Posted on February 8, 2017
Ksenia’s Favorite books of 2016
It’s a little bit late for this post, but I want to highlight my favorite books, and since I was on hiatus I post it now. I’ve read 50 books in 2016. It seems like a small number, especially comparing to several of my blogger friends (who I think have some fast-reading superpower), but I’m a slow reader and last year was especially challenging. Between applications, studies, exams, starting my Ph.D. program in September and my son starting school at the same time I didn’t have much time to read and blog. I’m surprised I’ve managed to complete my GR-challenge. Read More
Posted on February 3, 2017
Monthly Recap: January 2017
Posted on February 2, 2017
Review: Never Been Kissed by Molly O’Keefe. I loved this story to pieces.
Author: Molly O’Keefe
My rating: 5 of 5 Stars
SUMMARY
As the daughter of a wealthy politician, Ashley Montgomery has had enough of her parents’ expectations for her future and is going her own way, volunteering to work at a refugee camp in Africa. But her act of charity turns dangerous when she takes a boat trip and is abducted by Somali pirates.
Read More
Posted on January 29, 2017
Audiobook review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. Can you die from cuteness?
Author: Becky Albertalli
Narrator: Michael Crouch
Story rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Audio rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Overall rating: 5 of 5 Stars
SUMMARY
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised. Read More
Posted on January 27, 2017
Review: Undecided by Julianna Keyes. Breath of fresh air in NA.
Author: Julianna Keyes
My rating: 5 of 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS
When reviews began to appear in my feed, I was intrigued. What was in this book that everyone seems to love it? After finishing it I see its appeal. I read a lot of NA. It saddens me to admit, but average NA book usually brings instant-love romance with two broken characters healing each other, spiced up with sex and dirty talk. It often features your usual womanizer athletic hero and nerdy virginal heroine. After some time this concept loses its appeal. Read More
Posted on January 24, 2017
Life update
You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t been around lately or maybe not. Anyway, where have I been? Read More
Posted on December 21, 2016
Review: Wild Child by Molly O’Keefe. Beautifully written deep romance.
Author: Molly O’Keefe
My rating: 4 of 5 Stars
SUMMARY
Monica Appleby is a woman with a reputation. Once she was America’s teenage “Wild Child,” with her own reality TV show. Now she’s a successful author coming home to Bishop, Arkansas, to pen the juicy follow-up to her tell-all autobiography. Problem is, the hottest man in town wants her gone. Mayor Jackson Davies is trying to convince a cookie giant to move its headquarters to his crumbling community, and Monica’s presence is just too . . . unwholesome for business. But the desire in his eyes sends a very different message: Stay, at least for a while. Read More
Posted on December 18, 2016
Audiobook review: The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Narrator: Justine Eyre
Story rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Audio rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Overall rating: 3 of 5 Stars
SUMMARY
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love… Read More
Posted on December 13, 2016
Review: Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols. Their passion for music was contagious
Author: Jennifer Echols
My rating: 4 of 5 Stars
SUMMARY
Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away. Read More
Posted on December 8, 2016
How Sam Claflin ruined 3 movie adaptations for me
Don’t get me wrong. I like Sam Claflin. I really do. He is a talented actor, and he has a great smile. Actually my post is not about Sam Claflin, it’s about downsides of reading a lot of books. I should probably name this post Difficult Life of a Reader.
I’m one of those readers who watch a book-to-movie adaptation only after reading a book. Well, except this time. I never was a big movie fan. If I have to choose between spending evening with a book or watching a movie, I guess I would take book over movie. But I do love movies and I used to watch a lot of new releases. Used to, because it looks like the more I read the less number of movies I can enjoy.
You are asking yourself what Sam Claflin has to do with this all. He just happened to play main characters in book to movie adaptations of my favorite books. Read More
