tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86409307783786227662024-03-13T09:35:34.758-07:00BookishnessEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.comBlogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-84566425838876911152015-01-29T12:06:00.002-08:002015-01-29T12:06:41.622-08:00Book Club! Hello friends!<br />
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It's a new year and I'm looking forward to getting back into posting more often. I'll do a post soon of all the books I'm most looking forward to reading in 2015 - because there are a lot of them! For now, though, I'm sharing my new book club's picks for 2015. So excited to finally be in a book club!!! What do you think of our choices? (Confession: I have read all but three of these books - but definitely looking forward to a reread on the rest; these are all great books!)<br />
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Read any of these? Any favorites? And who else is in a book club? I'd love to hear what you're reading this year.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-27820334351246137522014-08-12T10:16:00.000-07:002014-08-12T10:16:20.124-07:00Comfort Reads Hello friends!<br />
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It's been a long absence! My life has been crazy busy (oh man, I told myself I wouldn't make excuses but here I go anyway) and I have missed blogging. Today my kids are all back in school (except the baby of course!) so I thought I'd take a minute to check in.<br />
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Unfortunately, it hasn't been the best reading year. As I was looking at my goodreads reading goal I realized I'd only given a five star rating to two new books: <i>Cress</i> (book three in the Lunar Chronicles and just as awesome as I wanted it to be) and <i>Unbroken</i>, which dragged a bit for me at first but turned out to be so amazing, so moving, I had to give it five stars in the end. If you haven't heard about Louis Zamperini yet, GO READ UNBROKEN. Sadly, he passed away a couple months ago. What a huge inspiration he's been to me this year. Plus! There's going to be a movie soon. <br />
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And I am waaayyyy behind on my goal. I've only read 35 books! Usually
by this point in the year I'm well over fifty. I've read a lot of good
enough but not great books this year and I think it's safe to
officially claim this as a big old reading slump.<br />
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It's been kind of a life slump to be honest. I have been sick for the last two months straight. Several reoccurring infections, plus the trump card which was a nasty month long battle with kidney stones which ended in surgery and the subsequent recovery. I have just not been well.<br />
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When I don't feel well I don't want to read anything new or unfamiliar. It's all about the comfort reads.<br />
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I read all seven Harry Potter books: <br />
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I'm on my fourth Jane Austen novel: <br />
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And I'll probably head this direction next if I don't get feeling better soon: <br />
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I can see myself setting in on Shannon Hale or <i>Edenbrooke </i>too eventually. There's just something about sitting down with my best book friends, the people I've known and loved for years, and escaping into their familiar stories about magic and adventure and love... It's good for the heart and soul and takes me away from feeling blah. I really hope I can get my health back soon.<br />
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Not to be preachy, but if you're feeling healthy today, don't take it for granted. Drink some water. Exercise. Go play and be active! Drink some more water (seriously - you do NOT want to get kidney stones). Enjoy life. And if you're not feeling so great, go read a comfort book. <br />
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Also, be jealous because my baby is the most adorable thing on the planet and I'm her favorite person - I get to smooch those checks and neck folds and chubby arms and feet all I want. :D<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's your favorite comfort read? Do share.</span></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-69724668585927937092013-12-31T09:07:00.000-08:002013-12-31T09:07:28.289-08:00Last Minute, Last Few Books of 2013!Hey there!<br />
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Anyone still out there? So, silly optimistic me way underrated how much of my life would be sucked away by this adorable little sweetheart:<br />
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(yes, she does have awesome hair - and it really does stick straight up like that; I don't style it that way! :D)</div>
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Blogging has stopped being a priority and while I don't feel guilty (I'm loving every second with my beautiful girl) I do miss it and want to keep touching bases occasionally because I'm sure someday I'll want to come back full-time.</div>
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Anyway, give or take a couple books (I lose count, especially when I just grab a book to reread off my shelves) I've read 31 books since I last blogged. There's NO WAY I'm going to be able to catch up! So, instead I'll give you a few favorites:</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642963-speaking-from-among-the-bones?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642963-speaking-from-among-the-bones?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cyRvDdE8a3c/UsLvYc2inuI/AAAAAAAAJI4/dicGCsw18jE/s320/speaking+bones.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7292842-the-dead-in-their-vaulted-arches?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7292842-the-dead-in-their-vaulted-arches?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1FVhMMxjptQ/UsLvXpTL6nI/AAAAAAAAJIU/DFxegkW6OGk/s320/dead+in+vaulted.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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(Clicking on the image will take you to its goodreads page)<i> </i> <br />
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I read <i>Speaking From Among the Bones </i>(the fifth book in the Flavia de Luce series) and thought no mystery could ever be better. I LOVED it! Then I heard <i>The Dead in their Vaulted Arches </i>(not released until January 14th) was on Netgalley. I requested it and checked my email constantly until I was approved! Hooray! And it was the best Flavia de Luce mystery yet. Harriet! Buckshaw! Dogger! Oh my goodness the mystery, the hilarity, the sibling rivalry!<br />
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If you haven't met Flavia de Luce yet, you <i>really </i>need to. <i>The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie </i>is first! Go check it out.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18053786-ever-after-high?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18053786-ever-after-high?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lnce2EGPddw/UsLvXmu4IWI/AAAAAAAAJIc/lKkaewU1op0/s320/ever+after+high.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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Did it occasionally sound like a commercial for Mattel's line of <i>Ever After High </i>dolls? Yeah. I've never known Shannon Hale to describe hair/clothes/accessories like that. But somehow she pulls the whole thing off with aplomb. I was sucked right into what turned out to be a very interesting story, and so beautifully set in typical Shannon Hale fashion. I <i>loved </i>the characters! Raven Queen turns out to have surprising depth and even Apple White is not the airheaded, spoiled little princess I first thought she might be. In general, actually, it's not the "popular" kids at Ever After High who succeed or accomplish anything interesting. It's the misfits, the not perfectly beautiful ones, the ones hiding secrets of their own. I'd call this a really great book for tween-aged girls (my own nine year-old ate it up). Plus, it's hilarious! Maddie Hatter has the uncanny ability to hear the narrator and they have several conversations which had me in stitches! Highly recommended.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12127810-the-house-of-hades?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12127810-the-house-of-hades?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uY2FS2nqxxA/UsLvXqRncxI/AAAAAAAAJIY/-1bD21-4KoU/s320/house+of+hades.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Percy and Annabeth make their way across Tartarus and it couldn't be more fascinating/dangerous/terrifying. And hilarious (thanks to titan-turned-janitor Bob). The rest of the crew enjoy their share of adventures and all my favorites have fantastic moments (Leo. Oh how I love Leo.). Can't wait for number 5! Last book in the series!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262236-rose-under-fire?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262236-rose-under-fire?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbDaG95VSzo/UsLvYEcVaVI/AAAAAAAAJIg/I0dJfi7ItzA/s320/rose+under+fire.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
While it didn't have the amazing twist that <i>Code Name Verity </i>had, <i>Rose Under Fire </i>was incredibly moving. I liked that Rose was a poet, and I loved the way she sang through her journey (especially because so many of the songs she sang were ones I learned at Girl's Camp).<i> </i>Absolutely worth the read, but be prepared to be put through the wringer - this is a concentration camp book.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136116.The_Scarlet_Pimpernel?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136116.The_Scarlet_Pimpernel?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhCNp29LJC8/UsLvYTSf3SI/AAAAAAAAJI8/kzIp1xYZd7M/s320/scarlet+pimpernel.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
I had never read <i>The Scarlet Pimpernel </i>before. What was I thinking waiting this long??? The intrigue! The disguises! The feeling that there was <i>no way </i>he was going to get out of that last situation! I loved it. It's really not that long either. If you need a good classic to read next year, I <i>highly </i>recommend it. Then when you're done, pair it up with.....<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16102412-across-a-star-swept-sea?from_search=true"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16102412-across-a-star-swept-sea?from_search=true" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G_IwXNho8_c/UsLvY9VK24I/AAAAAAAAJI0/wdUFqveyhcI/s320/starswept+sea.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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Oh did I love this book! Diana Peterfreund has done it again after last year's near-perfect <i>For Darkness Shows the Stars</i>. She nails the retelling thing and I loved watching for all my favorite scenes from <i>The Scarlet Pimpernel</i>. She reinterpreted it so well and I loved Lady Persis. And I must say, Justen Helo was <i>much </i>more interesting than Marguerite in the original story. The futuristic setting is excellently done - nicely scientific, providing some really great ethical dilemmas for the characters. It just rounded out the story and made it that much better. And BONUS! Characters from <i>For Darkness Shows the Stars</i> make an appearance! Anyway, I'm sold and I can't wait to see what Diana Peterfreund does next. I hope, hope, hope she does another book in this series!!!<br />
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That's all for now! I'm trying not to make empty promises here, but I'll try to get my book year-in-review up soon and hopefully another post after that with what books I'm most looking forward to reading in 2014.<br />
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Happy New Year everyone!!!!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-36512337130054698232013-10-16T14:55:00.001-07:002013-10-16T15:06:22.455-07:00Since I've Been Gone Hello everyone! Yes, my baby girl finally arrived and I am loving the newborn cuddle stage, despite being completely, overwhelmingly exhausted. And she's so beautiful (and perfectly healthy!).<br>
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I have been reading up a storm! Spending 10 hours a day sitting and feeding a baby is a very convenient excuse to ignore everything else and read, read, read. I've reread some favorites and knocked quite a few titles off my to-read list. Here's a quick recap of my recent new reads:<br>
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My rating: 4/5 stars. INTENSE. Alien invasion fiction at its very best. Lots of awesome surprise twists and turns and I will be picking up the sequel. A little disturbing and violent at times.<br>
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My rating: 5/5 stars. The conclusion to this trilogy was everything, absolutely everything I wanted it to be. So satisfying, so magical, so perfectly crafted. After an ending like that all three books have moved to the top of my Christmas wish-list.<br>
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My rating: 5/5 stars. Julianne Donaldson, you have a fan for life. I was worried that <i>Blackmoore</i> wouldn't live up to my love for <i>Edenbrooke</i>, but it was so lovely. I've already read it twice. :D I loved the slightly gothic feel too - perfect for October reading. Hurry up and publish something else Julianne!<br>
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My rating: 4/5 stars. I loved <i>Crown of Midnight</i>! Celaena is a fabulous heroine and I loved the way the mystery, the courtly intrigue, the romance, and the action were all kicked up a notch (or two) in this sequel. A little violent at times for my tastes, but totally addicting and I can't wait for the next book.<br>
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My rating: 4/5 stars. I read this one based on my love for Kasie's <i>Pivot Point</i>, and I did like it, but it didn't blow me away like I was hoping. It's a sweet, cute contemporary, however, and I'd say worth the read.<br>
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My rating: 3/5 stars. Got this one from Netgalley and it was good for passing the time during one of my many sleepless nights, but I'm relieved the series is over. The romance was blah, the time travel mythology weak, the danger not impressive, and the characters predictable. The overall effect is entertaining, but not a read again or own kind of book for sure.<br>
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My rating: 4/5 stars. I had a hard time slogging through this one. I really didn't love the characters (and Ed is annoyingly preoccupied with sex). I also had a hard time getting the whole point of the plot. BUT, there is such a clever surprise at the end! I loved it and was left thinking, "Well played, Mr. Zusack. Well played." This book tackles some tough subjects, but has a great message.<br>
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My rating: 4.5/5 stars. I LOVE Flavia de Luce! She is such a joy to read. These books are funny, clever, creative and chock full of entertaining and lovable characters. Highly recommended if you need a good murder mystery this fall!<br>
