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Sunday, December 23, 2018

Review: Tote Unschuld: Hamburg Krimi

Tote Unschuld: Hamburg Krimi Tote Unschuld: Hamburg Krimi by Martin Barkawitz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rather short, would think this as novella, also sex-scene, non-kinky, ok but not something I like enough to pay for it to read more of the series. Got this one for free after an email from lesen.net.
German, probably not translated in English. OK, you will not miss it.

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Review: Trace Evidence: A Virals Short Story Collection

Trace Evidence: A Virals Short Story Collection Trace Evidence: A Virals Short Story Collection by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Four to 5 dtars, depending on wether you already own some of the short stories.
As it was, I re-read all but one, making this an addition I would have liked to be cheap or free (not sure what I paid for the other stories, too lazy to look it up).
Good addition and some background to the longer books of that series. One story is a prequel with a how the (not yet Virals) meet.
Have not looked, but there should be made a bundle with all ebooks and these stories for a bargain price, imho.

Highly recommended, but you should have read some if not all books from the series.


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Review: Dead Center

Dead Center Dead Center by Danielle Girard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lent with a Kindle Unlimited 3-month-free subscription.
(Added later, found notes I made): Good police procedural, but too many different POVs, too many stories, too long, so 1 star less. Recommended, Trigger warning, will certainly read the next one sometimes. USA, would have liked to have this set in the UK.
(End of addition)

Quite a few POVs and important persons, a bit much, and very twisty.
Still good, recommended, and will read the next one sometime if it is not too expensive (or with KU).

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Review: Meine teuflisch gute Freundin

Meine teuflisch gute Freundin Meine teuflisch gute Freundin by Hortense Ullrich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

German ebook, filmed a Movie.
Had this pre-ordered, and was a little surprised, that this is sold rather expensive, as it is only a short 100pages, not a book but a novella.
Fluffy teenage stuff, both the movie (which I pre-ordered for iTuns and have seen), a little silly, but normal German fare. OKish, but not really recommended, a book more to lend to read once, and the movie only to be seen once, and with the 5 Eur I paid for the ebook too much (2 or maybe 3 should have been more than enough). Read in a few short hours in one day.

Oh, and also probably not available as an english translation.

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Review: Dreamfall

Dreamfall Dreamfall by Amy Plum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although more horror than the expected fantasy/supernatural, quite good and will read the next book when it gets cheaper.

Not sure who to recommend it to, beware of some bloody scenes, and horror. No sex, no romance (only hinted at). Changing POVs with the chapters, may be confusing for some.

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Review: Frank Thelen – Die Autobiografie: Startup-DNA – Hinfallen, aufstehen, die Welt verändern

Frank Thelen – Die Autobiografie: Startup-DNA – Hinfallen, aufstehen, die Welt verändern Frank Thelen – Die Autobiografie: Startup-DNA – Hinfallen, aufstehen, die Welt verändern by Frank Thelen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bought this the instant after hearing an interview with him, Podcast Tech Freaks (from Bild.de), the same day (October 13th, 2018).

German book from someone who is in the Jury for "Die Höhle der Löwen" ( aka Dragons’ Den aka Shark Tank ). Some of the book is a bit much, so only 4 stars, but the startup descriptions and insights are worth reading, if such stuff is interesting for you.
Only available in German currently, and I think for english speaking people living in other countries as a lot is very dependent where you live.
Having said that for German reading people living in Germany recommended, mostly non-fiction, some may seem embellished, and take care to not take everything as gospel, with flying cars and even blockchain, I think he es part wrong or too enthusiastic! Regarding that, the 4 stars may seem a bit much, more like 3.5.

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Review: Spartan Heart

Spartan Heart Spartan Heart by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

For some reason Amazon (even .com) offers a German translation?!
Currently not available as an english pre-order at Amazon nor B&N .
Bought the english edition, there was some confusion with the name, as it is also listed as "Bitter Frost".

