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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman



Judul            : Norse Mythology
Pengarang   : Neil Gaiman
Penerbit      : Bloomsbury Publishing
Tahun          : 2017
ISBN          : B01LY7XGR1
Halaman    : 256
Rating        : 4 of 5 stars


Introducing an instant classic—master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great Norse myths.

Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, son of a giant, blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Once, when Thor’s hammer is stolen, Thor must disguise himself as a woman, difficult with his beard and huge appetite, to steal it back. More poignant is the tale in which the blood of Kvasir, the most sagacious of gods, is turned into a mead that infuses drinkers with poetry. The work culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and rebirth of a new time and people.

Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerge these gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again



Cerita dimulai dengan pengenal terhadap dewa-dewa utama, yaitu Odin, Thor dan Loki. Bahwa pada mulanya dunia ini hanya berupa kabut di mana di ujungnya terdapat Muspell, daerah api, dan di seberangnya adalah Nilfheim, daerah es. Diantara kedua wilayah ini terdapat celah dimana es mencair dan memjadi sungai yang dinamakan Celah Ginnungagap. Di sinilah mumcul mahkhluk pertama uang bernama Ymir yang berukuran lebih besar daripada raksasa. Bersama Ymir juga muncul seekor sapi, Audhumla, yang memberi makan Ymir melalui susunya. Audhumla pula yang menciptakan sosok seperti manusia melalui jilatan-jilatannya di balok es. Ia dinamakan Buri yang kemudian akan menjadi leluhur para dewa.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

The Angels' Share (The Bourbon Kings #2) by J.R. Ward




Judul                     : The Angels' Share
Pengarang           : J.R. Ward
Seri                       : The Bourbon Kings #2
Penerbit              : Piatkus
Tahun                   : 2016
ISBN                    : B01BKS9PBK
Halaman              : 432
Rating                   : 4 of 5 stars



Behind the glamorous facade of Kentucky's most famous family lurks a secret - one that threatens its very foundation . . .

In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society - just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder.

No one is above suspicion - especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle - as well as with his former horse trainer's daughter. Meanwhile, the family's financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family's demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a saviour . . . or the worst of all the sinners?


Jonathan Tulane Baldwine harus menghadapi segala kekacauan yang terjadi sejak kematian ayahnya. Kebocoran keuangan ternyata tidak terjadi di estate Easterly saja, tetapi juga dari perusahaan keluarga mereka, Bradford Bourbon Company (BBC). Selain itu dana trust fund ibunya yang bernilai ratusan juta dollar juga sudah dikuras habis oleh ayahnya, William Bradford. Dan dari penyelidikan yang dilakukan Lane ia mendapati bahwa semua uang yang hilang itu mengalir ke sebuah perusahaan yang bernama WWB Holding. William Wyatt Baldwine Holding. Hanya saja, Lane tidak bisa menemukan dimana perusahaan itu berada.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward


Judul                     : The Bourbon Kings
Pengarang           : J.R. Ward
Seri                       : The Bourbon Kings #1
Penerbit              : Penguin Publishing Group
Tahun                   : 2015
ISBN                    : 9780698193031
Halaman              : 400
Rating                   : 4 of 5 stars




For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.
 




Jonathan Tulane Baldwine pulang kembali ke kampung halamannya di Charlemont, Kentucky setelah menerima panggilan telepon yang mengabarkan bahwa Miss Aurora, perempuan yang lebih dianggapnya sebagai ibu daripada ibu kandungnya sendiri, mendadak pingsan pagi itu. Sudah lebih dari dua tahun sejak Lane meninggalkan Charlemont. Sejak ia mendadak menikahi Chantal yang mengaku sedang hamil anak Lane dan mengakibatkan Lane kehilangan Lizzy, wanita yang dicintainya.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Wrap Up Reading Romance Challenge 2016



Akhirnya Reading Romance Challenge sudah mencapai akhirnya. Lumayan banyak juga novel-novel romance yang saya baca tahun ini. Malah  melebihi dugaan saya yang awalnya hanya masang target 100 buku :)

Postingan ini adalah postingan terakhir untuk reading challenge ini. Khusus di postingan ini saya membagi buku berdasarkan kategori yang ditetapkan oleh Nina di The Bookaddict Diaries yang merupakan host dari Roamnce Reading Challenge ini.

Untuk melihat update buku per bulannya dapat dilihat di postingan Update Reading Romance 2016.