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My rating: 3/5 stars. Yikes! Content-wise this book (and its predecessor <i>Monument 14</i>) are a little edgier than I like to read (ok, much edgier in the violence department!), but the concept is so compelling, so I-have-to-know-what-happens-to-these-kids, that I've read them anyway. <i>Sky on Fire </i>surprised me by ending in a very calm and happy place (for almost everyone). It was such a nice ending that even though it set up another book at the end I don't feel compelled to read it. Hooray! I'm free! :D<br>
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My rating: 2/5 stars. Another Netgalley read. This is my second Mette Ivie Harrison and I liked this as much as I liked <i>The Princess and the Hound</i>. In other words, bleh. I'm sorry, I tried to like it, but I just really, really didn't. I disliked almost all the characters and the writing felt choppy and tell-y to me. I wanted sweeping and adventurous and romantic and I don't feel like this book is any of those things. It bugged me a lot, and if I weren't writing just teeny blips today I feel like I could write a whole essay about what (I thought) was wrong with this book. Anyway, I'll just leave it at that.<br>
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My rating: 3/5 stars. <i>Transparent</i> was very creative. I loved the invisible girl concept and this whole book is a fun X-Men vs. the mafia mash-up. I did feel like a lot of the relationships were confusing and not very well-developed. There were a lot of plot points that I felt had big logical issues and overall I was underwhelmed by the whole story. But like I said, still fun.<br>
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That's it for now! I'll be back sooner next time. Life's starting to feel more normal (ish) and I have too many books I want to read and blog about to take any more big breaks. :D<br>
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I'll leave you with one more baby pic. Yes, I'm already indoctrinating her to love all things Austen!<br>
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I'm too tired to read over this post to see if there are any grammar or spelling errors. :D If you find any, can we just agree to attribute them to major sleep deprivation? Thanks!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-75372655621760546802013-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:002013-08-22T00:00:14.360-07:00Fall Reading ListHere are some books I'm hoping to get read this fall! Click on the picture to be taken to its goodreads page.<br />
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Books already out I haven't gotten around to:</div>
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This one sounds fascinating and has great reviews. Can't wait to read it - but it's taking my library forever to get it!</div>
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Kasie West's <i>Pivot Point</i> is still one of my top five favorite books this year and I'd love to try out her contemporary novel.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15513156-of-triton"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2yM5lZKlVvg/UgQDiBb0PiI/AAAAAAAAI3g/NGPSFoEpIyQ/s320/of+triton.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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I'm behind - I totally should have read this during the summer! Still looking forward to this sequel. :D</div>
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Coming out in August:<br />
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Early reviews are coming in and I'm just dying. Can't wait to see how this series ends!</div>
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Not loving the cover change, but I'm still excited to see what happens to Celaena next.</div>
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Books being released in September:</div>
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*sniff* <i>Code Name Verity </i>broke my heart and blew me away. I can hardly believe I'm lucky enough to get a companion novel.</div>
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Greek mythology anyone? Definitely will be checking this out. Sounds like my kind of book!</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12578305-the-chaos-of-stars"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqwLmG-MvSA/UgQDgbmGnVI/AAAAAAAAI2c/TgFDTrqeodA/s320/chaos+of+stars.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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Kiersten White plus Egyptian mythology? Don't mind if I do.</div>
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Books being released in October:</div>
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Do you know me at all? Then you know why I'm dying for this. Total Rick Riordan fangirl here.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16102412-across-a-star-swept-sea"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlv60c1fGPI/UgQDjZK7DhI/AAAAAAAAI30/wEoD9KbDk-I/s320/starswept+sea.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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Last year's <i>For Darkness Shows the Stars</i> was just lovely and I'm really looking forward to this book - Scarlet Pimpernel retelling!</div>
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I didn't rave about <i>Slayers</i>, but I'm still looking forward to this. I haven't read anything by Janette Rallison (in disguise here as CJ Hill) in a long time. Plus! Major cover update. Much better, don't you think?</div>
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Final book in the <i>Divergent </i>trilogy! How will it end? No idea but I'm sure it will be action-packed.</div>
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And, cause I need a few spooky reads sometime around Halloween (it honestly might be that long before I blog again...):</div>
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I need a good spooky classic and this one comes highly recommended.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16304.Murder_on_the_Orient_Express"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asnZhxnrMkQ/UgQDhryxHfI/AAAAAAAAI3I/NuYHyNmrvt0/s320/murder.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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I don't think I should let a Halloween go by without reading an Agatha Christie. She's the <i>best</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8517008-a-red-herring-without-mustard"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6bsw67OBwI/UgQDh_XjfLI/AAAAAAAAI3E/fxyPIICPB4Q/s320/redherring.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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I have no idea why I haven't read this yet. Honestly, Emily. I love Flavia and I need to read the rest of her series!!!</div>
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What are you reading in the next couple months?Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-86632649239065219182013-08-18T19:54:00.001-07:002013-08-18T19:54:36.565-07:00Ally Condie comes to Boise!We never get cool author events in Boise (yes, I have complained about this before), so I was thrilled to hear Ally Condie was coming. Also a little frustrated because I had a doctor's appointment I couldn't reschedule at the same time. :( <div><br></div><div>Luckily, I got in a little early at the doctor and got out fast and was able to zip over to the library quickly. I only missed the first 15 minutes of her presentation. </div><div><br></div><div>It was so fun hearing her speak! She was entertaining and down to earth and so cool. I was excited to hear about her Rio project (underwater city? Yes!) and loved hearing more about her writing process and how she balances it all with kids. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hc9sxoRyJYs/UhGIuy6QsqI/AAAAAAAAI9k/VXOPFpvJGpc/s640/blogger-image-25391032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hc9sxoRyJYs/UhGIuy6QsqI/AAAAAAAAI9k/VXOPFpvJGpc/s640/blogger-image-25391032.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I snuck a couple photos from where I was sitting. :)</div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, it was an awesome hour and then she signed books. Since I showed up late I was practically last in line - bummer because I needed to leave early to go get my kids from school (sheesh my life is busy). I mentioned needing to leave to one of the librarians and she offered to get my books signed for me - which made my pregnant, hormonal self almost start crying. </div><div><br></div><div>I love librarians. :D</div><div><br></div><div>So, even though I'm sad I didn't get to meet her in person, I loved hearing her speak and my books are now signed and personalized! When Ally heard about me from Jen the librarian, she even decided to write a little extra in my books. Seriously, she is awesome. </div><div><br></div><div>And look how cool these are!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UnTT0LBGArc/UhGI6efz_OI/AAAAAAAAI9s/eh7fuOaq4k4/s640/blogger-image-1279265476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UnTT0LBGArc/UhGI6efz_OI/AAAAAAAAI9s/eh7fuOaq4k4/s640/blogger-image-1279265476.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AL-EA_GETPw/UhGIqmw6czI/AAAAAAAAI9c/xBqG2Pz801U/s640/blogger-image--1374223607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AL-EA_GETPw/UhGIqmw6czI/AAAAAAAAI9c/xBqG2Pz801U/s640/blogger-image--1374223607.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IzwLG21_XTU/UhGImIk747I/AAAAAAAAI9U/qpB5hInVHRQ/s640/blogger-image-131815165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IzwLG21_XTU/UhGImIk747I/AAAAAAAAI9U/qpB5hInVHRQ/s640/blogger-image-131815165.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Okay, I'm blogging from my phone and don't know how to flip the pictures, but awesome, right? You can even see my cool little personal embosser stamp (last year's Christmas gift from my husband -does he know and love me or what?). </div><div><br></div><div>I loved signed books. :) I should do a blog sometime to show you my signed book collection. I have some cool ones. </div><div><br></div><div>Do you have any signed books? Have you met any of your favorite authors?</div><div><br></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-56469498598491616382013-08-08T13:32:00.000-07:002013-08-08T14:08:07.957-07:00What I Read This SummerI'm still here! And yes, have definitely been reading up a storm but with very little time to blog about it.<br />
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I'm calling the summer over for me, since my kids are officially all in school! I have hopefully a few week of this lovely, blissful freedom before my baby arrives and everything changes. I want it to both go super fast and not come too soon at the same time. I'm enjoying the extra free time, but I'm soooo sick of being pregnant!<br />
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Anyway, lots of books read so far. I went on a "I want to read brainless teenage summer romances" binge earlier this summer when I spent a lot of time reading by the pool while my kids took swimming lessons, so you'll see a lot of those on this list (books link back to their goodreads page). Sorry for this brief overview! One of these days I'll get back around to writing real reviews. I kind of miss it. :(<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664334-amy-and-roger-s-epic-detour">Amy and Roger's Epic Detour</a> by Morgan Matson. My rating: 4/5 stars. I'm listing my favorite of the teen summer books first. :D I loved the mixed-media feel of the book! It's full of doodles and receipts and notes and postcards. I love road trips and this one was fun with a sweet little romance (without being too heavy on the <i>issues </i>aspect that all YA contemporary books seem to have).<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9807262-wanderlove">Wanderlove</a> by Kirsten Hubbard. My rating: 3/5 stars. Ok, besides the whole idea of a teenage girl backpacking by herself in Central America totally freaking me out, I loved the wild, bohemian feel of this book. I like pretending that backpacking isn't dirty and totally against my perfectionist-plan-it-all-out personality - that it's adventurous and romantic and totally worth the trouble. Besides the backpacking issue, I loved the story and how Bria rediscovers herself.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12551082-things-i-can-t-forget">Thing I Can't Forget</a> by Miranda Kenneally. My rating: 3/5. Straight up, I'll tell you that this one pushed it for me, content-wise. More swearing and sexual content than I would like for sure (plus plenty heavy on <i>issues</i>), which is strange because this one had a "Christian Fiction" label on it from my library. And this book is definitely about how Kate feels about her very strict Christian upbringing, but even more about how she discovers she's against certain aspects about it. Nevertheless, Miranda Kenneally writes with so much emotion that I was sucked right into the story. Plus, the summer camp setting is fun. <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11410104-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-trilogy">The Summer I Turned Pretty (trilogy)</a> by Jenny Han. My rating: 3/5 stars. I burned through these three very quickly and it totally made me want a beach house. That's about the only thing I really liked about this series though. Oh, ugh Belly was soooo whiny! No wonder the boys couldn't make up their minds whether to like her or not! This is the worst sort of love triangle too - it goes back and forth and it seemed like the boys themselves changed from book to book, just to make me root for one or the other. Irritating. But still - it very much filled my need for brainless summer fun.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101126-the-moon-and-more">The Moon and More</a> by Sarah Dressen. My rating: 3/5 stars. This was my first Sarah Dressen and I'll admit: I was hoping to like it a whole lot more than I did. The romance was awful - Luke was a jerk, Theo was completely unattractive (in every way) and the whole books seemed to revolve instead around Emmaline's <i>issues</i>. She was dealing with her father and college and all kinds of things that seemed awfully boring. I liked her mother and sister, though. Overall, I was disappointed. Any recommendations on a better Dressen for me to try next?<br />