As I liked the other Frost series by Estep, I really liked this one, 4 stars recommended, a little romance, no sex, good fighting. Next book pre-ordered. Nice cozy read.

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Review: Second Grave on the Left

Second Grave on the Left Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Took my time reading it, not enough suspense and not as good as the first one. Will probably not read another one in this series, sorry to say. Like the snark, but world-building and suspense is not good.

Bought the ebook with 12% off-coupon, but in hindsight still too expensive.

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Review: Dead Center

Dead Center Dead Center by Danielle Girard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lent with a Kindle Unlimited 3-month-free subscription.
Quite a few POVs and important persons, a bit much, and very twisty.
Still good, recommended, and will read the next one sometime if it is not too expensive (or with KU).

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Review: Abgeschnitten

Abgeschnitten Abgeschnitten by Sebastian Fitzek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Filmed as a movie, pre-ordered this on iTunes, but no release date yet.
Read a few of Michael Tsokos True-Crime non-fiction books, and like his style, this is my first Fitzek, read Amokspiel shortly after. And I own Noah, which I got cheap or for free.
Bought one of Tsokos other fiction books.
Gruel and grissly real at times, beware!
There is additional material either in the book, pictures, explanation and online for the interested persons, even a short comic, which enhance the book (although I think only in German).
For some reason while the book has been translated in a few languages, I think English is so far not available, but I did not check throughly.

Recommended, but a little over the top, so only 4 stars. Given what Tsokos has seen in his life, probably all real and worth 5 stars, but I am not so sure about that, so 4 stars it is.

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Review: A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy

A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy by Alex White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even better than the first one, so 5 stars it is. If you liked the first book definitely read this one, and I will probably pre-order the next one. The page-count is off, as there are 2 pre-views in the back, an excerpt from the next book, and one of a another book. Do not really like that, as I have to stop reading and wait for the next part, and if it is an unpublished book, that is really not my thing.
Also for Kindle, remaining read time is often wrong (some ebooks do get it right, so there is some setting which says to kindle when an ebook is ended, even with more pages). Did not read this on Kindle, so not sure, what it is.
The first book only got 4 stars from me, I had to get used to the Magic, but with this you know what to expect. Also this one could be read as a standalone, but I do not recommend that.
Highly recommended SF, bloody, a little romance, sex hinted at, some LGBTQ+.

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Saturday, December 15, 2018

Review: Artificial Condition

Artificial Condition Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Wow! Really liked this one, looking forward the next books, and highly recommend them so far, but they are rather pricy for such short content (they are novellas, around 100 pages each).
Like the snark and the personality of the Murderbot.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Review: Death by Chocolate

Death by Chocolate Death by Chocolate by Sally Berneathy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mystery ok, not much romance, 2.5 star rounded to 3, as I liked the idea and that there where receipts in the back. Also I got a Bookbub email on a day that I was thinking of reading something like this and it was free that day, I always feel sorry for the author if I do not have to pay for a book.
Liked the MC and the other persons, and it has a cat, so there is that (I am more of a cat person, even though I do not have any pets).
The ending might point to more romance in the next book, if this is a series (I think it is).
No errors and the plot was ok, no annoying mistakes by the MC.
So not really recommended, and it took me too long to read it, with more romance or more suspense/thrills it would have been a book for a rainy day or weekend, to snuggle with a hot chocolate and a pice of pie or a plate of cookies.

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Friday, December 7, 2018

Review: Shadow Sight

Shadow Sight Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

And, as is now too often the case, I just added a book to my TBR, and wanted Amazon to send me a sample, only to be informed by Amazon that I bought this already half a year ago...

DNF at page 108, then backwards from end to get the main end (chapter 24 or 25), then FF to end of book.
Some scenes where ok or even good, but too much information on the side, meshed up with world-building, and background. Not enough straight suspenseful story for me. Read a few of the other reviews, they basically confirm this. Not for me.

Bought the next book cheap, and a collection of novellas/short stories. Read one of the short stories, and it was way better, straighter, not too much information etc. May try the next book, wether it gets better. But probably not soon.

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