The Gunslinger by Stephen King (The Dark Tower #1)

Language: French

Format: Paperback

Pages: 378

Genre: fantasy, horror

Rating: 4⭐

 "A #1 national bestseller, The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake."

This book is basically an introduction to this world and to Roland role here. 

The book is full of details and time to time you travel to the past. It makes a total sense to better understand the present story. 

Roland follow his way to find the Man in Black and during his journey i found Jake, a little boy that claims to not be from this land but another one. 

Jake follow Roland knowing that something will happens and until the very last minute i believed that this kid will be present in all books but no.... 

Even if I wanted to know more about some parts it was only for curiosity since the plot line was very complete. 

I was thinking to end this book in 2 days but it took me more due the details of everything!

Again I found necessary to tab this book and I think I'm getting better at it! 

Also this book have a little story that show a part of Roland's route until when this book start. 

I didn't saw the movie but will do it as soon as I end the serie!

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 8) by J. R. Ward

Language: Portuguese

Format: Paperback

Pages: 615

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 5⭐

"John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.

Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates."

How to express that I was hoping all the time that they got an happy ending? 100% the time Xhex or John name was on the pages I was hoping they get along with their feelings and accept that it's possible to be happy even if everything i's against that!

Also the other couple of this book need a real conversation! Quinn and Blay... I already know that they have books about them only and I can't wait to reach it.

I mostly swear while reading since it was the best option that getting crazy about Lash and all the going on/off the action but it a good choice. 😉 

Oh and we have a new member to the story... Payne. And who is Payne and what she mean to the Brotherhood? Well I will need to read the next book to discover it 😋

Riding High in April by Jackie Townsend

 

Language: English

Format: Audio Book

Pages: 9h45

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 1⭐

Riding High in April is the story of Marie and Stuart, who have found themselves in the big tech world of Asia. 

Stuart is consumed by work and Marie seems to be along for the ride.

I've never read a book about business, and honestly I can't related the need of reading about "getting stuff done", "board meetings", "pressure to have success" after I've done that all day.... 

I really give a try for this book but at 25% I considered to DNF it.... I guess I only keep going to see if something different was coming with the relationship and friendships...

I found it hard to follow along in to the world of tech even if the location was a perfect scenario for more this couple. (Im not from Tech world and it was hard to get some therms)

I think it would be a great book for someone who is familiar with big tech startups and Silicon Valley or someone who wants to get to know more about the industry.

Christmas Hideaway by Wendy Davy

 Language: English 

Format: Kindle 

Pages: 104 

Genre: Suspense / Romance 

Rating: 4⭐

"Material witness Mandi Foster is running. And for good reason—if she testifies her family will pay the ultimate price. With no choice but to hide until the trial is over, she finds an isolated cabin to ride out Christmas alone—except she isn't alone.

A mysterious stranger follows her through a treacherous winter storm into the Blue Ridge Mountains, and then saves her from a potentially fatal accident. But as coincidences pile up, Mandi suspects her handsome rescuer is harboring dangerous secrets.

Security Specialist Rylan Copeland is hunting. And for good reason—he has witnessed murderers walk away unpunished. He isn't about to let that happen again—not when he can do something to stop it. But as he catches up to Mandi, danger comes in ways he hadn't anticipated.

Will he convince her to testify in time? Or will another killer get away with murder?"

Mandi even if not looking is very strong and know the risks!

She knew the risks to be a witness and even then she did go make her civil duty and everything go wrong... not because they want to target her, but her family.

Even if this book as relatively small it was full of action and was well done: plot, storyline, characters,...

Only was missing more about Eric and his connections but may it's because the book was small.

Syndicate X by Thomas M. Marsula Jr.

Language: English

Format: eBook

Pages: 163

Genre: Si-Fi

Rating: 2.5⭐

"The world of Ralkeilia is falling into chaos and despair as creatures begin to rampage throughout the area. Zeak Dartail joins Jessica Dalu, Tony Sindas and Dajh Dartail and they form a group called Syndicate X. They claim to be the new super heroes that will save the world however the way they conduct themselves starts to have new comers question their style."

The story is promising and having several POV make it complete BUT it’s a mess! The POV change a lot in the same chapter (I personally think that Each chapter need only 1 or 2 POV max and making sure we can follow all characters.) and it make complicated to follow correctly the plot line. And I need to add that a lot of sentences should have been together to avoid me reading the same name again and again.  I phrase ending by "and I ran" and the other starting "I then stoped to check..." should have been "and I run until I needed to check...." I mean for me it make more sense than starting a new phrase as complement. Also we miss a prequel! I mean at least an explanation about why they are there in that planet… Again good story idea but messy written for me

Chrysalis by Harrison Murphy

 

Language: English

Format: Ebook

Pages: 299

Genre: Si-Fi 

Rating: 5⭐

"An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only if in the right hands.