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So, that's the "summer" books. Here's everything else I read:<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11500217-angelfall">Angelfall</a> by Susan Ee. My rating: 4/5 stars. Angelfall was an intense and awesome post-apocalyptic book. I was blown away by the details and the world building. This book gets a bit gritty at times, but I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to the sequel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7849034-goddess">Goddess</a> by Josephine Angelini. My rating: 3/5 stars. Finally! The last book in this series! And I think it's the best of the three (though at a three star rating you can tell that I've had my struggles with the whole lot). Fortunately, <i>Goddess</i> has a much bigger focus on the mythology and some seriously cool things happened to tie everything together at the end. The bad news is there's more cheesy romance and people falling instantly in love and a character tragically dies but I didn't really feel anything, so... yeah I'd say I had a hard time connecting to this series emotionally. BUT, worth reading for the greek mythology fanatic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13445306-let-the-sky-fall"> Let the Sky Fall</a> by Shannon Messenger. My rating: 3/5 stars. I wanted to love this book! Wind and air spirits and all sorts of cool new mythology not yet explored in YA! But it was so eyeball-rollingly predictable. I knew who the "bad guy" was from the start and when this person suddenly reveals their evilness at the end I was so irritated that everyone had taken so long to get the message. Potential, but I wasn't impressed with the story. Some of the mythology was very cool, though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16104353-blood-moon">Blood Moon</a> by Teri Harman. My rating: 3/5 stars. Blood Moon is a new book this summer written by a friend of mine (or at least, an online friend!) and I've been excited to read her debut. There's some great witch history and magic here, a completely immersive and engrossing world. Plus this had lots of my favorite things - old houses and books and museums and ghosts. Yeah, Teri and I are definitely kindred spirits. :D The book gets a bit violent in places (real villains! no mamby pamby-ness here) and I had some trouble loving the first chapter where Simon and Willa have their instant attraction and fall deeply in love the first time they meet. I think I would have enjoyed this book a bit more if I had been able to enjoy the falling in love process. I would not classify this as a romance. The romantic stuff is out of the way in the first few pages and the rest is all action. I enjoyed reading it and will be picking up the sequel. Highly recommended for fans of witch stories.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16065465-life-after-theft">Life After Theft</a> by Aprilynne Pike. My rating: 3/5 stars. I was instantly attracted to this story because the premise is so cool and unique - a retelling of Scarlet Pimpernel about a kleptomaniac ghost? Totally intriguing. Kimberly is the ghost of a rich girl who stole things. A lot of things. Jeff is the new boy at school and Kimberly takes to haunting him, begging him to return all the stuff she stole, which he has to do incognito. It's fun and crazy and a little issue heavy, but I liked it. The book is a bit edgy for Aprilynne Pike, whose <i>Wings </i>series was very clean. I think I gave it a lower rating because it left me feeling kind of sad at the end and that was <i>not </i>what I was in the mood for when I read it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14061955-siege-and-storm">Siege and Storm </a>by Leigh Bardugo. My rating: 4.5/5 stars. Sequel to <i>Shadow and Bone </i>and I loved it! I've been looking forward to this sequel for a while and it was just as awesome as the first with its cool Russian-ish setting and crazy Grisha magic system. Lots of complications for Alina and Mal and some great new elements to the story. I loved the ice dragon (so beautiful and tragic) and pretty much every word out of Sturmhond's mouth. Plus! Flying ships! I just wanted this to keep going. I now have plenty of proof that I need to purchase the whole series for my shelves and I can't wait for the final book. Check it out if you love fantasy and magic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11044367-taken"> Taken</a> by Erin Bowman. My rating: 4/5 stars. <i>Taken</i> was a bit of a surprise. At the beginning I was irritated by its gritty <i>Hunger Games </i>wannabe-ness. It really starts in almost the exact same way with the exact same feeling. But it doesn't take long before the whole thing is turned on its head when Gray discovers what's outside and where all the men are being taken. This whole crazy sci-fi, futuristic element comes in and was so interesting I flew through the entire rest of the book and really wanted the sequel when I was done. There was even an awful love triangle and it didn't bother me because I was so interested in the story and setting. Read it if you're looking for a new dystopian.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14743784-unbreakable"> Unbreakable</a> by Elizabeth Norris. My rating: 4/5 stars. This is the sequel to last year's <i>Unraveling</i>, which I loved more than I'd expected to. <i>Unbreakable</i> is just as fabulous! Love the parallel universes and the sci-fi elements and the FBI stuff and just the whole amazing complex mess! This book is action-packed and I'm a little sad that it's all over - and really over because this is a two book series. Recommended for sci-fi fans who love detective stories and espionage. :D<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101515-vortex">Vortex</a> by S.J. Kincaid. My rating: 4/5 stars. Ok, last year's <i>Insignia </i>was so good. I had no idea if <i>Vortex </i>would be able to live up to it, but I was thoroughly impressed. These books are surprisingly funny. My husband actually thought I was rereading <i>The Hero's Guide</i> because I laughed out loud so much while reading it. The humor is kind of immature in places, but I'm kind of immature myself so it works for me. :D So, we've got the cool space academy thing going on, plus the antics of Tom and his friends, plus some very real danger from Tom's enemies in high places, plus don't forget Medusa - she's still awesome. There's a lot of win in this series! I think this is especially good if you're nerdy and like computer programming and hacking and such. With computers in everyone's brains there's a lot of potential for both humor and very scary danger with just that one element. Highly enjoyable!<br />
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And look! I even read non-fiction!<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/132900.The_Happiest_Baby_on_the_Block">The Happiest Baby on the Block</a> by Harvey Karp. My rating: 3/5 stars. Read this in preparation for my baby girl. I've never had a colicky baby, but it could happen and I've been hearing great things about this book. I gave it a lower rating not because the advice and techniques on how to calm a baby aren't sound, but because it was really long and drawn out and seemed to repeat the same things over and over again. Plus, I just got the feeling that Dr. Karp is a bit arrogant. He thinks he's got the perfect method here and I've had three babies before, all of which did not fit into his perfect mold. Let's face it - there are things that work for some babies and not for others. IT'S OK. As a parent you just figure out what your baby likes and do your best.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46186.Parenting_With_Love_and_Logic">Parenting with Love and Logic</a> by Foster Cline and Jim Fay. My rating: 4/5 stars. Read this highly recommended parenting book because it was kind of a rough summer with all my kids at home and me not wanting to go anywhere ever. We had a lot of fighting and screaming and yelling around here and I was hoping this would help me figure out how to deal with things a bit better. It's a great book and all the advice makes perfect sense. Nothing here was earth-shatteringly life changing, but it was a good reminder of some things I try to do anyway. This is a very sound parenting book and I highly recommend it.<br />
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And that's it! Stay tuned - I have a post scheduled soon (shocker, I know) with my fall reading wish-list. There are so many books I want to read before this baby gets here! We'll see if I manage to get at least a few in.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-34972169847224116922013-06-04T14:40:00.003-07:002013-06-04T14:40:22.192-07:00The ScoopHey there!<br />
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I'm still alive. :D Just been having a bit of a tough pregnancy. After seeing various markers for serious genetic diseases on my 20 week ultrasound (plus bleeding and a placental concern) I entered a bit of a personal black hole. I was just so worried about my little girl's health and so busy with follow up doctor appointments and extra ultrasounds and blood tests and freaking out about things I read online. Seriously, google is <i>not</i> a pregnant woman's best friend - especially when doctors and geneticists start talking about congenital heart defects and trisomies 13 and 18 and Down's and Cystic Fibrosis and CMV... oh man - it's been rough. I was already extra emotional and unbalanced <i>before</i> all this happened.<br />
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But all the tests came back normal.<br />
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So...while there are things that we're still going to follow for the next four months (and I will have a doctor's appointment about every two weeks or more for a while) I really think I'm going to have a healthy baby at the end.<br />
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As far as reading, I have done a bit. But being stressed as I was I was never in the mood to read and I liked everything I read a whole lot less than I normally would. I've been in a bit of a slump. I've renewed library books as many times as possible until I've finally had to return them unread. I keep telling myself to just read Harry Potter or Pride and Prejudice or <i>something</i> I know I love to get out of my slump.<br />
<br />
But they haven't been all bad. Here's what I've read (the title links to the book's goodreads page):<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13170596-fragments">Fragments</a> </i>by Dan Wells. My rating: 3/5 stars. This is the sequel to <i>Partials</i>, which was totally thrilling, but I was totally bored by <i>Fragments</i>. I found it long and rambly and irritating. It's still interesting, and I probably would have liked it more if I'd read it at a different time.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15714476-the-pirate-s-wish">The Pirate's Wish</a> </i>by Cassandra Rose Clarke. My rating: 3/5 stars. This is the final book of this two book series and it just didn't do what I wanted it to do. While I liked <i>The Assassin's Curse</i>, I wanted more to happen in it. Unfortunately, <i>The Pirate's Wish </i>jams in way too much. Naji is awfully boring and quiet for a magical assassin and the romance was unbelievable for me with a horrible ending. There was too much swearing (plenty of "F" bombs) for me too. Overall, a disappointment.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15795357-eleanor-and-park">Eleanor and Park</a> </i>by Rainbow Rowell<i>. </i>My Rating: 3/5 stars. I heard this one touted as the next <i>Fault in Our Stars</i>, but for me it wasn't even close to that level of emotion and humor and beautiful writing. If I'm going to read a contemporary book about issues it better be worth it. This one was too depressing for me, too heavy, too creepy at the end. And when Park all of a sudden starts wearing eyeliner I was kind of grossed out. Maybe that's just me.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9943270-dark-triumph">Dark Triumph</a> </i>by Robin LaFevers. My Rating: 3/5 stars. It <i>is </i>much darker than the first. Sybella is a bit possessed and takes her assassin nun-ing seriously - but I also was fascinated by her back story. I liked the mix of history and magic, just wish it hadn't been so gruesome and sad. There is newborn infant murder in this book (yeah, not the best thing to read in my current situation). And the romance wasn't super convincing for me. But, bonus points for references to the Bluebeard fairy tale. This must be the year for Bluebeard.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16248123-the-hero-s-guide-to-storming-the-castle"><i>The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle</i></a> by<i> </i>Christopher Healy. My Rating: 5/5. This book was exactly what I needed. I read it right after finding out all my tests were normal and I was in the perfect mood to laugh off all my stress. This is a perfect sequel. Everyone I loved was back (plus some very enjoyable new characters!) with all sorts of fabulous character development and hilarious adventures. Yes, yes, yes!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8734467-sean-griswold-s-head"><i>Sean Griswold's Head</i></a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8527942-the-royal-treatment">The Royal Treatment</a>, </i>and <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10432550-a-farewell-to-charms">A Farewell to Charms</a> </i>by Lindsey Leavitt. My Rating (for all three): 4/5 stars. When I like an author I usually go on a reading binge. Lindsey Leavitt is a new favorite. <i>Sean Griswold </i>was a perfect contemporary teen book full of humor and real emotion and the last two books in the <i>Princess for Hire </i>series absolutely delivered. They are fun and sweet and magical and exactly what I thought the <i>Princess Diaries</i> books should have been. They pretty much scream made-for Disney movie, which was what I was in the mood for when I read them. I needed light. Go check out Lindsey Leavitt if you like the <i>Princess Diaries </i>movies or if you like Janette Rallison's books.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/779509.Precious_Bane"><i>Precious Bane</i></a> by Mary Webb. My Rating: 5/5 stars. <i>Precious Bane </i>is the shining star here. I knew I would love it and I'm only sad it took me so long to finally read this, since I've been hearing good things about it for years. This is a little older of a book (published in 1924<i></i>), set in the 1800s in Shrophire about a girl born with a cleft palate. It started a little slowly for me (and the dialogue takes some getting used to), but the writing is gorgeous and the story so beautiful. I loved it for the romance and for the depth of the story. I kind of want to go back to college and write all my literary analysis papers about this book. I seriously loved it and highly recommend it if you like beautifully written classics.<br />
<br />
<br />
That's the wrap-up for now. I'm going to try and be better but I make no promises. Now that I'm not so worried about my baby the nesting phase seems to have kicked in with gusto because I cannot sit still. I've been cleaning and crafting and sewing things. Since I have four months left still I just hope this doesn't mean I'm going to end up on bed rest or with a premie! For now I'm going to get things done while I still have energy, but I'm sure I'll be back to reading like crazy when it gets hot and I'm massively huge and can't bring myself to do anything else. :D Till next time!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-89762002176476062152013-05-02T14:15:00.002-07:002013-05-02T14:15:52.633-07:00Really Mini MinisWoefully behind. That's me.<br />
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I absolutely love blogging about books. I draft my blogs in my head as I read and after I finish I think about what I'll say about a book as I'm lying in bed trying to fall asleep. I just wish I had more time! It's been a tough few weeks, compounded by some extra emotional stress relating to my pregnancy (long story - which I may share later, but know it probably means you won't hear from me again for a few more weeks until some things have been resolved/figured out). Anyway, I am determined to catch all the way up today. Usually when I say mini reviews it ends up being two to three paragraphs anyway. My goal is about 3 - 4 sentences per book.<br />
