Bogormen

Title: The Little Brooklyn Bakery
Author: Julie Caplin
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 448
Date read: April, 2021

When Sophie Bennings arrives in New York, love is the last thing on her mind. Still reeling from a painful break up, she throws herself into her work as a food editor on a top-notch magazine.

Columnist Todd McLennan is everything that Sophie wishes she didn’t want. Like the gorgeous bakery below her Brooklyn apartment, he’s as tempting as the sugary cupcakes on daily display. Surely a little of something you fancy can do you good?

As Sophie and Todd get to know one another, a love of food isn’t the only passion they share. In the city that never sleeps, has Sophie finally met the man of her dreams...?


Really sweet and charming read that made me long to go back to NYC - bad timing reading it in the middle of a pandemic when I can't go anywhere at all!!! :-P

Very predictable, but I knew that going into it, as the first book was much the same, but so charming that I didn't mind at all. I loved reading about Sophie's experiences exploring Manhattan and Brooklyn (and got some new ideas for my next visit!) and about her baking adventures with Betty. Would have loved to read more about her experiences at the magazine though!

There were some really odd errors from time to time (e.g. she got the title of "How I Met Your Mother" wrong! :-O ) and the end was a tad trite and wrapped up everything much more quickly than I would have liked, but all in all I loved it. Right book at the right time, I guess :-)

Title: The Little Café in Copenhagen
Author: Julie Caplin
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 410
Date read: April 2020

Welcome to the little cafe in Copenhagen where the smell of cinnamon fills the air and the hot chocolate is as smooth as silk.

Publicist Kate Sinclair’s life in London is everything she thought she wanted: success, glamour and a charming boyfriend. Until that boyfriend goes behind her back and snatches a much sought-after promotion from her.Heartbroken and questioning everything, Kate needs to escape.

Leaving behind rush hour and late nights in the office for a city break in beautiful Copenhagen, Kate discovers how to live life 'the Danish way'. From candles and cozy nights in to the easy smiles of tall, gorgeous Vikings and eating your body weight in pastries (ok, that’s just her), the city offers her a new perspective.

Can the secrets of hygge and happiness lead her to her own happily-ever-after?


I couldn't sleep last night, and needed something to escape into. This fit the bill perfectly! Very sweet, albeit VERY predictable, chick-lit :-) I absolutely loved that so much of it took place in Copenhagen (and that the author is obviously deeply in love with the place), even though the descriptions of Copenhagen was a very amusing mix of "I've obviously been to Copenhagen more than once and know the area I'm writing about" and "Therefore I don't need to do ANY research after the fact and get really simple things wrong" :-P (like getting the name of the central station completely wrong and miss-spelling the main pedestrian street). Ah well, it made me laugh more than anything else, and due to the aforementioned blatant love she has for the place, I can forgive her for it ;-)

The romance itself was predictable as (I'd called it from chapter 2), but in a book like this I really don't mind. Besides, it had so much else going for it than just the romance - charming descriptions of Denmark, growing friendships, and delicious food (so much fun to read a foodie book where I've actually tried most of the things mentioned!). It was unrealistic as, but true to its own universe, so I didn't mind at all.

The ending was slightly trite, but there wasn't really anywhere else it could go, so I'll take it.

Title: Shadowblack (Spellslinger #2)
Author: Sebastien de Castell
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 352
Date read: January 2020

It's a few months since Kellen left his people behind. Now aged sixteen, Kellen is an outlaw, relying on his wits to keep him alive in the land of the Seven Sands. He misses home, he misses family and more than anything, he misses Nephenia, the girl he left behind.

Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind, and who carries a secret that's all too familiar to Kellen. Kellen and Ferius resolve to help - but the stakes are far higher than they realise. A Shadowblack plague is taking hold - and Kellen can't help but suspect his own people may even be behind it.


Not quite as good as the first book, but still fully lived up to my expectations. It seemed transient somehow - as if it was more focused on setting the scene for the next book, which doesn't quite make sense, as it did have quite a complete plot in its own right. But I've really grown fond of Kellen and will definitely continue on with the next book.

Title: Spellslinger
Author: Sebastien de Castell
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 416
Date read: November, 2019

Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone.

As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path.

Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi—a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...


VERY easy read. I read the first half in one sitting and was instantly charmed. While I'd agree that much of the pagetime is spent setting the scene and explaining the universe, I'd still say that there's enough plot going on to make it worthwhile reading for its own sake.

I really liked Kellen and how he turned out to be a reluctant hero rather than one who got everything served on a platter. I liked how he befriended Ferius and wasn't too arrogant to learn from her... and I liked the fragile "business partner" relationship he had with the squirrel cat. I liked that while it had an open ending, it wasn't an unfinished one and as such could easily be read as a stand-alone novel rather than as a setup to a long series.

Title: Ruins (Pathfinder #2)
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 544
Date read: March, 2019

When Rigg and his friends crossed the Wall between the only world they knew and a world they could not imagine, he hoped he was leading them to safety. But the dangers in this new wallfold are more difficult to see. Rigg, Umbo, and Param know that they cannot trust the expendable, Vadesh, a machine shaped like a human, created to deceive, but they are no longer certain that they can even trust one another. But they will have little choice. Because although Rigg can decipher the paths of the past, he can't yet see the horror that lies ahead: A destructive force with deadly intentions is hurtling toward Garden. If Rigg, Umbo, and Param can't work together to alter the past, there will be no future.


