Between the Pages

Review of Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath

2013-05-21T11:24:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: Lord of Wicked Intentions (The Lost Lords of Pembrook #3) by Lorraine Heath
Publisher/Date published: Avon, April 30th 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Lord Rafe Easton may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets his eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, and earl's illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress.

After her father's death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice except to accept the lord's indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love guides the last lost lord home.

I really enjoyed Lord of Temptation and Deck the Halls With Love, earlier books in this series and I was really excited to start Lord of Wicked Intentions! And I wasn't disappointed!

Evelyn is the illegitimate child of an earl and though her father loved her very much, he didn't really think she was fit for polite society, or so she discovers after his death. Her brother, who is a hateful man, decides to try and buy off his debt through selling his half-sister as a mistress to vile men. Of course Rafe steps in and makes some death threaths and whisks Evelyn away to his own mansion.

Evelyn was pretty naive. I get that she's been sheltered and everything, but well, she's got that starry-eyed child sens around her and it kinda annoyed me at times. I did like that she doesn't hang her head, but accepts what life has thrown at her and makes the most of it.

Rafe is a pretty hard man. Circumstances have made him that way and I liked that although he thinks he's all mister tough guy, he secretly has this really big heart and does things for people without them realizing it and without expecting gratitude. I just wanted so bad for him to give his brothers another chance and to have him be a part of the family again! And for all his taking Evelyn away to become his mistress, I liked that he waited for her to be ok with intimacies and get to know him a bit.

So I know that in romance novels in general if one half of the couple is a little 'broken', love (and sex, let's be honest) cures this all of a sudden. But really, I was just sort of not convinced here. I mean, he has had a problem with people touching him for YEARS. And suddenly he's completely ok with it. Yeah... I'm not buying this.

They did have really good chemistry and some things that happened towards the end made me cry and I love when books make me cry! There were a couple of things that made me roll my eyes, but overall this was a very enjoyable read!

My rating: 4 stars

Daisy Update (41) On a Monday!

2013-05-20T14:29:00.001+02:00

So I usually do this on Sundays, but as I was kinda busy yesterday I thought, well, let's just do it on Monday instead :)

Last time I told you guys how I was SO EXCITED about getting accepted for the GP residency and the Monday after I got a call telling me I could start in September 2013 instead of March 2014!! This lead to more excitement of course, cause now I won't have to look for a job to tie me over and I can just START! YAY! I feel really lucky and happy and just HURRAY! :D

So that week I only had to work Monday till Wednesday and I actually had a pretty decent evening shift, with only 1 patient coming into the ER. Which is awesome, because really, it's been insanely busy the last couple of months and now I just had room to breathe. And eat, which is pretty unusual.

Friday it was the boyfriend's birthday and we had some friends over in the afternoon who stayed for dinner and his and my family came over after, it was really fun and kinda exhausting. I kinda yawned the guests away around 11.30PM and after a while they got the hint ;)

Saturday we went out for drinks with some friends, which was fun and Sunday it was Mother's Day and it was time to go hug my mom and have dinner with her, my dad and my brother. We don't really spend a lot of time together as a family and it was nice to just have it be the four of us.

Last week was just BUSY. All together I think I worked 75 hours, which is sorta crazy. I was working on one of the wards again and I just love that! I also love that there are now 2 residents on a ward and I have so much more time to get to know the patients instead of just 'managing' them! It's nice to be able to do a little extra for them and not run around like a crazy person trying to get everything done on time! And now I actually have time to get coffee and socialize a bit with the other residents and nurses :)

Have you guys heard anything about the Eurovision Song Contest? I watched the semi-final on Thursday and seriously, I just laughed SO HARD at some of the performances! If you're interested in seeing why, I'll leave the links to the youtube clips of Macedonia and Romania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi1VYsOUCsY

Where did they get all that red fabric???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV3xp5ZXSYA

Move over Edward, here's another glittering vampire!

Oh, and just because I've been singing this with one of my coworkers ALL DAY Friday:

Even after a couple of years, it's still hilarious!

So, enough of these musical shenanigans!

Saturday was my last 24-hour shift and it was kinda ok! I only had one patient in the ER ALL DAY! Seriously, I was so surprised! One patient is pretty much NOTHING. I did have some sick patients on our wards, but for a whole day it was pretty ok. Two had a lot of fluid in their chest and I totally rocked doing a punction and draining some of it. It's still a little scary to stick a pretty big needle in someone's chest, but it went really well and it helped the patients! I didn't get much sleep at night because of some questions over the phone and one patient died, which was expected, but still.

Yesterday I just conked out when I got home and in the afternoon it was time for the annual barbecue we have with the boyfriend's friends. They have a carnival this weekend every year and we always get together for the barbecue at someone's house, this year it was at the boyfriend's parents' and it was really fun! They pretty much all have girlfriends and I like hanging out with them. I didn't join them when they went on to the carnival, because I was ready to fall asleep standing up and decided it was a better idea to just go home.

Today I'm just gonna give into my hermit tendencies and relax and not look presentable, because hey, noone's home except for me. I have 3 whole weeks off and I plan on reading ALL THE BOOKS and watching Pretty Little Liars and Grey's Anatomy and cook yummy food and maybe go on a little vacation and just have lots of quality time with the boyfriend! :) Oh, and go shopping. Cause seriously, what's time off without a little retail therapy? :)

Review of The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

2013-05-16T20:37:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom (The League of Princes #1) by Christopher Healy
Publisher/Date published: Walden Pond Press, May 1st 2012
How I got this book: bought myself a pretty copy
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary:
Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav.