Baiklah, berikut pembagian buku-buku romance yang saya baca sepanjang 2016 disusun berdasarkan kategori :


1. Out of The Century

1. A Scott In The Dark - Sarah MacLean
2. Texas Destiny - Lorraine Heath
3. Texas Glory - Lorraine Heath
4. Texas Splendor - Lorraine Heath
5. Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold - Ellen O'Connell
6. Baron - Joanna Shupe
7. The Golden Braid - Melanie Dickerson
8. When A Lair Finds A Lass - Celia Cornwall
9. Texan's Luck - Jodi Thomas
10. Texan's Wager - Jodi Thomas
11. Texan's Reward - Jodi Thomas
12. Sing My Name - Ellen O'Connel
13. Beautiful Bad Man - Ellen O'Connel
14. Into The Light - Ellen O'Connel


2. Your Opposite Perspective

1.Alex - Sawyer Bennett
2. Stuck-Up Suit - Vi Keeland
3. That Thing Between Eli & Gewn - J.J. McAvoy
4. Wednesday - Kendall Ryan
5. The Hooker and The Hermit - L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
6. The Player and The Pixie - L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
7. A for Abstinence - Kelly Oram
8. Hitched : Volume One - Kendall Ryan
9. Hitched : Volume Two - Kendall Ryan
10. Mr. Perfect - J.A. Huss
11. Mr. Romantic - J.A. Huss
12. Punk 57 - Penelope Douglas
13. Secret of The Alpha Male - J.D. Hawkins
14. Fling - Jana Aston
15. Trust - Jana Aston
16. A Sure Thing - Marie Harte
17. Consolation Prize - Linda Kage
18. Out of Bounds - Lauren Blakely



3. Books to Movie

1.Winter in Tokyo - Ilana Tan


4. Royal Love

1.Marrying Winterborne - Lisa Kleypas
2. A London Season - Joan Wolf
3.  Royally Srewed - Emma Chase
4. The Silent Songbird - Melanie Dickerson
5. I Will - Lisa Kleypas


5. Trip to Europe

1.Coppelia - Novellina A
2. Blue Vino - K. Fischer
3. Because of Miss Bridgerton - Julia Quinn


6. Enemies Turn Lovers

1.Night Fever (Pikat Asmara) - Diana Palmer
2. Winning Over Skylar - Julianna Morris
3. Truth or Beard - Penny Reid
4. Langit Di Atas Merapi - Maria A. Sardjono
5. Less of A Stranger (Bukan Teman Biasa) - Nora Roberts
6. Cat Meets Vet - Acariba
7. What I Did For Love - Susan Elizabeth Phillips
8. Bossman - Vi Keeland
9. Fire & Brimstone - R.L. Mathewson
10. Resentment - Nicole London
11. RoomHate - Penelope Ward
12.  Love is The End - Christina Tirta
13. Bought to Carry His Heir - Jane Porter


7. Third Installment

1. The Score - Elle Kennedy
2. Lady's Man - Katy Evans
3. Unlawful Contact (Kontak Ilegal) - Pamela Clare
4. The Purest Hook - Scarlett Cole
5. Hitched : Volume Three - Kendall Ryan
6. Did I Mention I Miss You - Estelle Maskame
7. Unspoken - C.C. Hunters
8. Mr. Corporate - J.A. Huss
9. Beard Science - Penny Reid
10. A Millions Worlds With You - Claudya Gray


8. Native Language

1. Her Kind of Trouble - Sarah Mayberry
2. More Than One Night - Sarah Marberry
3. Sweet Addictions - Jessica Daniels
4. Anything For You - Kristan Higgins
5. One Good Reason - Sarah Mayberry
6. Subtitutes Bride - Noelle Adams
7. Claiming His Wife - Sam Crescent
8. The Baller - Vi Keeland
9. I Wish You Were Mine - Lauren Layne
10. Wrong - Jana Aston
11. Manwhore - Katy Evans
12. Manwhore +1 - Katy Evans
13. The Vixen & The Vet - Katy Regnery
14. Right - Jana Aston
15. If You Only Knew - Kristan Higgins
16. The Obsession - Nora Roberts
17. Filthy - J.L. Beck
18. Stepping Over The Line - Laura Marie Altom
19. Ignite - Karen Ericson
20. Bad Boy's Baby - Sosie Frost
21. Tapping The Millionaire - Max Monroe
22. Night Moves - Jessica Hawkins
23. Night Edge - Jessica Hawkins (
24. Sugar Daddy - Nicole Andrews Moore
25.  Jockblocked - Jen Frederick 
26. Roommate - Erin Leigh
27. The Bourbon King - J.R. Ward
28. The Angels' Share - J.R. Ward
29. A Bollywood Affair - Sonali Dev
30. All The Need - Sarah Mayberry
31.  The First Taste - Jessica Hawkins
32. Smolder - Karen Erickson
33. Just What I Needed - Lorelei James
34. For His Brother's Wife -  Kathie DeNosky
35. Married by Contract - Noelle Adams
36. Playboy pilot - Penelope Ward
37.  Neighbor Dearest - Penelope Ward
38. The Goal - Elle Kennedy
39. The Sexy One - Lauren Blakely
40. Devil's Honor - Megan Crane
41. Yours to Bare - JEssica Hawkins
42. Womanizer - Katy Evans


