Hello again to another declutter of the ever growing TBR *sigh*
This week I will be doing 10 books this time as I want to do more declutter and feel like I did something significant. Sometimes when I am going through books I added back in 2012 and after I say to myself: “girl, it’s been 8 years since you added them. If you hadn’t read them before you ain’t going to now.” I think partially that that voice is right.
Anyways, let’s jump right into it.
So this is Part 2 of my monthly TBR Declutter series. Where I o through my GR’s TBR list and decide which book I’m still interested in and which one doesn’t hold my interest anymore.
Shall we start
This post is inspired by Down the TBR Hole feature posts. I have seen those a couple of years ago and loved the idea. And I thought I am in a desprate need to shorten my TBR since my taste in my books has drastically changed. Thus, here it is.
Synopsis
Inspired by the wartime experiences of her father-in-law, Bobbie Ann Mason has crafted the haunting and profoundly moving story of an American World War II pilot shot down in Occupied Europe, and his wrenching odyssey of discovery, decades later, as he uncovers the truth about those who helped him escape in 1944.
At twenty-three, Marshall Stone was a confident, cocksure U.S. flyboy stationed in England, with several bombing raids in a B-17 under his belt. But when enemy fighters forced his plane to crash-land in a Belgian field during a mission to Germany, Marshall had to rely solely on the kindness of ordinary Belgian and French citizens to help him hide from and evade the Nazis. Decades later, restless and at the end of his career as an airline pilot, Marshall returns to the crash site and finds himself drawn back in time, unable to stop thinking about the people who risked their lives to save Allied pilots like him. Most of all, he is obsessed by the girl in the blue beret, a courageous young woman who protected and guided him in occupied Paris.
Framed in spellbinding, luminous prose, Marshall’s search for her gradually unfolds, becoming a voyage of discovery that reveals truths about himself and the people he knew during the war. Deeply beautiful and impossible to put down, The Girl in the Blue Beret is an unforgettable story—intimate, affecting, exquisite—of memories, second chances, and one intrepid girl who risked it all for a stranger.
It’s been so long since I’ve added this book but for some reason I didn’t forget it. It kept coming back to me that I should read that book. So, I guess it’s calling to me. Also, the synopsis sounds interesting. It’s a keeper.
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Synopsis
Drew’s a bit of a loner. She has a pet rat, her dead dad’s Book of Lists, an encyclopedic knowledge of cheese from working at her mom’s cheese shop, and a crush on Nick, the surf bum who works behind the counter. It’s the summer before eighth grade and Drew’s days seem like business as usual, until one night after closing time, when she meets a strange boy in the alley named Emmett Crane. Who he is, why he’s there, where the cut on his cheek came from, and his bottomless knowledge of rats are all mysteries Drew will untangle as they are drawn closer together, and Drew enters into the first true friendship, and adventure, of her life.
I think I’m well passed the allure of mysterious boys and their sudden “knowledge” about something the heroine is interested in. Pass!
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Synopsis
Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy’s bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life. Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy’s parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to “romance” Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life―even after being broken―can be made into something new and beautiful.
Another thing that I passed is cheating boyfriends. Pass!
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Synopsis
Meet Cassie Ellis—a young college graduate with the world on a string, a yen for screenwriting, and a need for fast cash to pay off her student loans. Eager to avoid the lucrative snooze-fest of a reliable consulting job, she shocks everyone she knows by opting for a sexier, more flexible job: mixing drinks. Never mind that she doesn’t know single-malt whiskey from Jack Daniel’s: she’s eager to learn. And under the tutelage of a sexy Soho bar owner, she’s soon cranking out three-olive martinis with the city’s glitterati fifteen-deep at the bar—all while angling for tips, fielding bad pick-up lines, and trying to keep up with the other bartenders who party as hard as their stylish clientele.
When Cassie accepts a summer gig bartending in the Hamptons, New York’s most elite summer destination, she finds herself catapulted into a whirlwind of dazzling celebrity and over-the-top wealth unlike anything she’s ever seen. Life behind the velvet rope is hard to resist, especially when she finds herself falling for a Hamptons hottie named James. But as the summer progresses, and she finds herself surrounded by playboys, moguls, spoiled rich kids, and Paris Hilton clones in strappy stilettos, she soon wonders if playing the ersatz socialite—while actually trying to make a living—is more than she bargained for.
Drawn from the authors’ own experiences as bartenders in the thick of New York’s party scene, The Perfect Manhattan is a perfect mix of sparkling social satire, romance, comedy, and scandal that provides a fast-paced, enormously entertaining look inside the life on the chichi side of the tracks.
So, I’m conflicted about this one. On one hand, it’s seems like it could be good. however, the scandal part isn’t promising. I’ve read many rich-man-meets-average-women stories to really stop caring about the whole premise. But, I don’t know. I think I’ll keep it for a while if I didn’t get to read it this year then it’s out.
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Synopsis
I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.
As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.
In this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.
I’ll pass on this one as well since it does not sound interesting to me. I think I’m not into the supernatural genre any more.
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Immortal Reign
Book #6 of Falling Kingdoms series
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Genre: YA, Epic Fantasy
Release Date: 6th February 2018
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Synopsis:
As two lethal elemental gods set out to destroy Mytica, sworn enemies must become allies in the final fight to save the kingdoms.
Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny, but the consequences of plotting his own course are drastic. As the fight for Mytica rages on, he must decide just how much more he’s willing to sacrifice.
Lucia knows there’s something special about her daughter and she’ll do anything to protect her, even if that means facing Kyan alone.
Amara is called back home to Kraeshia. Grandma Cortas has her own plans for Mytica’s future. She promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme.
Magnus and Cleo‘s love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?