You've never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel, but you probably know them all as 'Prince Charming'. Well, all that is about to change as the hapless princes stumble upon an evil plot and get a second chance to prove themselves true heroes.

Seriously, reading this book was one of my better decisions this month! It was SO MUCH FUN!

First off, you guys should know that I love fairytales. LOVE. And I love any book that deals with them or reads like one and this novel getting deeper into the different prince charmings out there is just SO MY THING!

I don't read many funny books, and I'm not sure why not, cause this was hilarious! I laughed out loud a couple of times, which earned me weird glances from the boyfriend at times. I loved getting to know the characters flaws and all and they've all earned a special place in my heart. But to be honest, I think my favourites are Liam and Duncan. Liam is what I'd want my prince charming to be like and Duncan is just so sweet! All four of them are great characters, but these two stole my heart.

I loved that we get to see them in their full glory and get a little more of a backstory on the princes, because, let's face it, it's mostly all about the princesses in fairytales. Most of them don't even have a name in the story and that's what's adressed in The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom.

I read this in no time at all and was highly entertained the whole time. The writing if witty, funny and engaging, I really fell for these characters and was rooting for them! It's a bit of a silly romp, but sometimes you need that in your life and it made for a great read-a-thon read! I already have The Hero's Guide To Storming The Castle staring at me, so I'll be reading that soon :)

My rating: 4,5 stars

Review of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

2013-05-13T20:17:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead
Publisher/Date published: Razorbill, November 13th 2008
How I got this book: own it
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all... might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line - and choose between the two people she loves most.

***WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FIRST 2 BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

So if I had read this back when I didn't worry about review piles who needed clearing, I probably would have DEVOURED these books in the space of a week. They are THAT addictive!

With every book I love Rose more. She is such a kickass character and she's what makes these books shine. I mean, sure, I am as likely to drool over Dimitri as the next girl, but Rose is who I ultimately read this series for. I love her loyalty and how she truly gives everything of herself. She's committed and I respect that.

And for those of you who have met Dimitri: do I really need to say anything other than THIS MAN!! *SWOON*

Rose and Dimitri together are just amazing and I was happy and happy and frolicking along, reading the book and then all of a sudden WHAM! BIG PLOT TWIST! And OMG, I can't believe I forgot for a minute which series I was reading and how Richelle Mead manages to pull at my heartstrings EVERY TIME! And like I said to Judith from Paper Riot THINGS NEED TO BE FIXED! I mean, seriously, I will never forgive Richelle Mead if things DON'T get fixed! Seriously!

I so need to read the next book...

My rating: 5 stars

For My Mother

2013-05-12T14:26:00.000+02:00

Today's Mother's Day, and while I feel that you should show your mother you love her EVERY day, today is still a special day.

I love my mom and I am so thankful we have a good relationship! She's always there for me and supports me no matter what and I love that I can share my love of reading with her! She's the one who read stories to me and took me to the library when I started reading books myself. Anytime I have news, either good or bad, I just call my mom. I love our spa days together and the days when we just sit together watching TV or reading.

So mom, even though you're probably not reading this, I just want to say that I love you and that I'm so happy that you're MY mom! Happy Mother's Day!

Review of How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer

2013-05-11T13:49:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer
Publisher/Date published: Balzer & Bray, April 23rd 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie - like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?

Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

Guys, you have no idea how much I would have loved to work at an amusement park as a summer job when I was in my teens. Seriously, that would have been EPIC. Especially if you can share it with friends. So of course I jumped at the chance to read How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True!

And it was so much fun! This is why I read contemporaries every now and then! I love that they can have an extremely fun and cute storyline and mix it up with real issues. I loved that I could identify with Zoe and her love for her best friend, her cousin. I loved how she had all these memories connected to the place she was working at and how she gave everything even if she didn't really felt appreciated.

And seriously, I totally loved pretty much the whole cast of this novel! From the prince charming who is terribly afraid of horses to the Queen herself who can be put in a better mood by getting a piece of dark chocolate and having it NEVER MENTIONED that she gets this with her lunch from Zoe. LOVE.

I also really enjoyed the scenes with Zoe and the boy who turns out to be her very own prince charming after all and how she could be herself with him and even talk about her mother who passed away. Even though I did think a lot of the problems in this novel could have been sorted out easily if people just TALKED TO EACH OTHER, but yeah, that's usually the problem ;) I loved all the intrigue going on in Fairyland and the competitiveness because of the chance of winning a LOT of money. I don't want to spoil it, but I seriously laughed at the ending when all is revealed.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True has everything I need to put a smile on my face and I read it in no time at all! I read it during the dark hours of Dewey's read-a-thon, but I think it would be perfect to dream away with on a sunny afternoon when you have nothing going on. I'm definitely going to be reading more by Sarah Strohmeyer!

My rating: 4,5 stars

Review of The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway

2013-05-09T10:28:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway
Publisher/Date published: Dutton, April 23rd 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: “You are now a member of the Guild. There is no return.” Two hundred years after he was about to die on a Napoleonic battlefield, Nick Falcott, soldier and aristocrat, wakes up in a hospital bed in modern London. The Guild, an entity that controls time travel, showers him with life's advantages. But Nick yearns for home and for one brown-eyed girl, lost now down the centuries. Then the Guild asks him to break its own rule. It needs Nick to go back to 1815 to fight the Guild’s enemies and to find something called the Talisman.