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Ready. Set. Go!<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<i><span id="freeText2187244649162816695"><em>The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .</em><br /><br />When
seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives
an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black
handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her
godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her
humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in
the heart of Mississippi.<br /><br />Sophie has always longed for a
comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by
the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she
begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by
thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers
stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as
her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s
trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.<br /><br />Glowing
strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this
breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.</span></i><br />
<br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4 / 5 stars</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This book was deliciously creepy and totally fascinating. I went back and read the original Bluebeard fairy tale after I'd finished </span>and I think Jane Nickerson did an amazing job reinventing it; I was engrossed and terrified and sucked in by the gorgeous writing. I did think Sophia was a bit thick at times, taking way too long to figure things out and I thought her "real" romance was thin and detracted from the story. Overall, though, fabulous, gothic, fairy-tale retelling goodness.<br />
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Content: Not gonna lie. <i>Really</i> creepy occasionally and some disturbing revelations and descriptions.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText12324169246998710376"><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">They have tried to </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">squeeze</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;"> us out, to stamp us into the </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">past</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">But </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">we</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;"> are still here.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">And there are more of us </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">every day</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">Now
an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The
nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an
all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">After
rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the
Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion
have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the
existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to
stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous
terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland
as the fiancée of the young mayor.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">Maybe we are driven </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">crazy</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;"> by our feelings.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">Maybe love is a </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">disease</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">, and we would be better off without it.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">But we have chosen a different road.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">And in the end, that is the point of escaping the </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">cure</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">: We are </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">free</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;"> to choose.</span><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;" /><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">We are even free to choose the </span><em style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">wrong</em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;"> thing.<span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span id="freeText12324169246998710376"><span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">3 / 5 stars</span></span></span><span id="freeText12324169246998710376"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText12324169246998710376"><span>Finally! The last book in the <i>Delirium </i>trilogy! It took me a while to get to it and I'm sorry to say that, while my love</span></span><span id="freeText12324169246998710376"><span> for the first two books is undying, this conclusion was a huge disappointment. It's still gorgeous Lauren Oliver writing, but there's really no conclusion! The whole book just dragged on and on and I kept waiting for something (anything) to happen and feeling really irritated by Lena and actually enjoying the sections from Hana's POV best. There's no resolution to the love triangle, no answers about anything I cared about, just a weird, preachy open ending. Blah.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText12324169246998710376"><span>Content: People die (nobody I really cared about), but not in gruesome ways. Talk about sex, though no actual sex.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText12324169246998710376"><span>P.S. This book does get bonus points because Hana's story parallels the Bluebeard fairy tale, which is laced throughout the book. I thought that was especially cool because I'd just read <i>Strands of Bronze and Gold</i>.</span></span></span></div>
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From Goodreads:<br />
<i><span id="freeText5276271692742215476"><em>You, dear reader,
continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so
than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond
compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of
moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once
experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .</em><br /><br />All the world,
from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady
Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the
remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty
shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern
science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today,
there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural
history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.<br /><br />Here
at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who
risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to
satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and
happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling
expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the
first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. </span></i><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4 / 5 stars</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I loved the unique take on dragons in this book! Everything about this is fun and realistic and fresh. I think I would have like it more, but I was in the mood for something fast-paced when I picked this up and this book is slow and seriously drags at times.</span> However, Isabella is a great and spunky and intelligent heroine (I loved her old lady narrating voice!), and I'll be picking up the sequel which had better be coming soon - that was horrible and SAD ending!<br />
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Content: None. I kind of wish there had been a few more dangerous/violent dragon scenes, actually. Dragons were a bit sparse for a book with a dragon on the cover.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<i><span id="freeText11211846804905354521">Emma Smallwood,
determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his
academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast,
to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they
arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to
happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte,
only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night?
Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling
illustration?<br /><br />The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry,
wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember
Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an
awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly
drawn to her.<br /><br />When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever
tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother
to trust with her heart?</span> </i><br />
<br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">3 / 5 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I </span> think I'm finally sick of Julie Klassen because this one kind of irritated me. There was a lot more religious-y stuff in this one and I found it distracting from what was a pretty interesting plot. There was real evil and danger (except I thought there were people who got away wayyy too easily in the end) and I liked learning about how people with mental illnesses were treated during that time period. It was also a lovely setting. Romance, though? Urgh. Really cheesy.<br />
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Content: Nothing.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<i><span id="freeText4926808365542563536">When Desi Bascomb gets
discovered by the elite Facade Agency–royalty surrogates
extraordinaire–her life goes from glamour-starved to spectacular in a
blink. As her new agent, Meredith, explains, Desi has a rare magical
ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,”
she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess
who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?</span></i><br />
<i><span id="freeText4926808365542563536"><br />Well, Desi
soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and
waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister
puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to
watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a
princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you
know she would want you to change his mind?</span></i><br />
<i><span id="freeText4926808365542563536"><br />In this hilarious series
debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the
desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal
fiasco at a time.</span> </i><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5 / 5 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I </span> really loved this! The most fun book I've read in ages. It's cute and hilarious (Janette Rallison level funny) and magical and I really wish I had the other two books already. I picked this one up at a library book sale and I am on the hunt for the sequels. Desi has spunk and charm and gets into some seriously funny blunders. It's a must-read.<br />
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Content: Nothing.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<i><span id="freeText15432695194525115178">When Mallory’s
boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory
decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things
too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory
swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends
couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:<br />1. Run for pep club secretary<br />2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree<br />3. Sew a dress for Homecoming<br />4. Find a steady<br />5. Do something dangerous<br />But
simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past
begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a
sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her
ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going
too far.</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText15432695194525115178">My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText15432695194525115178">So, after loving <i>Princess for Hire</i> I was really excited to try out another Lindsey Leavitt book, contemporary YA style. LOVED it. So funny and so charming! Mallory going cold-turkey on technology made me realize just how hard it would be if I tried to do that myself. She has some great experiences with her family (loved them all, by the way, especially her sister and her grandma) and the whole adventure is a great read. Highly recommended.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText15432695194525115178">Content: Definitely more talk about sex and sexually-based humor than you'd find in a Janette Rallison novel, but nothing more than that.</span></span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<i><span id="freeText11876873132433899426"><strong>If fate sent you an email, would you answer?</strong><br /><br />When
teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl
Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds
strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing
everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. <br /><br />
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect
location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship
from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really
start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does
Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? </span></i><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText11876873132433899426">My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText11876873132433899426">Is this book in the least bit realistic? No. But it's a perfectly sweet and funny little bite of a story and I really enjoyed it. Plausibility was my main problem, with the unbelievability piling on with each new revelation, but I liked it best when I just sat back and enjoyed the funny email exchanges and the crazy situations in this book. This is a great, light summer read for teens and you know, non-teen people like me who just love YA. :D</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText11876873132433899426">Content: Nothing.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText11876873132433899426">P.S. I also recommend <i>The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight</i> by Jennifer E. Smith. It came out last year and was so cute. If I were less lazy I'd put a link here to my own review. :D Sorry! You're going to have to check my review index if you're curious. </span></span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<br />
<i><span id="freeText6025762628669223625">Strange things are afoot
in Castle Glower: new rooms, corridors, and even stables keep arriving,
even when they aren't needed. Celie's brother Bran, the new Royal
Wizard, has his hands full cataloguing an entire storeroom full of
exotic and highly dangerous weapons, while Celie has her hands full . . .