9. Chunkster Books

1.Mean Streak (Jejak Kelam) - Sandra Brown
2. Sudi Jadi Isteri Saya - Maya Adira
3. Adam & Hawa - Aisya Sofea
4. Cinta Ada Di Sini - Sha Ibrahim


10. Darker Part of Romance

1. Stay With Me Tonight - Sofi Meloni
2. Dangerous Love -Christina Tirta
3. Did I Mention I Love You - Estelle Maskame
4. One With You - Sylvia Day
5. Legend - Katy Evans
6. Sugar Daddy - Sawyer Bennet
7. Morning Glory - LaVyrle Spencer
8. Turbulence - Whitney G.
9. All The Ugly and Wondergul Things - Brynn Greenwood
10. Sugar Rush - Sawyer Bennett
11. The Air He Breath - Brittainy C. Cherry
12. The Fire Between High & Lo - Brittainy C. Cherry
13. Black Swan Affair - K.L. Kreig
14. Silent Waters - Brittainy C. Cherry


11. Superheroines

1. Sugar Baby Beautiful - J.J. McAvoy
2. Clean Sweep - Ilona Andrews
3. The Infamous Ellen James - N.A. Alcorn
4. V is For Virgin - Kelly Oram
5. Natural Born Charmer - Susan Elizabeth Phillips
6. Magic Binds - Ilona Andrews
7. Killing Sarai - J.A. Redmerski
8. Reviving Izabel - J.A. Redmerski


12. Love in the Spotlight

1.An Invitation to Sin (Jerat Rayuan Coretti) - Sarah Morgan
2. Hollywood & Vine - Olivia Evans
3. Plain Jane in The Spotligth (Malaikat Hollywood) - Lucy Gordon  
4.. Good Girl - 4. Lauren Layne
5. Hot in Hellcat Canyon - Julie Anne Long
6. The Name of The Game (Jangan Permainkan Cintaku - Nora Roberts
7. The Bollywood Bride - Sonali Dev
8. Idol - Kristen Callihan


13. School's Day

1. Pay It Forward - Emma Grace
2. To The Boys I've Love Before - Jenny Han
3. Better off Friends - Elizabeth Eulbert
4. Epic Fail - Claire LaZebnik
5. Paper Princess - Erin Watts
6. Dirty English - Ilsa Madden-Mills
7. Broken Prince - Erin Watt
8. P.S. I Love You - Kasie West
9. Twisted Palace - Erin Watt
10. On The Fence - Kasie West
11. Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys - Kate Brian
12. The Distance Between Us - Kasie West
13. The Fill-In Boyfriend - Kasie West


14. Out of Normal

1. Bear Meets Girl - Shelly Laurenston
2. Sweep In Peace - Ilona Andrews
3. The Rose & The Dagger - Renee Ahdieh
4. Magic Steal - Iloona Andrews
5. Magic Shifts - Ilona Andrews
6. Eternal - C.C. Hunter
7. Reborn - C.C. Hunter
8. Midnight Hour - C.C. Hunter


15. Men in Uniform  

1. Grin and Beard It - Penny Reid
2. Trouble Maker - Linda Howard
3. Hard Evidence (Bukti Kuat) - Pamela Clare
4. Sting - Sandra Brown


16. Tidak masuk kategori manapun

1. Friends Don't Kiss - Syafrina Siregar  R
2. Marriage of Convenience - Shanti RS
3. Hot Stuff (Agen Penggoda) - Carly Phillips   RS
4. Once A Ferarra Wife (Kekasih Hati Ferarra) - Sarah Morgan  R
5. The Most Coveted Prize (Hadiah Terindah) - Penny Jordan
6. Harta Pusaka Cinta - Desni Intan Suri
7. Opposite Attract (Pesonamu Tiada Tara) - Nora Robert
8. Finally Mr. Right - Shita Hapsari RS
9. Daylight - Robin Wijaya RS
10. Menyemai Harapan - Maria A. Sardjono R
11.  Bukan Cinderella - Ifa Avianty
12. Jake & Melly - Anna Anderson
13. Unperfect Marriage – Merry Maeta Sari


Nah, itulah novel-novel romance yang saya baca selama tahun 2016. Untuk melihat link-link bukunya bisa dilihat di postingan Update Reading Romance 2016.

Terimakasih banyak kepada Nina di The Bookaddict Diaries yang sudah menyelenggarakan reading challenge ini. Benar-benar membuat tahun 2016 saya penuh dengan romance :)