In 1815, Julia Percy mourns the death of her beloved grandfather, an earl who could play with time. On his deathbed he whispers in her ear: “Pretend!” Pretend what? When Nick returns home as if from the dead, older than he should be and battle scarred, Julia begins to suspect that her very life depends upon the secrets Grandfather never told her. Soon enough Julia and Nick are caught up in an adventure that stretches up and down the river of time. As their knowledge of the Guild and their feelings for each other grow, the fate of the future itself is hanging in the balance.

I am a bit unsure of how I should review this book. There were some really good parts and some stuff that didn't make all that much sense to me. Let me try to explain.

I thought the writing was really good, it was engrossing and Bee Ridgway really managed to make me excited about time travel again. The only problem was that she got me all wanting to know EVERYTHING and we barely got answers. Nd while the writing was good, I did still feel like barely anything happened. The plot was SO SLOW. I was still entertained, but looking back, there were huge stretches of the novel in which nothing actually happened to propell the story onward.

I liked Nick, he's a truly good guy. I liked that he adjusted to the 21st century and how he at first had trouble accepting that he couldn't go back and then that he could in fact go back! I mean, I can totally understand the doubts and hesitation that comes with something like this! Julia was a bit too passive for me to truly connect with her. I wasn't completely sold on the romance between her and Nick either. I mean, his sorta obsession with her is based on one moment. It felt a little too much like insta-love too me and while I do think they had a connection, it wasn't enough to fully convince me.

But oh my lord, I absolutely ADORED Arkady, Nick's Russian companion! He is the most quotable of the characters and says things like "Because it's beautiful and romantic to do so" and I LOVED it! He may not always be a good guy, but he's such an interesting, passionate character that I can forgive him for this.

I think what bothered me the most is that the plot was moving along at a turtle's pace and then all of a sudden it just ended. And I just have all these questions! It doesn't say anywhere if there'll be a sequel! And I'm... confused. I hate it when endings are like that! It makes me reconsider the whole book because it leaves me with a bad feeling.

So I'm a bit unsure about The River of No Return. While it was an entertaining story, the plot dragged a bit and then the ending just threw me completely off! The whole time travel concept Bee Ridgway introduces us to is fascinating, but I still have so many unanswered questions. I really hope there'll be a sequel!

My rating: 3,5 stars

Review of The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

2013-05-07T20:46:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter #1) by Megan Shepherd
Publisher/Date published: Balzer & Bray, January 29th 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London — working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward — both of whom she is deeply drawn to — Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius — and madness — in her own blood.

So this book has been ALL OVER the blogosphere the last couple of months and people whose taste in books I trust completely have been RAVING about it. So yes, there were all these expectations. And I have to say that most of them were met!

I've never read The Island of Dr. Moreau and so as not to accidentally read about plotlines/spoilers, I didn't google it before reading The Madman's Daughter (ok, so I know it was there first, but I wanted to experience this story just as it is). And guys, The Madman's Daughter totally makes me want to read The Island of Dr. Moreau!! I love how these retellings make me excited to read the classics!

I really liked Juliet. She's a tough sixteen-year-old and I totally respect her for learning everything she knows about anatomy, because girls were definitely not allowed to know stuff like that back then. I love that she uses this knowledge to defend herself against someone who assaults her. LOVED it. I also loved that she was a little off.

Actually, I loved that there was pretty much something off with ALL of the characters! I never knew who to trust and it was all just SO CREEPY! Oh my gosh, Megan Shepher really brought the chills and shock and sometimes openmouthed horror. And I loved it! It's slightly scary that I can understand what the doctor did on a scientific level, yet it horrifies me at the same time.

The only thing that I didn't really feel was the love triangle. I was firmly fixed on one boy, who turned out to be the right pick after all (am so not telling you who it is though ;) ) and I LOVED the moments between Juliet and this boy.

I was so swept away by the storytelling! I was constantly at the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happens next! And seriously, the ending near broke my heart!! I cannot wait to find out what happens in the sequel, because OMG, how are they all ever going to recover from this??

My rating: 4,5 stars

Daisy Update (40)

2013-05-05T20:29:00.003+02:00

Hi guys!!

It's the end of a beautiful sunny Sunday and I'm just now finding the will to sit behind my computer instead of on our balcony just reading the day away.

As I mentioned in my last Daisy Update, I had a whole glorious week off starting April 20th and it was in fact glorious! I did virtually nothing except be at home with the boyfriend, watch Pretty Little Liars, read and eat. And I loved every minute of it! We had originally planned to go abroad, but because of the boyfriend's job interview we stayed at home and honestly, it's probably brought me more relaxation than going on a city trip and running around trying to see everything before going home again. I love going on vacation, but I love spending time at home as well. It seems that I'm rarely home these days and it's nice to be able to just relax for a bit.

On Tuesday some of my friends came over for dinner, which is kinda perfect because I love cooking for other people when I have the time! We had a great time catching up, we're all doctors and it's rare for our schedules to line up enough that we can actually get together, so this was pretty great!

On Wednesday my brand new Sony ereader got delivered!! And oh my gosh, I love it so much! I'm still feeling guilty towards my old ereader and haven't been able to bring myself to move it from its regular spot on the back of the couch... But my new one is so much faster and it has a touch screen and is all kinds of shiny and yeah, I kinda just adore it.

