Book Review · Books

The Recreators by Desiree Nordlund

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★★★★

I went into reading this book partially blind. The blurb doesn’t uncover much, and I was excited as to whether I would like it or not. The Recreators is a young-adult novel that happens in Medieval times and features characters who have God-like powers and are able to change a slight minimal portion of the world.

We follow three separate stories throughout this book:

Filia’s story

A princess who has disappeared and comes back years later to claim her throne. A fierce woman who is a Recreator, but chooses to use the powers for her own benefit. In this story we can see how Filia develops as a character, changes while learning new things, makes sacrifices and answers some of the most asked social questions… A powerful story of growing up, and definitely my favourite one of all three.

Vepresila’s story

She is chosen by the Goddess to serve her, but decides to take destiny in her own hands. This girl grew up with her family in a tribe with different moral and cultural values than what we know. Men and women don’t sleep under the same roof, and boys have to pass tests to become men, otherwise, they are stuck and disrespected. When the girl is chosen to go to the Goddess’ temple and serve her, she realises that the system doesn’t work, and tries to beat it. Finding her own destiny can prove to be a bouncy road, but she goes for it.

Simmiolas’s story

He is a Recreator and comes back to fixes a mistake he made in the past. While he travels, he settles with a circle of people, but they fail to believe he has powers and he doesn’t seem able to change their views on how they see nature and the world. Taking a dear friend with him, he is set on a mission to do what is right, before it is too late.

‘’Just because things don’t always go as planned, it doesn’t always mean the outcome will be for the worse.’’

These three stories feature these three different characters, with a lot of characters surrounding them and supporting them. The three stories connect each other at a few points, some sooner, some later. They never fully connect though, which did bother me, as I was expecting a one big ending. The three stories remained separated, which made me think if it would’ve been better to not connect them at all, or create three separate books for them.

‘’But if all places have different ideas about what’s right and wrong, how do we know what really is right and wrong?’’

Despite the story lines and the grammar errors I encountered, this book was truly amazing and I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the concept of the powers, loved the ethical lessons throughout the book, and I absolutely loved watching all of these characters grow in their own kind of way. There were amazing scenes of what is wrong and right, what fear is and how to overcome it, how to keep going despite making mistakes in the past, and a lot of various life lessons worth reading.

I recommend this book if this seems like the genre you might enjoy reading. It was the first book I read by Desiree Nordlund and I can’t wait to read more books written by her.

‘’The best way to cure fear of the unknown is to admit what caused the fear and watch it until it’s no longer something strange.’’

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK | Amazon US

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Books · Down The TBR Hole Tag

Down The TBR Hole #29 | Down The TBR Hole Tag

down the tbr hole book books blog diary of difference

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the 29th edition of my Down The TBR Hole Posts.

I have a couple of books on my TBR list this time around again, let’s have a look through them, and see whether we should keep them, or let them go. Let the Down the TBR Hole game commence.

How it works: 

❤ 1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
❤ 2. Order on ascending date added.
❤ 3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
❤ 4. Read the synopsis of the books.
❤ 5. Time to Decide: keep it or should it go

Here’s the next patch:

down the tbr hole j k rowling harry potter book books diary of difference diaryofdifference

Until November (Until, #1) by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Even though the genre says Contemporary Romance, this sounds like an Erotica to me. I will skip it for now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1) by Darynda Jones

I am still not sure how some books end up on my TBR list…

Verdict: ☑ REMOVE ✖

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

The issue I always have with mystery thrillers is that I have so many on my list, and I don’t know many of them. I don’t own this one, and I have other books that I already own. So this one will have to wait.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes

I am honestly intrigued by this book. I don’t own it, but I will try to pick it up soon.