Some days I lament the fact that I don't read as much as I used to. Other days I finish a 544p book in just a weekend :-D

The sequel to "Pathfinder" and in many ways just as good, despite there being fewer surprises along the way. I liked reading about what happened in other wallfolds and seeing the five come together as a group, despite their issues along the way. All of them (with the possible exception of Loaf, for obvious reasons) really got on my nerves along the way, but their behaviour was realistic... even if quite insolent at times.

The ending was quite different from what I had expected, so I'm very curious to see where Orson Scott Card takes the story next.

... oh, and I'm pretty sure Orson Scott Card has read Douglas Adams... just sayin'.

Title: The Crucifix Killer (Robert Hunter #1)
Author: Chris Carter
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 365
Date read: October, 2017

When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.


I don't know why it's taken me so long to pick up this book. It was exactly as captivating as the back blurb had led me to believe. It had some issues with pacing in places, but considering it's a debut novel, I can look past that, and am keen to see how he improves in later books. The killer's motivation didn't come across as entirely realistic to me (or rather, the punishment didn't quite fit the crime), but still somehow fit the story.

While it's the first in a series, the book is nicely contained with all ends woven in.

Title: The Girl with All the Gifts
Author: M.R. Carey
Genre: Dystopian, Suspense
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 435 pages
Date read: March, 2016

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.


DEFINITELY not your average zombie novel... And I think I need to revisit my attitude of "not liking zombie novels". Between this, "Feed" and "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" I'm constantly being proven wrong.

But like I said - this is definitely not your run-of-the-mill zombies. Melanie is a fully cognisant human being, with the capacity to focus on other things than her hunger. She feels love, fear, empathy, is insanely intelligent and makes connections to other people. And it is those connections (not to mention, the way other people respond to her) that makes this such a fascinating book. I couldn't put it down.

I'm glad "The Girl with All the Gifts" turned out to be a stand-alone novel. 20 pages before the end, I wondered how on earth they were going to wrap everything up in time, but M. Carey took a completely different track than I had expected, making for an unusual, but totally satisfactory ending.

Title: Overcoming Stress
Author: Tim Cantopher
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: 128
Date read: February 2016

Stress can lead to extensive psychological and physical suffering, but there are choices you can make that will reduce your stress and improve your ability to cope. This book offers not just the facts but a message of hope. "Overcoming Stress" looks not only at the causes of stress but also at the manifestations and psychological conditions, such as physical illness, anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, phobic states, and depression. It offers information on both acute treatments and longer term management in avoiding stress and its ill effects. "Stress will always be with us, and we will continue to suffer--unless we choose to change," says Dr. Cantopher. "The good news is that this is possible--stress-related illness is avoidable, and if you change, you will attain happiness."


I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I requested it because I've suffered from stress myself, and as it is an affliction some people never recover from 100%, I wanted to see if Tim Cantopher offered any useful hints on how to prevent it.

Unfortunately I found the book lacking. He made some good points along the way, but as a whole, I didn't really find anything I could use, and his main premise (stress doesn't make you ill, you make yourself ill) - while true - could be damaging to some people suffering from stress. Stress is already a "mind over matter" issue to many people, and this is just another voice telling them that they're doing this to themselves so (reading between the lines) they should be able to get over it. I understand the very valid point Tim is getting at (lazy people seldom get stressed, as they care less about expectations), but thought the wording in that section problematic as this wasn't made sufficiently clear.

His admonition to STOP is spot on though - there's no way to get better while still being on the treadmill. Slowing down might be sufficient for some, but the vast majority need to get off completely.

So take a flip through it, there may be aspects of it you can use. But I'd take everything with a huge grain of salt, and as many people suffering from stress have no salt left to take things with, I might suggest giving this one a miss.

Title: Ender's Shadow (Shadow #1)
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Sci-fi
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 469
Date read: March 2013, June 2025

Growing up is never easy. But try living on the mean streets as a child begging for food and fighting like a dog with ruthless gangs of starving kids who wouldn't hesitate to pound your skull into pulp for a scrap of apple. If Bean has learned anything on the streets, it's how to survive. And not with fists. He is way too small for that. But with brains.

Bean is a genius with a magician's ability to zero in on his enemy and exploit his weakness.

What better quality for a future general to lead the Earth in a final climactic battle against a hostile alien race, known as Buggers. At Battleschool Bean meets and befriends another future commander - Ender Wiggins - perhaps his only true rival.

Only one problem: for Bean and Ender, the future is now.


While Ender's Game is one of my all-time favourite books, I never really got hooked by the later books in the Ender saga. Still, I wanted to read more about Ender Wiggins, so finally decided to give this one a chance - the events of Ender's Game as told by Bean - the smallest kid in the Dragon Army.

I'm glad I did. Sure, it's still not exactly as good as Ender's Game, but it's a lot better than book 2 and 3 of the Ender saga (I gave up after that), and I loved revisiting the events of EG from a different perspective. Bean isn't quite as lovable as he appeared in EG, but Card made it work, and Bean definitely had my sympathies, even if he didn't prompt the same level of devotion as Ender did. Oh, and the ending brought tears to my eyes :) Very fitting :)

So now I once again want to read more about this universe and am contemplating whether I should continue with Bean and the Shadow series.

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
Author: Ally Carter
Genre: YA
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 284 pages
Date read: April, 2012

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

Pretty good YA which turned out not to be quite as predictable as I had first feared. It didn't have much content of any substance though. I would have loved to read more about the classes and life at school rather than just life around school. Unusual schooling (like e.g. Hogwarts) always fascinates me, and there was FAR too little of that here.

Still, it was enjoyable enough and a quick read, so I wouldn't be totally adverse to reading more of the series.