Thursday the boyfriend and I went to the zoo and apparantly we'd chosen a day when a LOT of schools were planning a field trip there as well, so there were a lot of kids running around, screaming. I like kids, there were just a lot of them... We had fun looking at all the animals and a giraffe actually came close enough that I could have touched its head if I hadn't been such a chicken! We had a lovely day together :)

Friday we went shopping and I bought a dress that I'm not sure when I'll be able to wear it, as it is a bit on the fancy side, but I loved it so much that I just had to get it! Maybe I can wear it while applying for a job or something... Oh, and SHOES! I bought two pairs of shoes :) It was actually kinda funny because the sales lady was asking me if I'd decided which pair I wanted and looked really surprised when I said both.

Saturday I participated in Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-Thon and it was AWESOME! Sunday was pretty much just spent having a read-a-thon hangover and watching TV with the boyfriend.

Last week I was again working on one of the wards and I just loved it! I love getting to know the patients and working with one of my fellow residents and the nurses and just feeling part of a team. Tuesday was a national holiday here, Queen's Day, and I was the lucky one who got to work the day and evening shift. It was actually a pretty big deal this year as our queen has abdicated in favor of her eldest son, who is know our new king. I saw the most important parts of the events, work wasn't too bad, only one patient came into the ER, the patients already admitted needed some looking after though, so I was busy till it was dinner time.

And you've already heard about all my excitement over getting accepted for the residency as a GP! I'm so happy! I couldn't focus on anything on Thursday night after I got the letter and gah, I still can't believe it! I was so nervous and have been stressed for two weeks waiting for the letter and now it's here and I'm just YAY!! So I bought myself books. Naturally. I don't start till March 2014, so I'll probably need to look for another job to tie me over till then, but at least I know I'm going to get into the specialty I want and that's pretty much all that matters. The boyfriend and I went out to dinner to celebrate Friday night :) Thanks to all of your for the well-wishes, I love you guys!

Yesterday it was my cousin's first birthday party and I got her an adorable little dress and a legging with pink bows on it. I doubt they'll stay white for long, but at least it looks cute. Then last night we went out to have a drink with some of the boyfriend's friends and had a really good time. Today I've just been avoiding the house and have been hanging out on our balcony, reading, it was lovely!

I hope you all had a great week as well!

Review of The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

2013-05-04T11:11:00.001+02:00

Title/Author: The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn
Publisher/Date published: Avon, January 5th 2000
How I got this book: bought it
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?
— Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister, the lovely — and almost-on-the-shelf — Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth — it's all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her... but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke... for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love...

Guys, you know how much I love my historical romance. And after MANY recommendations from one of my Broke and Bookish buddies Julia, I FINALLY got my butt in gear and started The Duke and I. And now I'm gonna officially call myself a Julia Quinn fan!

I really loved A Night Like This when I read it last year and have been meaning to read another one of Julia Quinn's books ever since. And The Duke and I did not disappoint! It's full of the witty writing that I came to love in A Night Like This. I love that Julia Quinn combines all the swoony parts with laugh out loud funny moments, it's not easy to do right!

Daphne was a decent heroine who knows what she wants and Simon is pretty damaged, but still a swoonworthy hero. And together they bring all the sparks! I lvoed their interactions and how Daphne isn't afraid to call him out on things she doesn't like or to laugh at him. I mean, sure, I would have liked for them to work things out with words most of the time rather than doing some of the (in my opinion) relationship-destructive things they did. But of course it all works out in the end, so I'm good with it.

And seriously, I LOVE Daphne's mama! You can see the love between her and her children, but I just adored that while her sons think they're 'escaping' their mother, they don't see how they're manipulated into doing an escape trick because their mother wants time to herself. I loved it!

It didn't make me cry and I would have liked some things to be done a bit differently, but nonetheless, The Duke and I was such an enjoyable read and I'm already loving my first glimps into the Bridgerton family! I've already ordered The Viscount Who Loved Me because I've heard it's even better!

My rating: 4,5 stars

EEE! JOB EXCITEMENT!!

2013-05-02T20:39:00.001+02:00

I am basically this kitty right now, I'm SO HAPPY!!! :D

You may remember how I told you I was applying for a residency as a GP and I was just FULL OF NERVES? Well, today I got the letter saying I'm accepted for the residency and just EEEE!! ALL THE EXCITEMENT!!! I'll start in March 2014, which is a bit of a wait still, but right now I don't care because YAY!! I was so worried because I didn't know what to make of the interview, but now I'm just all kinds of happy and hyper!!

I was planning to post a review tonight, but I can't really get my thoughts in a row long enough to do anything other than squee and have this big dopey grin on my face...

Just wanted to share my news with you guys :)

Review of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

2013-04-29T20:57:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher/Date published: Harlequin Teen, April 24th 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher for review
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them — the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend — a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying foragain.

I should listen to friends who tell me certain authors are awesome. I really should. I'm not really a fan of the fey, which is why I never read Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, but The Immortal Rules has convinced me that maybe I should give them a shot after all, because this book is AWESOME!

I've become somewhat wary of vampire novels, because really, there are some bad eggs out there. But I'm very happy to say I very much enjoyed this twist on the genre! Julie Kagawa brings us back to what I remember of vampires from when I was a kid: the good old going up in flames when touched by the sun, needing blood to survive, inhuman strength and speed, being feared. YES! But other than the mindless vampires I remember from those scary stories I read way back when, Julie Kagawa gives us something to relate to. And I liked it.