raising the creature that hatches from a giant egg she finds! Will
they be able to find out what's making the Castle behave this way in
time?</span> </i><br />
<br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4 / 5 stars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I borrowed this from a friend who got it from goodreads first reads. I was so excited when I saw it at her house and of course had to steal it from her for a quick read. This will be out May 7th. I liked <i>Tuesdays at the Castle</i> but thought the ending was a little rushed. This time, Jessica Day George unfolds her plot slowly, building up the tension at just the right pace. I was loving Celie's cute creature troubles, but even more I loved the history and answers behind Castle Glower's mystery, not to mention the danger the castle is in. My only problem? The big fat cliffhanger at the end. I guess Jessica Day George decided that leaving me hanging was better than leaving me confused by a too-fast wrap-up. This is a great series and I'll be getting my own copy of this soon for my library.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Content: None.</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-71195338573468529482013-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-11T00:00:07.296-07:00New Dystopians Okay, maybe it would be more accurate to call these sci-fi, paranormal, dystopians. But that just seemed a bit much for a blog post title, don't you think? These are all new releases I've recently read. One good, one bad, one just plain baffling. :D<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText13795965727520304793"><em>In this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning.<br /><br />Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.<br /><br />Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.<br /><br />Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.</em><a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10861195-level-2#"></a></span><br />
<br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">3 / 5 stars</span><br />
<br />
<em>Level 2</em> would be the baffling book of the batch. I wanted to like it and I thought it had a rocking premise - so much potential. But it was just weird. And unsatisfying. <br />
<br />
I love the idea of there being this waiting area after death. It was creepy and interesting to read about Felicia and her fellow drones and the way they shared and rated their earth life memories. It was so claustrophobic to read about their existence (I almost used the word life, but that's not quite accurate is it? :D) and freaky to think that they might be stuck there forever. <br />
<br />
Enter side plot about it all being a huge conspiracy with evil angels called the Morati trying to keep the drones where they are because the Morati were feeding off their energy, trying to break portals open into heaven since they aren't allowed into heaven. That was the story I wanted more of and I wanted to read about Felicia and Julian working together to fight them.<br />
<br />
Instead, most of this book is Felicia reliving her earth memories and trying to make sense of her earth life. There are lots of things about Felicia's past being held back for the reader throughout the novel, trying to create suspense. Instead, I found myself kind of annoyed. Is this a contemporary novel, where Felicia comes to terms with the awful events of her life, thus allowing her to move on to the next level? Or is this that cool story with evil angels and Felicia hacking in the afterlife and freeing her fellow drones? It's neither. Not enough time is spent on the stories to make either of them feel complete.<br />
<br />
The big fight and resolution at the end are so rushed, so info-dumped, that after it was over I wasn't sure I had any idea what had just happened. Or why, especially. So confusing.<br />
<br />
Definite kudos for a creative premise, but the execution did not work for me. So, unless I see some super good reviews for book 2, I don't know if I'll be reading it next year.<br />
<br />
Content: Some swearing, some sexual-ish content: <span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">Felicia does take all her clothes off in front of her boyfriend hoping for some (he refuses because he's super religious and has signed a church thing saying he'll be a virgin until marriage)</span>.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText4768987470191632993"><em>Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. <br /><br />Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.<br /><br />In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.</em></span><br />
<br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">4 / 5 stars</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<em>Mind Games</em> was so good. My favorite Kiersten White so far. Don't get me wrong - I thoroughly enjoyed her <em>Paranormalcy </em>series, I just found Evie annoying occasionally. <em>Mind Games</em> has no fluff. It <em>is</em> a psychological thriller (like the summary says), both intense and fascinating.<br />
<br />
Not gonna lie, it was a little dark at times. Fia's mind is messed up and she has been manipulated into doing things (like assissinating people) because of the society that is keeping her sister hostage, essentially. Fia can be depressed and tortured and she's a great unreliable narrator. You never know what she's going to do and she keeps her thoughts secret and acts purely on impulse (both habits she needs in a world where people can read her mind and see her future if she decides her course too much ahead of time). Lucky for her, her impulses are always right. She has perfect instincts, which I thought was a very cool power. She's a great fighter and a super spy.<br />
<br />
Annie is also a wonderful characters. Blind, but with the ability to see the future, she makes a great pair with Fia. These two girls have not had it easy, but they do their best to work together and try and protect each other. Overall, I thought the whole story was well done. I loved the spy elements and how they work together to fight the system they're stuck in. I don't want to give too many more details, because I don't want to spoil anything, but this book is a wild ride of instability and surprise. The ending is heartbreaking but fitting. I wanted something different for Annie and especially Fia, but things are in place for a killer sequel. I can't wait to see where it goes.<br />
<br />
Content: Yeah, plenty violent at times. Not gory, though. It's mostly situational intensity that makes it so scary. Little swearing and the occasional sexual innuendo, but nothing much.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText16324479240278531816"><em><strong>You or your Alt? Only one will survive.</strong><br /><br />The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.<br /><br />Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.</em></span><br />
<span><em></em></span><br />
<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">2 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span>I knew going into this that it wouldn't be my favorite, but I was in the mood for fast-paced and intense one day so I pulled it out of my library pile. So horribly dark and violent. Yikes!</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>I had a really hard time connecting with West (and every other character in this book). She's so withdrawn, so obsessed with being a fighter and keeping everyone out of her life that there was no way I was going to feel connected to her. This book would really have benefitted from some comic relief, some show of humanity from West. I just didn't get her. She was a killing maching. I don't know why she decides to become an assassin, why she was motivated to anything she did in this book.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>I didn't understand anything about this world, actually. It's never explained in a really convincing way why this society feels the need to create doubles of each person and force them to kill each other off as children/teens. Some mumbo jumbo about there being a huge war outside their compound and to keep themselves safe every person needs to be capable of fighting and killing. Not good enough for me. I thought it would have been better if alternates had been explored more, been given better personalities. Because it's not like they're robots. They're actually people with families and hobbies and lives. They just happen to have an identical twin. West is an alt herself. Plus, there's no way this kind of constant murder wouldn't have major psychological effects on their society. Instead, people go on to live happy lives after the murder in their youth. Not believable.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>What I was hoping for was for West to fight the system. To not believe in it. Maybe to get to know her alt and see her as a person. Instead, she does exactly what the system asks her to, without question. She's bothered, of course, but there are no hints that she's interested in changing anything about the status quo. </span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Oh yeah. Technically there's a bit of romance too. I guess. Not sure I would call it that. Remember how West refuses to get close to anyone? It's a pathetic attempt at a love story. </span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>So, overall, pretty bad. Read it if you can suspend your belief and want a fast-paced action story (and really, the whole cat and mouse game between West and her alt is intense and well-written suspense). But I won't be reading the sequel.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Content: Loads of killing. Bloody and stomach-turning at times. Swearing, no sexual content.</span><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-55535630209331494632013-04-08T09:49:00.002-07:002013-04-08T09:49:59.393-07:00The 3 Best Books of 2013 (so far)I have recently read three seriously amazing books. I don't know what my end of the year lists will look like yet, but I can guarantee these three books will be on them (and likely somewhere at the top because I'm going to have to find some mind-blowing things to beat them). I bought <em>Scarlet </em>before reading it and got the other two at the library (though I immediately went and ordered them from Amazon after finishing both - they are that good). I highly recommend you pick up one or all three ASAP!!!<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText1592761755798589391"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><strong>The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...</strong><br /><br />Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.<br /><br />Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her <em>prisoner</em>.</span></span></span><br />
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<br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">5 / 5 stars</span><br />
<br />
Don't read any further if you haven't read <em>Cinder </em>yet (and if you haven't I recommend it's the next book you read :D)!<br />
<br />
<em>Scarlet </em>was so incredibly satisfying. All sequels should be this amazing! It is as good if not even better than <em>Cinder</em>. I loved the way the story continued and all the new characters that were introduced. And the incredibly brilliant way Marissa Meyer brings in fairy tale touches is my favorite, favorite part. This series really is the best of sci-fi, the best of dystopian, and the best of fairy retelling books. So, Scarlet is Red Riding Hood, but with moxy. She is so freaking awesome. The whole story and how it unfolded had me on edge, because as Scarlet gets to know Wolf (and holy cow, Wolf!) the whole time I'm thinking, "Ummm... we like him, but hello!!! His name is <em>Wolf</em>!!!! Don't trust him!" Let's just say the way it all turns out is (like I said before) incredibly satisfying. Staying true to the fairy tale, but still taking a completely original and clever spin on it.<br />
<br />
And don't forget about Cinder. She plays a big part, along with the hilarious Captain (or should I say Cadet?) Thorne. Oh this book needed him. Scarlet's story is intense and when it switches over to Cinder and Thorne's POV (and Iko! So fabulous the way she returns!!!) Thorne provides some much needed comic relief. He's such a swaggering Han Solo wannabe and he cracked me up. Cinder finds much-needed answers and proof of her past and decides to embrace her real identity. It is so empowering. Don't forget Kai (love!) and Queen Levana either. Poor Kai is left confused and conflicted about missing Cinder and has a huge burden left on him - that would be Queen Levana and her wrath. And she further proves she is the most psycho evil queen of all time. All the stakes are being raised here for all characters and I am dying to see where this goes next.<br />
<br />
Which is to the moon, by the way. And a Rapunzel character (who we know from her brief book 1 cameo as the instantly lovable trapped hacker - oh my gosh I can't wait for her story).<br />
<br />
Content: Nothing in the way of language or sensuality (ok, maybe a little snogging between Scarlet and Wolf, but trust me - it's not a bad thing!). The final battle scene did get a bit bloody for my tastes but it also in my opinion makes the danger more real and got me even more invested in seeing Cinder and her friends succeed in the end.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText17421206376147938798"><em>Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .</em><br /><br /><em>Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.<br /><br />In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.</em></span><br />
<span><em></em></span><br />
<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">5 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span><em>Pivot Point </em>is the first debut novel this year to completely live up to and exceed my expectations. I fell in love with it almost immediately and I am so looking forward to continuing this series. If you try one new book this year, let <em>Pivot Point</em> be it.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>It seems like X-Men type superpowers have been done a million times and a million ways, but <em>Pivot Point</em> does the impossible and makes them totally fresh and new, with powers and abilities I've never seen done before. Addie's ability to search choices is so awesome (made me wish I could have had that one as a teenager). So, if you've read the summary you know the gist. Addie is given the impossible choice of deciding which of her parents to live with. One lets her stay in the paranormal compound she's lived in her whole life, and the other takes her to the outside world. The book is essentially her search, alternating chapters between what will happen in each scenario. It was so fascinating, especially as the suspense begins to build and it becomes clear that Addie has an impossible choice. Each scenario is filled with the same very real danger and Addie is able to do things about it in each scenario, but neither is enough to solve the mystery and the crime and to stop the murderer (and his accomplice/s who may or may not be people Addie is close to...) The romance is also worth a mention and so lovely. Addie develops a love interest in each scenario but this is no love triangle. As the book progresses I definitely found myself leaning one way and then wayyyy that way and then some big reveals come out and POW! Just woah. Can't say anymore. Someone read it so we can talk because that was awesome but heartbreaking.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>I liked that the same basic events happened on each side; the parallel was so cool to follow. And huge kudos to Kasie West for an excellent job well done making me love and get invested in all side characters. From Addie's best friend Laila to Duke and Trevor (the love interests - both so incredible and layered) to Addie's FBI agent dad. Even the villains are well-drawn and multi-faceted.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>And ack!!! Wait till you see how it ends and what Addie has to decide!!!</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Highly recommended.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Content: Absolutely, beautifully clean. I found nothing objectionable. No swearing and no violence (even though the danger and evil are very real). I was especially pleased that the teenagers didn't spend their free time partying and drinking. There's a point in the story when a football game has just ended and Addie's with a group of friends celebrating and I thought for sure that the alcohol would come out, but instead they split into groups and played a game where they raced around to each other's houses, competing to see who could find the best dessert. It made me laugh because it's so something I would have done with my friends as a teen. I wasn't surprised to find out that Kasie West is originally from Utah and most likely Mormon, because we Mormons have to get crazy and creative like that as teens, since we don't drink and party. :D Maybe all that creativity is what makes so many Mormons great writers? Who knows, but I seriously appreciate seeing teens spending time not killing their brain cells.</span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText3470546858631868040"><em>Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.<br /><br />But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.<br /><br />Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?</em></span><br />