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

Jackaby (Jackaby, #1) by William Ritter

This is an interesting book. Not because of the synopsis though. A lot of my friends DNF-ed it, and a lot of my friends loved it. There was a lot of hype when it came out, and now I barely see it around… I will let it go.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Room 119: The Whitby Trader by T. F. Lince

This seems like I book I might enjoy. But, I don’t own it. And I don’t think I would buy it either…

Verdict:

REMOVE ✖

Shadow Demons (The Shadow Demons Saga #4) by Sarah Cannon

Last summer, I did a challenge to read my teen sister’s favourite books. I really enjoyed this series, and should pick it up soon.

Verdict: KEEP  ☑ 

Simmer (Midnight Fire, #2) by Kaitlyn Davis

Again, part of Tea’s Summer Reading Challenge. I will definitely keep this one.

Verdict: KEEP  ☑ 

Current Impressions (Never Forgotten, #2) by Kelly Risser

The third book from my sister’s list on here. I loved this series the most. I will have to finish it.

Verdict: KEEP  ☑

Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1) by Kristin Cashore

A book I have been wanting to read for so long, and never got to it. I wish I had it in my library, but I will get to it soon, I promise.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

flower-divider-flower-dividers-clip-art-flowers-line-divider-stock-vector-illustration-of-elegantWe removed 5 books this time around. This week we made amazing progress. Have a look at my complete TBR list. 

Which books would you keep or remove? Please let me know in the comments because I love reading your comments and thoughts! 

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Book Review · Books

Nanny and the Beast by Georgia Le Carre

nanny and the beast a billionaire romance georgia le carre goodreads netgalley love erotica sex russia mafia★★★★

Let me explain, before you all judge me. I don’t usually read these types of books. Nanny and the Beast was just a book that was recommended to me. By my mum. And I loved it!

The book features April, who is a nanny by profession. She goes for an interview in a Russian billionaire’s house for the nanny position.

Yuri is a Russian billionaire who has a niece, Yulia, that hasn’t been speaking for a few months. When he sees April, he can’t resist her – which is why he doesn’t give her the job – it is too dangerous for her to stick around.

But when destiny takes matters in her own hands, and April end up being Yulia’s nanny, they have to find a way to leave their fierce erotic needs aside and focus on the little girl’s happiness.

With lust and danger coming from all sides, they are not prepared to settle for little.

I loved April. She is a kind girl and cared deeply about Yulia. She fears Yuri, but also can’t help but feel the attraction between them. She kept having second thoughts and getting ready to leave, and still stayed. She kept feeling humiliated, but remained to see if this love might work. April was also a very bad friend. I feel the need of mentioning this. While it was okay for her to call her friend any time, she always talked and never listened, even when her friend clearly wanted to talk. That is a no-no for me.

As for Yuri, I don’t think I liked him that much. Yes, I admired his possessiveness around April and how he cared about both April and Yulia. Everything about Yuri is so mysterious, so secret, and he is always on the edge. Which makes him wanted, I would assume. However, some of his actions and beliefs made me so angry I wanted to throw this book!

The emotional scene that intrigued me.

She was left by her mother as a child, because her mother didn’t have the money. While April grows up, her mother becomes very rich and famous. A secret part of Rachel hopes that her mother will come back for her. At one scene in the book, April and Yuri attend a dinner and April’s mother is there. When she sees her with Yuri, she whispers to April she is not good enough and tells her to stay off him, so her other daughter can be with him. And while the mother didn’t know April is her daughter, April did, and it hurt her badly.

Quite an emotional scene for April, realizing that her mother moved on, and has changed, and the reason she probably left her at the very beginning never had anything to do with her money.

I read this book in a day, so if you want a short hot steamy romance with a sexy Russian Alpha-male, you will definitely enjoy this. There are a few emotional roller coasters throughout the book. However, if you are looking for a deep book that will help you discover the meaning of life, I am sorry to disappoint you.

Secret note: If you have in mind books similar to this, I am open to recommendations.

Trigger warnings: Explicit sexual scenes, violence, murder and psychological trauma.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barns & Noble |

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Books · Down The TBR Hole Tag

Down The TBR Hole #28 | Down The TBR Hole Tag

down the tbr hole book books blog diary of difference

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the 28th edition of my Down The TBR Hole Posts.