I cannot tell you enough how much I loved Allison! Seriously, she is just such a kickass character! She's kickass before she becomes a vampire, being a true survivor and a loyal friend. But after she literally kicks ass and gah, I just loved it! I love that for once it's the girl turning into a paranormal being and actually NOT losing her mind because of it! She's the same girl, with a slightly different diet and a couple of handicaps along with all the superstrength and all.

And seriously, can I just say that the rabids CREEPED ME OUT! I freaking hate zombies, they wig me out big time! It's why I won't touch zombie books in general, but because I loved The Immortal Rules so much, I'll forgive Julie Kagawa for giving me nightmares (I'm not even kidding, I woke up screaming one night after reading The Immortal Rules because I was convinced something was trying to eat me...).

I'm not entirely convinced by the romance though. I mean, Zeke is a nice guy, and I'm usually all for the nice guys, but he was just a little too saintly, you know? He had a little too much worship going on for his adoptive father, and I have very strong feelings of dislike towards Jeb! Seriously, that guy got on my nerves! I don't know, it leaned a little too much towards preachy than I'm comfortable with I guess.
I was really hoping to see some action between Allie and Kanin though, because SWOON! I need more Kanin! Kanin is awesome and mysterious and manly and just *sigh*! So yeah, I'm actually hoping for a love triangle to develop for once (I cannot believe I just said that...).

But mostly, the writing was simply amazing! The Immortal Rules is a big book and while because of being extremely busy it took me a good while to read it, the story never dragged. I was thoroughly entertained and wanted to just keep reading and kept shaking my fist at my busy schedule.
There's so much about this book to love, I don't even know where to start, except to say that I'm so happy I picked it up and I'm reading The Eternity Cure SOON!

My rating: 5 stars

Read-a-Thon End of the Event Meme

2013-04-28T14:09:00.001+02:00

Awww, I'm so sad it's over!!! These 24 hours always just seem to fly by!

As is tradition, I'll finish this lovely event with the End of the Event meme:

Which hour was most daunting for you?
I think it was actually around 11PM my time, and just before I went to sleep at 3AM

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I try to mix in some lighter or funny reads, cause I can more easily keep myself focused on those. But something intense like Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series is always a good idea as well :)

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope, I love it the way it is!

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
EVERYTHING! The hosts were doing an amazing job!

How many books did you read?
If I count both my half finished books, 3.

What were the names of the books you read?
-The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway
-How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer
-Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
-The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Which book did you enjoy most?
Without a doubt Shadow Kiss.

Which did you enjoy least?
I liked all my books :)

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
YES ABSOLUTELY! I will SO be there! And I'll be a reader again, I love it :)

The final tally:
Books finished: 3
Pages read: 1050
Distracted by: the boyfriend, lunch and as always Twitter ;)

Now excuse me while I go and try to de-zombify myself and look a little more presentable for when the boyfriend comes home later. And watch some Pretty Little Liars :)

Read-a-ThonUpdate (3)

2013-04-28T09:07:00.002+02:00

Hi!!

Are you guys still with me?? I gave up around 3.30AM my local time and took a nap, which lasted about 4 hours and while I still feel somewhat like a zombie, I'm a bit less of a sleepy zombie :)

Books finished: still 2
Pages read: about 680
Distracted by: sleep, warm sleeping boyfriend, SLEEP

Now for the home stretch! WE CAN DO THIS! :D

Read-a-Thon Mid-Event Survey!

2013-04-28T01:24:00.001+02:00

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
YES! But to be fair, it's 1.20 AM here and I'm usually asleep around this time of night...

2) What have you finished reading?
I've finished The River of No Return and How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

3) What is your favorite read so far?
The last one (don't make me type that again), it was so cute! :)

4) What about your favorite snacks?
Definitely the amazingly awesome avocado dip I made, it is SO GOOD!

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!
I've mostly been on Twitter, I'm trying to keep distractions to a minimum and it's kinda hard. But if I'm not following your blog, leave me a link and I'll check it out!

My own format of updating:
Books finished: 2 (yay!)
Pages read: 460
Distracted by: Twitter as usual, not much else actually :)

On to reading Shadow Kiss! :)

Read-a-Thon Update (2)

2013-04-27T23:13:00.002+02:00

So how are you all doing? I had a socially induced break because of heading over to have dinner with the boyfriend's family but then they all decided to watch a soccer match and I got an hour of reading in. I've been back for about an hour now and I'm trying to do a little catching up. I do miss having a reading buddy though! I might have to borrow one of my parents' puppies for the October readathon!

Books finished: still 1
Pages read: 240
Distracted by: TWITTER, dinner, the boyfriend's family, TWITTER

Well, I'm off to read some more, hope you guys are all having fun!

Read-a-Thon Update (1)

2013-04-27T17:23:00.001+02:00

Hi guys!

How are you all doing? I've just finished my first book, even though it's a little bit cheating, since I was over halfway through it already.
Now I have to leave for a bit to have dinner at the boyfriend's parents', but after I'll be back to go strong!

Books finished: 1
Pages read: 140
Distracted by: making and eating avocado dip, TWITTER!

Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-Thon Introduction Post!

2013-04-27T14:02:00.001+02:00

Twice a year I get to join people all over the world for this wonderful event and YAY IT'S FINALLY HERE AGAIN!!

Here's my introduction post:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
I'll be reading from my home in Nijmegen, The Netherlands

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
ALL OF THEM!

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
ALL OF THEM!