<span><em></em></span><br />
<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">5 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Oh my goodness. <em>Poison </em>is so charming, so funny, so perfectly everything I love in this type of book that I want to cry because there will never be a sequel. If you're a blogger, you've probably heard, but if not, the author Bridget Zinn passed away in 2011 from cancer and this book is being published posthumously. But don't think for a moment that I'm giving this book a glowing review out of charity, because it fully deserves every one of those five stars.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Kyra... well Kyra is fabulous. Hilarious. And talented. Don't mess with her because if you annoy her she'll knock you out with any of the numerous poisonous weapons she has hiding on her person at all times. Her potion and magical abilities are delightful and despite her penchant for poison-tipped weapons she is a <em>good</em> person and would never hurt a thing (I was kidding about her knocking you out for annoying her - she wouldn't... but she would definitely think about it!) unless it was absolutely necessary.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>That right there is what drives this book. Why? Why would Kyra try to kill her best friend the princess? What did the princess do to deserve it? I liked Kyra so much I trusted her to have a good reason even though the answers don't come until near the end of the book. And when the answers come they are perfect. So mind-blowing. So good.</span><br />
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<span>Kyra's adventure covers witches, trolls, evil magicians, vengeful thief lords, a seriously adorable pig (I'm not one to easily fall for cute animal sidekicks, but trust me - it's never been done this way before... I want that pig), poison, magical potions with lots of fun effects, mistaken identities, disguises, and I could go on. I loved every moment. And don't forget the romance with Fred. So perfect. So charming. I don't think I've ever liked the name Fred so much before. :D</span><br />
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<span>Some things were predictable, but there were plenty of surprises in store (some huge ones even!). I loved it all. I can't wait to read it again and again.</span><br />
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<span>Content: Nada. Enjoy!</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-52528963184304695672013-04-02T12:27:00.000-07:002013-04-02T12:28:49.623-07:00Favorite Bookish PinsMy <a href="http://pinterest.com/emilyroundy/bookish-things/">Bookish Things</a> page on Pinterest is one of my favorite things and I love finding funny book-related pins. If you're on pinterest, you should definitely come check out my board because I have tons of pins on it! Here are some favorites.<br />
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Anyway, there's lots more on my page, like things to make out of books and bookish jewelry and lots of cool home library inspiration pictures, like these:</div>
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Are you on pinterest? I'm obsessed.</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-44909965635249950932013-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-01T00:00:14.773-07:00For Review from Netgalley: That Time I Joined the Circus, The Look, Entangled, Spellbinding Here's a recent batch from Netgalley that I thought looked interesting! Thank you Netgalley, Scholastic Inc, and Nikki Jefford for providing these copies for review. All books are now available.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText6099607844216905252"><em>Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose.<br /><br />A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus.<br /><br />When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions.<br /><br />But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question.<br /><br />With humor, wisdom, and a dazzlingly fresh voice, this debut reminds us of the magic of circus tents, city lights, first kisses, and the importance of an excellent playlist.</em><a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15843281-that-time-i-joined-the-circus#"></a></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">4 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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I really liked this one, but don't believe any comparisons to <em>The Night Circus</em>, which is pure fantasy with lots of romance and magic. <em>That Time I Joined the Circus</em> is classic coming-of-age contemporary - and a lot of fun.<br />
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But it doesn't start out that way. There's a huge tragedy at the beginning and it was so sad to see Lexi stuck with literally nowhere to go and no money. That part did bother me just a little because it didn't quite seem believable that her life could change so completely and so fast. Maybe if she'd actually communicated with<em> certain people</em>, but that would have ruined the book, of course, and we can't have that.<br />
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Lexi finds a home at the circus and friends and complicated romance even. And it's typical contemporary in that the romance isn't absolute and eternal like it would be in a fantasy. It felt much more real with ups and downs and both parties not really knowing how they felt all the time. Lexi was a very believable teenager.<br />
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The story wraps up quickly at the end with a little too conveniently perfect, tidy solution to Lexi's problems, but it was a sweet ride and I enjoyed it.<br />
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Content: Some kissing, off-page sex, and innuendo. Some swearing - no violence.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16177326217254872663"><em>Ted doesn't think of herself as glamorous. But her gorgeous sister Ava is. So when it's Ted who spotted by a model agency, at the same time that Ava is diagnosed with cancer, things have clearly gone very wrong. Ted isn't interested in modelling but Ava wants her to give it a try. Just how far will Ted go to please her sister? And what sacrifices will she have to make?</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">3.5 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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I liked this more than I thought I would. I was worried that I'd have to read about a lot of superficial, beauty-obsessed characters, but that is, refreshingly, not at all what this was about. Ted saves it. She's a brilliant character, all interesting and non-conformingly beautiful and fierce. It was fascinating to see some of the behind the scenes work in the fashion industry, which I will admit to being pretty interested in (not that you could tell it from how I dress!). I love the art aspect and how things travel from high fashion on the runway to what I can buy for cheap at Old Navy and Target. :D Ted gives us a real insight into how it is to deal with photographers and other models and super crazy fashion elites. While it's fun for a while, she is confronted with things she'd rather not do and I loved seeing how she dealt with these situations. <br />
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Ted's sister's cancer kept this story (and Ted herself) grounded in reality. Ted is there with her sister through every step of cancer treatment and I love that she shaves her head with her, not knowing (or caring) what her modeling agency will think. <br />
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Other than that, there's a sweet little romantic side plot, and Ted discovers lots of things about herself and her family. I'd say this is a great book for teens.<br />
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Content: A little sexual innuendo in conversations, very little swearing, and no violence.<br />
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<span id="freeText2321256160187592992">From Goodreads:</span><br />
<em>Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.<br /><br />Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.<br /><br />The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.<br /><br />Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.</em><br />
My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">3 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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I found the whole premise of this book clever and entertaining. I'm always looking for a good teenage witch story (blame it on my obsession as a teenager with <em>Sabrina, the Teenage Witch</em> (anybody else watch that show?). I liked Graylee as a character, she's powerful but doesn't abuse her power. It was interesting to see her dynamics with her twin sister, especially after they start sharing a body (by the way, there are some serious laughs that come from this situation). <br />
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The story is mysterious and it takes a while to figure out who is causing all the problems, which was irritating cause I called it in the first ten pages. On top of that, I couldn't bring myself to like Raj - the teenage warlock love interest - because he's a total jerk. Obviously, he's just in lust with Graylee, however much he wants to claim his undying love. I didn't buy into it.<br />
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I did not like the resolution. I felt like there was a very evil character who got no comeuppance whatsoever. That and there's some body swapping that I just thought felt wrong. Overall, this fell short for me, but it was entertaining enough.<br />
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Content: Plenty of sexual innuendo, off-page sex, and loads of swearing. No violence.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText3710548874788000364"><em>There's more than one way to be powerful . . .<br /><br />It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.<br /><br />Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.<br /><br />A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">3 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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I found this book interesting, creepy, and a little cliche. First off, I loved the connection to the Salem witch trials. It was well done. Also, I found Abby's reactions as she discovered her powers to be very convincing. And some of the scenes where she's working actual magic were a little unnerving. Definitely got a couple shivers and was glad I was reading during the day. :D<br />
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But the rest is so lame. Abby's first act as a witch? Make a love potion and give it to her crush! Great. I'm pretty sure I've seen that tried a million times and it never goes right. Plus, there's the secondary boy, Rem, and Abby's relationship with him was kind of lame and... well... secondary. The story gets more intense and danger sets in, but I never felt like Abby was really in much danger. The big final scene is, of course, at prom night and everything resolved in a sudden and surprising way. What I expected to happen did not happen and I was actually disappointed by it. I kind of wanted Abby to <span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">embrace her witch powers and become super witch, but she turns it all down to be a normal human.</span> It was interesting, though.<br />
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It's a bit of a cliche teen witch story, but worth a read if you need a witch fix.<br />
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Content: Some swearing, no sexual content, some frightening scenes and actually a little bit violent at times, when Abby's crush's ex bullies her in a brutal way.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-69567102840786133432013-03-29T00:00:00.001-07:002013-03-29T00:00:19.702-07:00Sarah M. Eden round-upAlways on my quest to find a good, clean, fun regency-era romance, I've recently discovered Sarah M. Eden. And, being me, I read all of her books in a week. Conclusion? So much fun. I was really impressed by her and loved a couple of her books as much as I loved <em>Edenbrooke</em>. If Sarah M. Eden had better titles and prettier covers, they could easily be as popular as <em>Edenbrooke</em> because they are that good. Of course, at some point they all have some similar qualities and now that I've read them I need a major break from this kind of book, but I expect this kind of romance to be predictable. Enjoyment is all in the execution and these are well done if you like this type of book. And I can say right now that content for all of them is squeaky clean - no sex, swearing, or violence.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText2142021419988590827"><em>The Duke of Kielder has more influence than Parliament, higher social standing than the Royal Family. No gentleman dares face him on the dueling field, nor risks testing his infamous temper. But His Grace is in need of a wife. Combine his fearsome reputation with a terribly scarred countenance and finding a lady willing to accept his hand becomes all-but impossible. When the Duke manages to secure a bride through a bit of trickery and an obscene amount of money, he is certain his problems are behind him. Except his purchased bride proves to be nothing like he expected. What is a man like the Duke to do with a bride who is gentle, loving and absolutely impossible to live without?</em><a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5640523-seeking-persephone#"></a></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">4.5 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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I really liked this one. There's no missing the allusions to beauty and the beast and of course, with a name like Persephone, there are plenty of allusions to Persephone/Hades as well. The story is sweet and the Duke, though scary at first is actually a pretty hilarious character. I loved his bluntness and the way he is afraid of no one, not even the royal family. It takes a while for him to allow Persephone near his heart, but watching them slowly come together is lovely. This book is even a little scary at times. I loved the wolves and the truth is, they posed real problems for people in remote estates during that time period. Overall, a great story.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText2348751364541656480"><em>Harry Windower adores blonde, green-eyes Athena Lancaster, but alas, a penniless man like himself has no hope of winning a young noblewoman's hand. To add insult to injury, Athena's brother-in-law and guardian, the Duke of Kielder, has asked Harry to assist Athena in finding a gentleman of her dreams. But the lovesick Harry is cunning as well: as the weeks pass, he introduces Athena to suitors who are horrifically boring, alarmingly attached to their mothers, downright rude, astoundingly self-absorbed, and utterly ridiculous.</em></span><br />
