd give away spoilers, but yeah... As I said before, the endgame wasn't for me. And I hate that. Not because of Rachel, but because of me. It's obvious that guy is a better fit for her, but I still wouldn't accept it. That's why I saw a lack of chemistry, though there wasn't, that's why I saw a cheater, though he wasn't. That's why I saw so many things the way I wanted them to be, even though they were perfect. I don't know what's wrong with me. I remember reading the first two books in her Eagle Elite series and I was exactly the same. And I'm still mad over the endgame, yes. I still have yet to read the other books in that series, because I was too mad to continue. Which is probably why it'll take me years to start reading the second book. But I'm kind of excited about it too. And you know why? Because it's Rachel, damnit! She's a genius.

I absolutely loved the flashbacks. They were one of my favorite parts. Okay, yes, some of them were very short and rushed, but that's perfectly fine with me. I usually hate second chance romances, but the idea of Miller and Emerson while reading the flashbacks really grew on me.

Emerson's dad is suffering from Alzheimer's. Did your shoulders just slack? I saw it! Yes, it's a heavy topic, but I'm so glad Rachel managed to find a way that worked for her. A sad book wouldn't have been the right decision and too much humor isn't a good choice, either. But the mix was great! You still got the impression of the weight Emerson had to carry on her shoulders, but it was nice that there were these two boys who made it a little easier for her. Her life didn't revolve around her father's illness. I wouldn't have wanted that for her. And the scenes with her father really brought tears to my eyes. Especially the last one. I loved that.

I'm very aware that this review isn't as professional as some would like it do be. Is it even still a review? I have no idea. I could talk about Fraternize for hours, but there's a risk of telling spoiles, which is why I'll quit now (if you want to know who Emerson ended up with by the end of the book, just read the blurb for Infraction, the second book). One more thing: I want Jax' book now! Seriously... Even if I have no clue about book number two and my feelings toward the couple in there - I need more of Jax in my life. The hints about what his character might be like made me curious to find out more about him. If you love sports romances, funny dialogues, awesome friendships and Rachel van Dyken, go and pick this one up!

Sonntag, 10. September 2017

Something In The Way (Something In The Way #01) - Jessica Hawkins

Title: Something In The Way (Something In The Way #01)
Author: Jessica Hawkins
Rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Weapenry Cooperative for letting me receive a digital copy of this book.
It was a hot summer day when I met him on the construction site next to my parents' house. Under the sweat and dirt, Manning Sutter was as handsome as the sun was bright. He was older, darker, experienced. I wore a smiley-face t-shirt and had never even been kissed. Yet we saw something in each other that would link us in ways that couldn't be broken...no matter how hard we tried.

I loved Manning before I knew the meaning of the word. I was too young, he said. I would wait. Through all the carefully-chosen words hiding what we knew to be true, through his struggle to keep me innocent, and through infinitely-starry nights--I would wait. But I'd learn that life isn't always fair. That no matter how much you achieve, none of it matters if you suffer the heartbreak that comes with falling for someone you can never have. Because even though I saw Manning first, that didn't matter. My older sister saw him next.

I loved this book. How's that for a review? Four simple words. Alright, I'll go into detail, haha.

While searching for book two, I've come around a very negative review written in German. I can safely say that I don't understand the reader's motives for rating the book the way he/she did at all. "Naive characters. I wasted my money on this one." I can't agree, sorry. Sure enough, Lake isn't the most mature female character you've ever come across, but... She's only sixteen. Can you really blame the author for creating a believable heorine? And Manning's parts... There are way too few to judge him as naive. He's anything but that. I could feel his struggle while reading his point of views. He's been through so much and I can't wait to find out more about his life before he ever met Lake and her sister Tiffany.

Well, yeah... Tiffany. I'm part of Jessica Hawkins' group on Facebook and laughed so hard when somebody described Tiffany's character as a bitch. That sums it up. And oddly enough, Lake still adores her, because she's her big sister. Maybe it's because I'm an only child, but I didn't quite get that part. Tiffany has said some awful things to her, but she's still running back to her. Truth be told, Lake sometimes just said what's on her mind as well and should have thought a little harder before 'slamming her sister in the face like that.' I loved how Manning handled these situations when he was with them. Such a protector. All female readers are swooning over him, I can tell.

Also, yes, Lake might appear like the typical teenage girl you read about often - daddy's little girl who wants to make him proud and doesn't even care about her own dreams in return because it'd make her feel horrible. But for Lake's character, that background story fit so well. I can't say I liked it, because of course it gets you mad to think a parent would hold their child up, instead of encouraging it to follow his/her dreams. So I never looked forward to these scenes, but they were necessary. At least Lake's mom wasn't like that, though she didn't speak up, either. Tiffany seemed to be the only rebel, though her motives are highly doubtful. But at least she didn't let anyone tell her what to do, so that's a good thing, right?!

Usually, I've come to dislike reading about summer camps, but gah, I was so excited to read about Lake's experience for that summer, hoping something between Manning and her would happen. The author did a really good job of creating a story that you don't want to put down. Eventually, I had to when my phone's battery was dead, but the whole time, I kept thinking, "I really want to continue reading. Charge already!" It was just so damn good!

I'm a sucker for books like this one. And I mean exactly like this one. The plot was amazing, I loved the story idea (simply because I have written a very similiar story like this one, too) and though I hated that it ended with a cliffhanger (but I still loved it, secretly) and I thought Manning's story toward the end was too brutal (no blood, don't worry), I enjoyed every second reading Something In The Way. I can't wait to read the sequel Somebody Else's Sky and the third book as well. There are so many things we need to find out about - will Lake still follow her father's footsteps or will she make a decision of her own? What about Tiffany? What about Manning? What about just everything, basically? I need book number two right now. Somebody give it to me!