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
My name is Daisy, during the day I'm a doctor, during my evenings off (yeah right...) I try to read ALL THE BOOKS. Chocolate and tea addict, still waiting on my Hogwarts acceptance letter, girly girl, big sappy romantic at heart.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
I'm going to try and stay up for all of it, but if I need sleep, I'll just catch a couple of hours, cause I'll be working on Monday.

That's it for me, leave me your link and I'll be sure to check your post out.
Also: HAVE FUN!

Getting Excited For the Read-a-Thon!

2013-04-26T18:10:00.002+02:00

Seriously, I'm as excited as this hamster is about Dewey's Read-a-Thon tomorrow!! :D I've been looking forward to this awesome event for weeks!

I've already done some planning, I've collected snacks (among other I have chocolate, chips, avocoda dip) and I'm slowly figuring out what to read, though the list does need some final touches and I'll probably switch it up at the last minute tomorrow ;) I'm thinkin that the list should at least include Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead because I need me some more Rose and Dimitri!!

I've managed to mostly clear my schedule except for dinner with the boyfriends' parents which will probably take up a couple of hours...

Who's joining in as well??

Review of Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland

2013-04-25T19:33:00.003+02:00

Title/Author: Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland
Publisher/Date published: Simon & Schuster, April 2nd 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies — the hawk and the serpent — lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

Guys, I love pretty much anything to do with mythology and the Furies fascinate me. So I was really excited to pick up Vengeance Bound, even though I'd heard a couple not so good things about it. And I was pretty disappointed...

I mean, it really is a fascinating concept that the Furies sort of get attached to a host and use said host to do their 'justice'. But this was exactly my problem, the '' around justice. The Furies in Vengeance Bound are not looking for justice, they're looking to kill as many men as possible, not even caring if someone is guilty or not. And that's what majorly put me off, but maybe more so that Cory actually goes along with this. I get that they don't leave her much of a choice, but it's scary how cold-blooded she is.

I couldn't connect to Cory. She's a little all over the place and she didn't seem to have much of a personality outside of being the Furies' instrument. But maybe it was just also because I just didn't like her. I felt no sympathy towards her whatsoever, so it was kinda hard to root for her in her struggles.

Several times I considered DNF-ing Vengeance Bound, but I kept going because I thought, but wait, this HAS TO GET GOOD, right?? But mostly it was just Cory bemoaning her fate and doing nothing to change it. And then there was this weird thing going on with Niko and one of Cory's new friends, who was seriously cuckoo-crazy. I mean, she pretty much had a sign over her head saying "HI, I'M INSANE, WHO ARE YOU?" and I didn't get how anyone can call themselves someone's friend if you don't try to get someone like this help. Really. LOTS of help.

I really wanted to like Vengeance Bound, but it was kind of a depressing book. I had no love for any of the characters and not even the Furies were interesting enough to keep me entertained.

My rating: 1,5 stars

Get On My Shelf!: March and April 2013

2013-04-24T13:27:00.002+02:00

So in February I started what was supposed to be a monthly feature of which books I've (pre-)orderd that month because my paycheck was burning a hole in my pocket (a virtual hole, as I only get a digital paycheck, but still). I've been SO BUSY, so this time I'm showing you the books I bought in both March and April.

Reached by Ally Condie: After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris: Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

The Book Depository / Goodreads

The White Glove War by Katie Crouch: Every society has its secrets.

The members of Savannah's Magnolia League have it all: money, beauty, power, and love. Some may call them lucky, but we know better. Spells, potions, and conjures are a girl's best friends, and thanks to the Buzzards -- a legendary hoodoo family -- the Magnolias never run out of friends.

Golden girl Hayes Anderson would never dream of leaving the League or Savannah, where there's no problem that can't be fixed with a cup of Swamp Brew tea -- served in a bone china cup, of course -- and no boy who can't be won over with a Conjure Up a New Love spell.

But when danger lurks and family secrets are unearthed, Hayes discovers that her life may not be charmed after all.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Belladonna by Fiona Paul: In Renaissance Italy, love, lust, intrigue and secret societies converge to stunning results!

In the second in the stunning Secrets of the Eternal Rose series, Cassandra Caravello is trying to forget Falco, the wild artist who ran off with her heart, as she grows closer to her strong, steady fiancé, Luca. But Luca seems to have his own secrets. When he’s arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, Cass’s life is once again thrown into chaos. She must save Luca, and that means finding the Book of the Eternal Rose—the only evidence that will prove he’s innocent.

So begins her journey to Florence, a city haunted by whispers of vampirism, secret soirees and clandestine meetings of the Order of the Eternal Rose. And home to Falco, who is working for the Order’s eerily stunning leader, the Belladonna herself.

Can Cass trust her heart to lead her to the truth this time?
Nothing is as it seems in this seductive thriller, where the truth may be the deadliest poison of all.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood: With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young: Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose effect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Don't Want To Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell: Dexter Yates loves his fun, care-free London life; he has money, looks and girlfriends galore. But everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he ever going to cope?

Comic-strip artist Molly Hayes lives in the beautiful Cotswold village of Briarwood. When it comes to relationships, she has a history of choosing all the wrong men. Leaving the city behind, Dex moves to Briarwood - a much better place to work on his parenting skills - and he and Molly become neighbours. There's an undeniable connection between them. But if Dexter's going to adapt, he first has a lot to learn about Molly, about other people's secrets...and about himself.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Tarnish by Katherine Longshore: Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court--and to convince the whole court they're lovers--she accepts. Before long, Anne's popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice--but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Oath Bound by Rachel Vincent: The Tower Syndicate will fall...