<br /><em>Athena can't comprehend why she is having so little success meeting eligible and acceptable gentlemen. Indeed, her circle of admirers couldn't be be less admirable - nothing like the loyal, gentle friend she's found in Harry. But how long can Harry's scheme be hidden before it is discovered? And what will Athena do when she uncovers Harry's deception? Escape into a charming regency world in this delightfully romantic comedy of manners that will entertain you to the very last word.</em><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">4 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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This one is a lot of fun, especially because I love details about the London season and Athena goes through one, encountering all the beauty (and not-so pretty parts) of being a debutante. And Harry is a very fun, cheerful character. And of course, the Duke is back and in full force here. Oh my gosh, he is such a great character. Mocking people no one else would dare mock and actually fighting real duels for his charge's sake. I love that both he and Persephone play major parts in this story. Athena seemed young to me and wasn't as compelling a character. Her love story wasn't as fabulous and I probably would have given this book three stars if it weren't for the Duke. I'm serious. He's awesome.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText379564018615787316"><em>When Crispin, Lord Cavratt, thoroughly and scandalously kisses a serving woman in the garden of a country inn, he assumes the encounter will be of no consequence. But he couldn't be more mistaken--the maid is not only a lady of birth, she's the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentlemen, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle.<br /><br />Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine's utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife's transformatoin from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted. As a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">4 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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I really liked this one and Catherine was a big favorite character for me. She had a very difficult childhood and adolescence, locked up, mentally and physically abused, and forced to live in poverty while her uncle enjoyed her money. It's no wonder she has no idea how to act around Crispin. I loved their romance and the way Crispin is able to heal her broken heart bit by bit. Catherine learns to stand up for herself, something that leads to very real danger when she stands up to her uncle later in the book. I couldn't put this one down, but I will admit it drove me a little crazy that Catherine and Crispin took so long to communicate their feelings for each other. It was obvious to me that neither of them wanted an annulment. Anyway, it all ends happy ever after and I definitely recommend this one.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText11923121521028365465"><em>After five years of tracking and capturing spies on English soil, Philip Jonquil, Earl of Lampton, is in pursuit of his last quarry. But at a traveler’s inn, he encounters an unexpected and far more maddening foe: Sorrel Kendrick, a young lady who is strikingly pretty, shockingly outspoken, and entirely unimpressed with him. Indeed, Sorrel cannot believe the nerve of this gentleman, who rudely accuses her of theft and insults her feminine dignity. Doubly annoyed when they both end up at a party hosted by mutual friends, Philip and Sorrel privately declare war on one another. But Philip’s tactics, which range from flirting to indifference, soon backfire as he finds himself reluctantly enjoying Sorrel’s company; and, much to her dismay, Sorrel finds Philip’s odd manner to be increasingly endearing. In the midst of this waning war and growing attraction, Philip catches wind of the French spy he’s been tracking, and Sorrel inadvertently stumbles upon a crucial piece of the puzzle, making her indispensable to the mission. But can two proud hearts negotiate a ceasefire when cooperation matters most?</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">5 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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And here's my favorite of the bunch. Loved Philip! Spies! True danger and espionage! And Sorrel is fabulous. She's no mamby-pamby speak-only-when-spoken-to Regency heroine. She has <em>gumption</em>. And she has to. Sorrel is unique because she has a real physical handicap and she's had to learn how to stand up for herself and not care what others say. Their romance is wonderful with all sorts of fun banter and snarky conversations. Crispin and Catherine also play a big role in this book and I love the way Sarah M. Eden interlaps her stories like that. The ending of this one has real peril and a very good resolution. Will definitely be looking to add this one to my shelves someday because I know I'll want to reread it.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText4684981577931493562"><em>The future has never looked brighter for once penniless Nickolas Pritchard. Now in possession of an unforeseen legacy from a distant cousin, he can finally woo the exquisite Miss Castleton, belle of the London Season. What better setting for matchmaking than Ty Mynydd, his ancestral home nestled in the untamed hills of Wales? Ideal, indeed ... except for the ghost. <br /><br />For nearly four hundred years, Gwen has walked the halls of the home in which she lived—and died a mysterious death. But despite centuries as the reigning force within her ancient residence, nothing prepares her for the charm and unexpected appeal of Englishman Nickolas. <br /><br />A deep and abiding affection grows between the two, tempered by the unbreakable barrier that separates them. They cannot possibly hope for a happily ever after. there can be no future between a man yet living and a woman long dead. <br /><br />But how can Nickolas possibly give Gwen up? And how can Gwen face an eternity without Nickolas?</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">2.5 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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And this would be my least favorite of them. Aside from the Welsh setting (which I loved), I had a hard time with this book. I don't think that the ghost story thing worked for Ms. Eden. I couldn't buy how normal everyone was with the ghost, even Nickolas's house guests. Gwen ends up walking through the castle casually, attending dinner parties, hanging out at picnics. I don't know, I just thought it could have been done in a much more thrilling and spooky way. No one is afraid of her! It was just weird. Anyway, my biggest disappointment was that as the final reveal is made and the final resolution happens, it's way sudden and there's almost no explanation for certain things. I was left with all sorts of questions about how and why and what in the world was that???? I don't know. If you're going to include magic at all it better have some sort of understandable system and not feel like a deus ex machine (miraculously convenient solution). Anyway. It was a little better than ok overall, but not my favorite.<br />
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I'm still wanting to read <em>Drops of Gold</em> which is the sequel to <em>Friends of Foes</em>, based on another Jonquil brother. It's not at my library, but I'm sure I'll get to it eventually. What do you think? Have you read any of these? Any other great clean Regency romance authors I need to check out?Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-84948965618178798082013-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:002013-03-27T00:00:08.738-07:00Renegade by J.A. Souders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText14846720192841653166"><em>Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.<br /><br />But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. <br /><br />Her memories have been altered. <br /><br />Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. <br /><br />And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.<br /><br />Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.</em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">3 / 5 stars</span></strong></span><br />
<span><strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span>I've had my eye on this one for a few months. I thought it looked like a cool psychological thriller, dystopian mix with a unique setting (entire underwater city? count me in). It even promises some fairy tale hints (which it delivers - definitely some Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel mixed in). And this book was exactly what I expected from it, only it was far more gritty and disturbing than I would have liked.</span><br />
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<span>It was fascinating. Evelyn is being brainwashed and the reader knows it, but she doesn't. It was creepy for her to wake up each day, after her mind had been wiped blank, not remembering the horrifying things or people she'd known just the day before. She thinks her life is "just about perfect" until finally things begin to crack. Okay, maybe there was too much of an instant-connection between her and Gavin, but she needed it to break free of her mind conditioning. He wakes her up and the truth is shocking. The rest of the book is a violent, break-neck speed escape attempt from Elysium.</span><br />
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<span>It was too much action for me. I loved the beginning, all creepy and psychological, and Evelyn's awakening. But as soon as she tries to escape, there is blood everywhere. Mother is killing innocent people (including children) left and right to prevent her perfect genetic creation from escaping. Lots of blood and guts and, *shudder* it made me kind of sick at times. Plus there's no room to breathe. I needed some downtime in the plot, some emotion and character development, but there was none of that. And when Evelyn's trained mind begins to snap and turn against Gavin I just wanted to scream.</span><br />
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<span>This story does not end on a happy, unresolved note. I'm not convinced I'll pick up the sequel because it sounds like it will have the classic sequel phase romance issues, but I may anyway, just in the hopes of getting some kind of resolution.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>So, really interesting concept, nothing at all wrong with the writing, so too intense and gory for me.</span><br />
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<span>Content: Plenty of talk about sex (a major plot point is about who Evelyn will couple and conceive a child with), minor swearing, and loads of nasty violence.</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-37572061564159718032013-03-25T00:00:00.000-07:002013-03-25T09:16:08.205-07:00The Goddess Inheritance (Goddess Test #3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText13281895213148002442"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><em>Love or life.<br />Henry or their child.<br />The end of her family or the end of the world.<br />Kate must choose.</em><br /><br />During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.<br /><br />In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.<br /><br />With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.<br /><br />Even if it costs her eternity.</span></span><a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10838776-the-goddess-inheritance#"></a></span><br />
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My Rating: <strong><span style="font-size: large;">2 / 5 stars</span></strong><br />
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<em>SPOILERS for books one and two</em><br />
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Saddest thing about this book? My reaction right now is, "It's finally over! I never have to return to this series!" You know, I really hate it when I don't love a book, but I feel compelled to read the sequels because of dreadful cliffhangers. The first book in this series (<em>The Goddess Test) </em>piqued my interest because, hello, greek mythology. It was much more boring than I'd hoped. I went on with book two because of a) the cliffhanger and b) I hadn't <em>hated</em> book one. I did NOT like book two, but the cliffhanger was much worse. I don't deal well with child peril. I had to know what happened. And so here I am. I've finally finished this series and I will not be in a hurry to read anything else by Aimee Carter.<br />
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This book finally ramps up with a bit of action, but it feels too little too late. Plus, we never actually see the battles the gods are fighting against Cronus until the very end. Kate is whiny and annoying the whole book and she has seriously taken her "sacrifice me to save everyone else" complex too far. And I was sooo worried about her being pregnant and kidnapped by people who wanted to kill her baby the moment it was born. Wanna know how that turned out? It was resolved by a couple pages in, by the way. Everything's fine and Kate's body is magically returned to a pre-pregnant state. Maybe it's just my own current pregnant hormones and emotions talking here, but seriously???!!??? Lame. Maybe I'm just jealous, but that fact, combined with Kate allowing herself to be separated from her child made me feel like she knew nothing and cared nothing about being a mother. What was a really good source of potential emotion became a distant thing that Kate thought of on occasion "Gee, I hope I can get my baby back soon..." If I were her, I'd be going all freakin' mother bear on Cronus. She disappointed me.<br />
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And why is it that we have to see so much flirting still between Kate and James? Kate is <em>married </em>to Henry (who is still the most boring lord of the underworld that ever existed). I don't want to hear Kate promising James he'll be her first affair, even if they are just joking.<br />
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I found the plot predictable, the fight scenes boring, the surprise twist inane, and pretty much every aspect of this book disappointing. But not really. Because I wasn't expecting to love it. I just had to know what happened to the baby.<br />
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Content: Plenty of swearing, implied but not on page sex (they are married now), some blood at the end, but not much else violence-wise.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-48067339259117481002013-03-21T11:47:00.000-07:002013-03-21T11:47:21.505-07:00The Sequel EditionI have not blogged much recently, but I have read <em>15</em> books since I last posted a review. <br />
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I'm out of control.<br />
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Truth is, I'm actually expecting a new little reader to join my family this fall and I have been sick, sick, sick. The only thing I've had the energy to do is lay on the couch with a book. Books aren't the perfect morning sickness cure, but they make a good distraction from constant nausea. Thankfully, my first trimester is over and I can feel my energy s l o w l y returning. And now I have some catching up to do! First up, the big sequels (<strong>spoilers inevitable for their predecessors</strong>):<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText15209432865276210172"><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.<br /><br />It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. <br /><br />But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?<br /><br />In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.</span></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span><em>Legend</em> was right up there with my favorite books of last year as a totally epic dystopian. I loved its energy and <em>Prodigy</em> somehow manages to pick up the pace even more! Both of these books read like highly entertaining movies. Marie Lu's writing is very visual and energetic and I was completely swept up in the story. There are some new twists and turns and surprises and I loved it all. </span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Sequel Romance trap? Yeah, there's a little bit of that going on. I always hate it when a couple fights so hard to be together in a first book, and then right away in the sequel they begin to doubt each other and secondary love interests are introduced. <em>Prodigy </em>has all of that, but the focus of this book is more on story and action than romance anyway, so it didn't feel like too much of the book was spent on sappy love complications. June and Day have ZERO time for sap in their lives.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>A couple of complaints: there's so much action, that at times I felt like I wanted more character development. There wasn't enough time to get as deep into their emotions as I usually like in a story. And my biggest complaint is the ending. Won't say much, but I was really irritated at what felt like, to me, a pretty unnecessary way to keep the tension going for a third book. I was going to read it anyway. She didn't have to go <em>there</em>. </span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>Overall, though, I love this series for its intensity and its sheer awesomeness. Can't wait to see what happens to June and Day in the final book.</span><br />