Hello, my lovelies! I hope you have a wonderful time during the Easter holidays! This weekend, England is celebrating Easter. I celebrate Easter next week though, but I am loving my chocolate eggs, I have to admit!

I have a couple of books on my TBR list this time around again, let’s have a look through them, and see whether we should keep them, or let them go. Let the Down the TBR Hole game commence.

How it works: 

❤ 1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
❤ 2. Order on ascending date added.
❤ 3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
❤ 4. Read the synopsis of the books.
❤ 5. Time to Decide: keep it or should it go

Here’s the next patch:

down the tbr hole j k rowling harry potter book books diary of difference diaryofdifference

Blood Shadow: An Eye of the Storm Companion Novel by Dianna Hardy

I think this is a paranormal romance book. I won it as a giveaway, and I am planning to read it soon. It is the prequel of a series, so it would be a nice start, in case I enjoy it.

Verdict: KEEP  ☑

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins

I know, I know – how on Earth have I not read The Hunger Games yet? Well, I have seen the movie first, and then just sort of forgot about it. I am thinking of reading it, though, as I know books are often way better than movies!

Verdict: KEEP  ☑ 

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

This book was recommended to me by a friend, but I am not sure if I like contemporary fiction right now. I will let it go.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami

Again, recommended by a friend. And also, it’s Haruki Murakami that wrote it. But it has quite a few bad reviews, and I think I will read something different, at least for now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

When We Collided by Emery Lord

I am not quite sure about this one, guys. I haven’t read Emery Lord before, and I have had some bad experiences recently with books that cover mental health issues. Maybe I should skip it, for now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

I don’t remember this book, and there are so many similar books to this, that I am a bit reluctant to dedicate myself to it.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making(Fairyland, #1) by Catherynne M. Valente

I only added this book to my TBR list because of its cover. I mean – look it it. This is the hardest decision I have to make in Down The TBR Hole. It goes…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

This book is written by the author of Harry Potter. And The Tales of Beedle the Bard can be found at the Hogwarts Library. I read ”Quidditch Through the Ages” and loved it so much. I have to read this as well.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

Red Russia by Tanya Thomspon

I am not sure about this one, to be honest. I know Russian Culture, and I know American Culture. But this might not be the right book for me, I suppose.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Bully (Fall Away, #1) by Penelope Douglas

A story about bullies and a girl that is bullied, but then decides to stand up to those who bully her in high-school. Even though perhaps not the genre I read now, I want to read it. The sole reason is to promote this message. Women need to be brave and stand up to bullies.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

flower-divider-flower-dividers-clip-art-flowers-line-divider-stock-vector-illustration-of-elegantWe removed 6 books this time around. This week we made amazing progress. Have a look at my complete TBR list. 

Which books would you keep or remove? Please let me know in the comments because I love reading your comments and thoughts! 

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Book Review · Books

Goodnight, Monster by Chloe Sanders

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★★★★

A cute and cheeky bedtime story!

I knew I was going to enjoy this little read as soon as I saw the cover and the little blurb. Goodnight, Monster! by Chloe Sanders is a story about Ben, who doesn’t want to go to bed, because there is a monster in his room.

A message to give people a chance

When his mother encourages Ben to make friends with the monster. There is a lovely moment here with a message to give people a chance, as they are more than what they look on the outside. I really loved this moment, and I wish more children books focused on it.

Ben says hi to the monster and makes friends, and then gets him ready for bed. He teaches Monster Bo how to brush his teeth, and have a bath, and have dinner, but the monster keeps trying to misbehave and hides Ben’s socks under the bed, and does other cute silly things, but Ben teaches him how to be a good monster.

I really loved this bedtime story. I think it has a lot of messages to teach young children – especially for them to realise that it is now time for bed. Furthermore, a couple of life lessons are secretly hidden inside this book too, that makes me really happy.

If you have little ‘’monsters’’ at home, I am sure both of you will enjoy this short bedtime story.

Purchase Links: | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble |

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