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how...

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

The Book Depository / Goodreads

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Once Upon A Tower by Eloisa James: Once upon a time…

A duke fell in love

Gowan Stoughton of Craigievar, Duke of Kinross, values order and self-control above all else. So when he meets a lady as serene as she is beautiful, he promptly asks for her hand in marriage.

With a lady

Edie—whose passionate temperament is the opposite of serene—had such a high fever at her own debut ball that she didn’t notice anyone, not even the notoriously elusive Duke of Kinross. When her father accepts his offer… she panics.

And when their marriage night isn’t all it could be, she pretends.

In a tower.

But Edie’s inability to hide her feelings makes pretending impossible, and when their marriage implodes, she retreats to a tower—locking Gowan out.

Now Gowan faces his greatest challenge. Neither commands nor reason work with his spirited young bride. How can he convince her to give him the keys to the tower…

When she already has the keys to his heart?

The Book Depository / Goodreads

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson: More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings—merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing - kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery—one that will change Rithmatics - and their world - forever.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Adorkable by Sarra Manning: Welcome to the dorkside. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Jeane Smith's a blogger, a dreamer, a jumble sale queen, CEO of her own lifestyle brand, and has half a million followers on Twitter. Michael Lee's a star of school, stage, and playing field. A golden boy in a Jack Wills hoodie. They have nothing in common but a pair of cheating exes. So why can't they stop making out? This novel is about an unlikely relationship, but it's also about roller derby, dogs on skateboards, dogs on surfboards, dogs doing any form of extreme sport, old skool hip hop, riding your bike downhill really fast, riot grrrl, those boys you want to kiss but punch in the face at the same time, dyeing your hair ridiculous colors just because you can, stitch 'n' bitch, the songs that make you dance, the songs that make you cry, being a bad ass, cake, love, death, and everything in between.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole: She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

The Book Depository / Goodreads

The Heiresses by Allison Rushby: When three teenage girls, Thalia, Erato and Clio, are summoned to the excitement of fast-paced London--a frivolous, heady city full of bright young things--by Hestia, an aunt they never knew they had, they are shocked to learn they are triplets and the rightful heiresses to their deceased mother's fortune. All they need to do is find a way to claim the fortune from their greedy half-brother, Charles. But with the odds stacked against them, coming together as sisters may be harder than they think.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

How To Lose a Bride in One Night by Sophie Jordan: He saved her life...

When Annalise Hadley is tossed over the side of her honeymoon barge, the newly-minted duchess knows she's been left for dead -- for her husband's only interest is in her vast dowry, not her muddied lineage. However, she didn't count on a savior. Especially not an honorable, sinfully intriguing earl who will tempt her to risk everything—again.

Now he will seduce her heart and soul

A man with his own demons, Owen Crawford, the reclusive Earl of McDowell, is enchanted by the mysterious, courageous woman he rescued. He will help her heal, teach her to protect herself, and then send her away—so that she’ll never see he’s far from the hero she believes him to be.

But days and nights alone prove that some secrets are meant to be discovered...some desires are too powerful to resist…and some wounds can only be healed by love.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund: It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

The Book Depository / Goodreads

So that's my two months worth of book ordering :) Anything you've read? What are you thinking of adding to your shelves soonish?

Review of Don't You Forgot About Me by Alexandra Potter

2013-04-23T11:07:00.000+02:00

Title/Author: Don't You Forget About Me by Alexandra Potter
Publisher/Date published: Hodder & Stoughton, July 19th 2012
How I got this book: it was a Christmas gift from my brother :)
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: After a bad break up, doesn't every girl want the same things?

* For her ex-boyfriend to stay single forever...
* Or maybe emigrate, to a remote, uninhabited island?
* Better still, that she'd never met him in the first place!

But what if one of those wishes came true?

Tess is heartbroken when Seb breaks up with her and can't help blaming herself. If only she'd done things differently. If only she could make right all her regrets... But she can't. It's over. She has to forget about him. Drunk and upset on New Year's Eve she wishes she'd never met him.

But when she wakes up to discover this dream has come true, she realises she has a chance. To do it all over again. And to get it right this time...

Guys, I remember when I used to read pretty much nothing but chicklit. And while I appreciate the range of genres I've gotten to know since then, I still love to revisit my old friends every now and then. And Alexandra Potter has never disappointed me before!

There's just something about Alexandra Potter's writing that makes me get sucked into the story. I think it's mostly that she writes about things I can wholeheartedly relate to and she just gets it right. I mean, haven't we all at one point thought 'what if I'd never met him?' or 'if I could do it all over, I'd do this, this and this differently'? I have. I've been extremely lucky, meeting the boyfriend when I was almost 18, but before him I did have some relationshiops and I'd always blame myself when things didn't work out. I love how Alexandra Potter captured all of those insecurities and the feeling of needing to be different for a guy to like you into this novel.

I really liked Tess. Even though I thought she should take her job a little more seriously, she is a nice person, she's just a little obsessed with Seb. Who was a bit of a douche if you ask me. I loved Tess' loyalty to her friend Fiona and thought it was pretty funny that she was trying to get Fiona to stop being a different person around one of her friends when she was making all these adjustment and feigning interest in stuff she hated to have a relationship with Seb.

And I really, REALLY liked Tess' grandfather. He was awesome, I would have loved having a grandfather like him. He's got the whole charming rebel thing going on in his home for the elderly, smoking and gambling. I loved that he was so proud of Tess and supported her in everything she did.