Review:
It’s been more than a year since I stopped halfway through this book. I don’t know why I stopped maybe I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this series especially after the spin-off series got canceled before the final book. I was discouraged by the news.
Anyways, now that I finished it I find that I truly didn’t want this series to end. I am so sad even though the ending was perfect and all.
Loved how the story ended and I kept remembering the first book and see how far these characters have come and how much they’ve grown. It’s so satisfying as a fan of the series.
Morgan Rhodes, ypu’re a wonderful writer with a unique ability to write complex and dark characters and beautiful worlds of magic. I hope your creativity does not stop here and I am so eager for your upcoming books.
You have a solid fan here 😊
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Wrong Means Right End
by Varsha Dixit
Release Date: January 1st 2012
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Fiction
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Wrong Means Right End tells the tale of Sneha, a single mother who is working hard to earn a living to support herself and her young son. Her focus solely lies on making their ends meet and she has lost interest in love or dating. Sneha’s best friend Nandini is now happily married to Aditya, an industrialist. Nandini’s concern for Sneha makes her act as a matchmaker, who wants to fill her life with love and happiness. Sneha’s regular pace of life is disturbed when Nikhil, a man with whom she shares an unpleasant past, enters in her life. He is haughty and Sneha will go to any extent to keep her distance from him. If these problems weren’t enough, another troublemaker, Gayathri, enters the picture to create havoc. Gayathri is Aditya’s ex girlfriend who still likes him and is trying her best to jeopardize Nandini and Aditya’s relationship. The only person that could help Sneha in stopping Gayatri is Nikhil. Considering their hatred for each other, will Sneha approach Nikhil for saving Nandini and Aditya’s marriage?
My second attempt at reading Indian Literature..
Continue reading “Review: Wrong Means Right End by Varsha Dixit”
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Ever the Hunted (clash of kingdoms #1)
by Erin Summerill
Release Date: December 27th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction
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Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.
However, it’s not so simple.
The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
look at that cover, and read the summary, the story is pretty simple..
Continue reading “Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill”
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Strictly Between Us
by Jane Fallon
Release Date: January 14th 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Fiction
Available on: Amazon
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Tamsin and Michelle have been inseparable since childhood. Even now they spend all their time together, along with Patrick, Michelle’s handsome husband.
Except Tamsin’s brilliant assistant Bea (without whom Tamsin’s life would fall apart) has heard a nasty rumour that Patrick is playing away. Determined to uncover the truth, Tamsin devises a honey-trap to test his resolve, using Bea as bait. But she never counted on Bea having her own agenda . . .
Struggling to untangle the web of deceit, Patrick seems to be constantly one step ahead. Can Tamsin reveal the truth to Michelle without ruining everyone’s life along the way?
Who would have thought that I would like a book about cheating husbands!!!
Continue reading “Review: Strictly Between Us by Jane Fallon”
Back to you guys with another monthly update. February was a quiet month but the highlight was that I attended the first book fair to be held in our region. It was such an exciting experience. I hope to repeat it next year. My reading progress hasn’t been better unfortunately. If I keep this pace these upcoming months, I’m afraid I won’t achieve the 100 books goal I’ve set.
Second month of reading down, ten to go..
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (★★★★/5)I enjoyed this book so immensely. Enemies-to-Lovers stories are so beautiful when done right. And boy did Sally Thorne write it well?! The first part where the two hated each other you can feel the chemistry oozing out of the pages. And I loved 80% of the book. Except for the 20% after the two actually confessed, that part I felt was too real too quick. But this is definitely a book I’d recommend to people who are into adult hate-to-love stories.
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (★★/5)And the most disappointing book of the year (and the previous year I was waiting for it), goes to this book. This contemporary retelling of a great favorite of mine Pride & Prejudice was not what I looking for. It was down right offensive to me as a fan. The characters were shallow and so not what they were in the original story. It’s like the whole characters of the classic were ripped of their soul. I wouldn’t mind the author doing a complete retelling instead of sticking to the original sometimes in dialogues. I wasn’t impressed by this book at all.
Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1) by Erin Summerill (★★★/5)I thought this was a good story. Except that the romance took too long in some chapters. The main character wasn’t all that impressive or memorable. And the end actually wrapped the story mostly so I don’t know what’s the next book in the series would be about.
Warcross (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu (★★★/5)Unlike the previous book, this book’s strength was in that amazing nail-biting cliffhanger. Otherwise, I spent most of the book wondering what made Emika such an excellent hacker when she didn’t experience the true sense of Warcross game. I find it really hard to believe especially when all the tricks she has to pull must come from an experienced player. Yeah and the romance with Hideo wasn’t developed enough. Hideo’s story though was excellent. A full review will be posted later..
The Leavers by Lisa Ko (★★★★/5)I didn’t know I’d be affected by this book. I mean it hit me with emotions I didn’t even know where to start. It was one of those real-life books if you know what I mean. It deals with Loss of Identity for immigrants and people trying to break free and live the life they wanted yet they find they’re pulled down by life itself. It was too real and too emotional of a book. I couldn’t not give it less than 4 stars despite the long chapters which made me a bit bored to be honest.
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I didn’t really think about what I would read this month so my list is pretty short. I’m also trying to keep it spontaneous..
that’s all for me, what about you guys???
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The Sun is Also a Star
by Nicola Yoon
Release Date: November 6th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
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Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?
The first book I’ve read after a year-long reading slump. It was worth every moment.
Continue reading “Review: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon”
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Turtles All The Way Down
by John Green
Release Date: October 10th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
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Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.
This is my second John Green book after Paper Towns, and while I loved Paper Towns, I find myself torn about this one.
Continue reading “Review: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green”
Silent Seasons 