The UK’s blood reserves vanish overnight.

The government’s response – make blood currency.

The stolen blood is sold by dealers seemingly controlled by a mysterious implant.

Ginley & Sara, two rival political journalists with opposing agendas cover the government’s handling of a country thrust into crisis.

As they find out more about the blood heist and the implant, the more they have to put their differences aside and work together to unravel a colossal conspiracy, risking their loved ones’ lives, and all that they’ve ever known, in the process"

Is really this Crime Organization alone and not working with the Government? At the beginning I was thinking it will be easy to solve and point fingers but as soon as I got into the 50% of the book I knew that the MC will have a bad moment Got a little confused why some parts was set of in the future but I made the link very fast and was hooked to the story! As I reach the end I was totally in chock and I'm still processing the last 5% of this book

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 7) by J. R. Ward

Language: Portuguese

Format: PaperBack

Pages: 642

Genre: Paranormal Romance 

Rating: 5⭐

"Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood. Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Elhena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction."

In my last post about this serie I really forgot about who was this book but... now it was clear that is about Rehv.

Rehv is Bella's brother and he is not pure blood.... he have a really dark side and he want to keep it deep inside him so no one can hurt him or use it against him. 

Sympath are sociopaths and they hate "normal" vampires and vice versa. It's really a terrifying power and it leads to a lot of complications... 

Phury was all noble in all aspect but Rehv is noble too: He make a bargain to same a friend (the price is hardly pleasant to him but is needed to save Xhex). 

And now you think: perfect guy? Oh... well no! This guy is in the drug business and he is the main boss of the city but he do it not because he like it but more to keep his life style (and Bella's too before marrying Zsadist). 

 And he is not alone: Xhex and the Shadows (Trez and iAm) are family and ready to help him in everything. 

And we have Elhena... pure, inocente and the only thing Rehv need to be really complete.

Easy story? Not at all.. Rehv want to have love but his sympath side is ready to take contol of everything and with a lot of blood if it can be added...

And now.... a pause my vampire lovers! Hope to come back soon with book 8 and probably more detailed reviews (it's hard to remember all book read 3 years ago)

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 359

Genre: Romance, Fiction

Rating: 5⭐

"The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves."

Such a lovely and deep story! 

I found myself getting very emotional and to be honest it was because I saw myself in Merit.

All the problems and the missing important things from her family and not knowing the true about her family was and still is very similar to me and my life. 

Depressions is really not easy to deal and most of the time you have no signs. seeing Merit not understand and believed in this only show that it was deep and it's a silent treat! 

Being depressed don't make you only see the worst in people or make you feel sad every single moment of your day. That's 1 part of the depression. The reality is that something you will smile, joke, hug someone or even be in love. It just that most of the time you feel alone, not worth it or simply you want to be in a bubble and see no one. 

That's depression and Colleen actually wrote it as it happened with me and if I was not aware of my state i will be screaming that Merit is just like me and getting aa meltdown.

It was my first Colleen Hoover book and I suffered while reading it. Do I go to pickup another book from her? Yes! 

March RECAP + April TBR

 

Well... We are already in April and the weather here is kind of bipolar: you freeze in the morning, almost want to go inside the fridge during the afternoon and at night is a combination of morning and afternoon. 

Regarding books and event related with them March was pretty cool! I got the invitation from 2 programs that want to help to promote books (one via Tweeter and the other one via Goodreads). 

Let me tell you guys that I love ARCs and help any author and for me is fantastic to know that both programs actually found me via the blog and my reviews (sometimes I feel that I don't write everything but it's hard to not leave spoilers)

With that I ended up reading 11 books and my 2022 goal is at 36% 

From the TBR posted on the March (here) I read all books books + 3 books that was not in the program:

1. Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer by Stephen B King
2. Blue Eyed Dog by Christopher Taylor 
3. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Finally I ended up the serie of Miss Peregrine and Riley Paige and all reviews are available here and here. 

I will now give priority to the Black Dagger Brotherhood serie to make sure until the end of the year all book are read and reviews done (it's a looong serie and each book have between 400 and 900 pages) but I needed to start another serie in the middle of this one 😆

And now the April TBR:

1. The Priory of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (re-read)
2. Lover Reborn by J. R. Ward
3. All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott
4. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (The Dark Tower #1)
5. The Drawing of the Tree by Stephen King (The Dark Tower #2)
6. The Venus Virus by Camilla Voiez
7. Christmas Hideaway by Wendy Davy