And then there's the other guy, who I won't name in fear of spoilers, but he's amazing and kind and just gets Tess and I was SO rooting for him! And wanting to shake Tess, screaming WHY WON'T YOU JUST SEE THIS GUY?? Admittedly, he was pretty impulsive and some of his side story wa kinda unbelievable, but the point is that he is awesome. And a good guy. I like good guys.

Alexandra Potter is one of my go-to authors when I'm looking for a cute chicklit and Don't You Forget About Me didn't disappoint me at all! It was sweet and funny and I loved exploring the question of 'what if you could do it all over again'.

My rating: 4 stars

Daisy Update (39)

2013-04-21T11:16:00.002+02:00

Hi guys!

So I've been running around for pretty much all of the last two weeks! Work wasn't even the biggest part of it, which felt a bit weird to be honest! I've been working on one of the nursing floors and I kinda love this part of my job the best, you really get to know the patients and I really enjoy the teamwork between us and the nursing staff. And I get to socialize a bit more because they've switched things up a while ago and now there are always 2 residents on one floor, which is nice :)
My two evening shifts were crazy busy, but well, I don't really expect anything else these days ;)

Anyway, between preparing for a presentation and dinner guests and just generally not being home all that much, I was exhausted by the time the weekend came around and then it was time to go to Antwerp with my friends! I'd been looking forward to it for months and it was so much fun!! I've known them since high school and we don't nearly spend enough time together, it was so good to just catch up with them on a deeper level than just the latest happenings. We talked about everything and anything and I just loved it.

Antwerp isn't a very beautiful city, it's pretty grey and not really clean, but the people are really friendly and I love their accent and it is a fun city to spend a weekend in. We went shopping and tried to do the cultural thing on Sunday, but the weather was so nice we ended up eating outside and just sitting there enjoying the weather.
I hardly slept at all that weekend and by the time we got home Sunday night I was SO TIRED!

Last Thursday I had my interview for the GP residency and guys, I don't know what to think! They'll let me know in 2 weeks and I really hope they'll accept me for the program cause I want this so much and it would be devastating if I didn't get it... But I'm sort scared that I messed it up, I just really don't know what they thought of me and it's nerve wrecking to have to wait this long!

And because I've been psyching myself out over this I've already ordered two pretty dresses, a cute shirt and books. And I've been eyeing the new Sony Reader, but that's also because last week the cover for my ereader really broke and because it's an older model, I can't get a new one for it and it's REALLY ANNOYING! Also, there's this awesome deal which expires tomorrow and I'm just gonna think it over till tonight I guess.
Is it weird that I don't hesitate to spend that amount of money on clothes, but do have to think about it for something I pretty much use daily? I also feel guilty towards my ereader, because while it freezes every once in a while, it still works. Any advice?

Yesterday was my dad's birthday and we spent the day at their place. His brothers and sister also came over and my aunt has little kids and I love seeing them! They've grown so much since last August and seriously, I love getting my old toys out of the attic and rediscovering them with my aunt's 4-year-old!

Today I'm going to try and catch up on all the posts in Bloglovin and if I have time left read some ;) I have a whole glorious week off from work and I intend to try and destress a bit and read and spend lots of time with the boyfriend :) Oh, and participate in Dewey's Read-a-Thon next Saturday!
I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday!

Review of Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

2013-04-20T11:38:00.001+02:00

Title/Author: Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill
Publisher/Date published: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, November 13th 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Meant to be or not meant to be... that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the — gasp — wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts... from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Sometimes you just need something light and fun to read and Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill was exactly this for me!

Even though Julia is REALLY uptight, I could relate to wanting not wanting to break the rules and being scared of jeopardizing her future because of someone else's antics. I liked her, though there were times when she made me want to shake her a little because she was just so obviously not seeing something and sometimes also being really unfair to Jason.
I liked that Jason had hidden depths and that he sorta serenaded Julia during one of their trips and is a fan of the Beatles. I mean, I KNOW all their songs by heart cause my dad has all the CDs, so I was sorta raised on them. I liked that he brought a little fun into Julia's very serious life.

And while this was a really cute, running around London and confusion over what guy was the right one for Julia book, I did had some issues with the romance. I mean, Jason just blows hot and cold and seriously, I would have been SO MAD by something that was revealed towards the end! They were pretty sweet together, but just when I found myself swooning over Jason he'd do something to mess it up. It was like someone kept dumping a bucket of cold water on me after I'd just warmed up again.

I really liked Lauren Morrill's writing, she kept it light and fun and the story never lagged. I flew through this book in no time and it was exactly what I needed after reading some darker and issue heavy books!
Meant To Be is a fun, cute read and I loved rediscovering London along with Julia and seeing all my favourite places through her eyes!

My rating: 3,5 stars

Why I've been/will be MIA

2013-04-14T21:13:00.001+02:00

Hi guys!

I'm too exhausted from my wonderful weekend in Antwerp, Belgium, with 3 of my best friends to do a full Daisy Update, but that's why I haven't been around this weekend. And last week was so crazy busy I hardly had time to read/blog at all. I'm gonna make up for all this maybe this week, but more likely the week after as I have a whole glorious week off then and I'll be REALLY BUSY this week as well...

I only have one picture from this weekend on my phone, the others are on someone else's camera, but I wanted to share the awesomeness that was our first night's drink with you guys:

It sort of looks like you could perform a chemistry experiment in these beer glasses :)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well!