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<span>Content: A steamy kiss, a little swearing, and plenty of action scenes, some kind of violent but not much blood and gore.</span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText3203591732217675176"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><strong>DARKSOULS</strong><br />Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.<br /><br /><strong>SHADOWS</strong><br />Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.<br /><br /><strong>LOVE</strong><br />Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.<br /><br />In this second book in the <em>Newsoul</em> trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.</span></span></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">3 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span><em>Incarnate</em> was totally weird, but in a super fascinating way and I was really looking forward to figuring out some of the answers behind all the mysteries with <em>Asunder</em>. Good news! <em>Asunder</em> provides major answers and they are pretty mind-blowing. Sometimes a series will make me wait until the third book to figure things out, but <em>Asunder</em> was a very kind second book. Of course, that doesn't mean things are going to be easier for Ana in book 3, but now I'm getting ahead of myself.</span><br />
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<span>So despite Ana's heroic actions at the end of book 1, people are still terrified of her as a newsoul, still freaked out that they will all be replaced, and still mourning for all those souls lost who will never be reincarnated again. Ana is seriously bullied and at times violently terrorized and it was interesting to see how she handled that and nice to see the way Sam stood by her. And sequel romance? There are some concerns to keep them from openly declaring they love each other and some doubts and arguments along the way, but it all felt really natural. But I have to say that the romantic atmosphere in this series is weird, mostly because these are people who have been reincarnated for thousands of years, falling in love with different people and being different genders at times and in general its all a mess. There is a major character introduced who was once in love with Sam, but it doesn't affect Sam and Ana's feelings for each other in a bad way.</span><br />
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<span>My favorite part was the answers. What are sylphs? Why is this particular group of people able to reincarnate? How? Where did Ana come from and why aren't there other newsouls? It all makes sense now, but Ana has to go through some pretty harrowing experiences (dealing with a certain uber-creepy temple) to find everything out. I'm going to be reading the conclusion and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up.</span><br />
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<span>Content: No sex scenes, but plenty of hints that it's moving that direction for Ana and Sam. Can't remember if there's swearing. Nothing truly vulgar and memorable at least, since I can't remember :D. A little violent at times and there are a couple of stomach-turning descriptions (things Ana sees in the temple).</span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText16052231544000592292"><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">When Philip Walker appears as a new student in Michele Windsor's high school class, she is floored. He is the love she thought she lost forever when they said goodbye during her time travels last century. Overjoyed that they can resume the relationship they had a lifetime ago, Michele eagerly approaches him and discovers the unthinkable: he doesn't remember her. In fact, he doesn't seem to remember anything about the Philip Walker of 1910.<br /><br />Michele then finds her father's journals, which tell stories of his time-traveling past. As she digs deeper, she learns about his entanglement with a mysterious and powerful organization called the Time Society and his dealings with a vengeful Windsor ancestor. Michele soon finds herself at the center of a rift over 120 years in the making, one whose resolution will have life-or-death consequences.<br /><br />Alexandra Monir's Timekeeper combines breathtaking romance with a tale of complex magic in a sequel that will have every reader believing in the transcendent power of love.</span></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">2 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
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<span>This one isn't as big a sequel as the others, but I was looking forward to reading it anyway. There aren't enough good time travel books in YA lit and I enjoyed Alexandra Monir's take with <em>Timeless</em>. She did a great job with a lot of fun New York history and a cool magic/time traveling system. My biggest problem was the romance. Too cheesy. The sequel, I'm sorry to say (and you can probably tell just by looking at the cover) is even more cheesy. It's just so "our love is so epic but we are kept apart by time and it's so tragic so feel bad for us!" without the actual epicness to back it up.</span><br />
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<span>There's plenty more cool time traveling and some fun back stories are added. The world is fleshed out even more with info on Michele's dad and his time traveling story. There's more awesome history too. The plot introduces a great villain, but the way said villain is disposed of at the end was so easy, so convenient, I'm wishing she hadn't been introduced at all.</span><br />
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<span>And like I said, the romance is the worst. Philip somehow appears in modern times with no memory whatsoever of Michele. She pines for him and he dates the most popular girl in school in front of Michele, making her crazy depressed and jealous (it was kind of irritating and more than a little cliche). Later, when it's explained how he's able to be in modern times (and when he all of a sudden remembers that he so, so, so loves her) it was beyond annoying because the solution is just too implausible. Blech. I wasn't impressed.</span><br />
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<span>Once more, like in<em> Timeless</em>, music plays a big part in the story, something I normally love (since I am a musician). But when Michele and Philip write songs together I can't help but find them underwhelming, especially when the book compares their songs to true greats like Gershwin's "You Can't Take That Away" and Billy Joel's "And So It Goes".</span><br />
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<span>I hate to rag so much on this and go on and on, but when I dislike something I really do try and back it up with proof why. Sorry Alexandra Monir! I find your story a bit unimaginative despite a very promising set-up. We'll see if I decide to read the third book. Right now I'm not convinced I want to commit any more time to this series.</span><br />
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<span>Content: A little swearing, but nothing else.</span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText15808160501777453277"><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.<br /><br />Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder,<em> Can their love survive through the ever night</em>?<br /><br />In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.</span></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">4 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
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<span>I really liked this and immediately felt like I was able to get right back into Aria and Perry's world. Sometimes it takes me forever to get back into a sequel, but it was easy to remember what had happened in <em>Under the Never Sky</em> as soon as I was a handful of pages in. I think that's a testament to Veronica Rossi's great writing and truly memorable and fascinating world and story. </span><br />
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<span>I loved exploring more of this world through Aria's travels with Roar. She's not the clueless girl she was at the beginning of book one and I love the fierce and capable woman she's become. Roar is also a favorite character of mine just because he's so fun to be around. This book needs the way he lightens things up because it's intense and dark. Things are not going well for anyone, especially Perry, who's trying his best to handle responsibility as Blood Lord and not being very successful. The aether is ramping up its destructive power and while I still don't have answers to what and why and how it works, I'm hoping those are coming in book three. I can be patient. Maybe.</span><br />
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<span>This book is a rescue mission. Aria's trying to rescue Perry's sister, Perry is trying to rescue his tribe, and there's another big rescue mission at the end that I won't detail for spoilers' sake. There's plenty of danger and it's thrillingly fast-paced. Loved it.</span><br />
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<span>How does the romance fare? Typical sequel. Aria and Perry doubt each other and secondary love interests show up. This is the aspect that knocked my review down a star. It was very cliche and I wanted it to be so much more. Disappointing, especially because it's obvious Aria and Perry will end up happily ever after (somehow someday) and these things are obviously just a distraction and a stretching device.</span><br />
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<span>Still, I'm dying to check out <em>Into the Still Blue</em>.</span><br />
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<span>Content: Minimal swearing, hinted at sexual content (nothing on page), and a fair bit of violence - blood, death, and burning. Nothing that made me feel extra nauseous (though it's hard to tell when that's how I feel anyway :D)</span><br />
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<span>That's all I've gotten to so far of this year's big sequels. I'm still waiting for Marissa Meyer's <em>Scarlet,</em> which I'm dying to read. I held out because I was too poor to buy it before, but it's now on its way to me in the mail. Hooray!!! I actually reread <em>Cinder</em> to get ready for it and fell in love with it all over again. If you haven't read <em>Cinder</em>, go do it right now. The BEST, most creative cinderella retelling in existence.</span><br />
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<span><span>Read any good sequels lately? Especially without sequel phase romance? </span></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-84064519966638240172013-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:002013-03-08T00:00:12.526-08:00Mini Reviews: 3 - 8 - 13 Wow, have I read a lot of great books lately! And sometimes when I speed-read through a batch, it's easier to do a quick, whirlwind review of a few while they're still fresh on my mind. :D<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText10282359489189541314"><em>Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.<br /><br />Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.<br /><br />Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.<br /><br />Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.<br /><br />In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.</em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">4.5 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
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<span>Wow, <em>The Archived </em>blew me away. First, I absolutely love a good, original, after-life kind of story and in <em>The Archived</em>, I found an immensely creative and awesome after-life mythology. I thought the whole concept of the Archive and of MacKenzie's job as a keeper patrolling the Narrows for escaped, ghost-like Histories was so cool. She was a great and very real character, full of layers and conflicting relationships - but packed with talent and fighting skills. But my favorite part was that most of this story is a very spooky and very well-done murder mystery, all taking place in the best place for such a thing - an old hotel turned apartment complex that Mac's family has just moved into. As if the Archive itself wasn't a cool enough setting. Mac can literally read the layers of history in the building by touching objects and floors and I was just so engrossed by that part of the story.</span><br />
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<span>The story progresses slowly at first and I had a harder time with the beginning when it just felt like so much information to process, but by the middle it <em>flew</em>. I was completely into the story and desperate to see each new development. Read the second half in one sitting it was that hard to put down. I knocked down a half star from my rating only because I was able to predict very early on exactly who Mac <em>should definitely not have been trusting</em>. And a slight deduction was necessary because the love interest is described as a eyeliner-wearing, black-painted nails, goth kind of guy. Yuck. Not my idea of attractive. But as a character he was fascinating and in fact, all the characters were fully-developed and well-described. The librarians (especially Roland) were my favorite. :D</span><br />
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<span>In short, this is a totally original, kind of spooky, and incredibly entertaining read. There will be a sequel, but thankfully this reads as a stand-alone without any mean cliffhangers. Highly recommended!</span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText3993368112300923475"><em><strong>The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.</strong><br /><br />Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...<br /><br />Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.<br /><br />Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.</em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">4 / 5 stars</span></span><br />
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<span>I wasn't sure what to expect from <em>Prophecy</em>. The concept looked awesome to me, but I read a lot of negative reviews so I was worried that it would fall short. And it was not love at first page. I felt a little bit like I was forcing myself to keep going when I started it. I loved the Korean influence and the concept was still interesting and magical, but the characters were hard to like. Character development really suffered and I hardly felt like I knew anyone or how Kira related to others and why she liked certain people but not some, etc... I was about to put it down when somewhere around the halfway point the magic happened. And all of a sudden the book just started to <em>rock</em>. All these incredibly magical things happened and there were cool objects and prophecies fulfilled and dragons and a quest and water spirits and Kira was totally in her warrior, demon-fighting groove and I got completely swept up in it. At the end I closed the book and thought, "I loved that! 5 stars!!!" And then I had to say, "Cool your jets. Remember how we didn't like the beginning?" And so the result is 4 stars for <em>Prophecy </em>and I am for sure checking out the sequel whenever it comes out.</span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText2444612743236227590"><em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever. She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland. In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher. Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?</span></em></span><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">3 /5 stars</span><br />
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<em>Promised </em>is book 3 in the <em>Birthmarked </em>trilogy, so if you want to avoid <strong><span style="font-size: large;">spoilers</span></strong> for books 1 and 2, skip this review.<br />
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I've finally gotten around to finishing this trilogy, and I really think that I've liked each book less and less as it's gone on. By <em>Promised</em> I was heartily sick of the love square and especially sick of Leon. What a constant drain he was on the story! He's so depressing and I wasn't really sure if I trusted him either. But, I kept reading for Gaia, and she's always been the saving grace of this story. Gaia is a great character. I love her background as a midwife and I like that she's been forced into the role of leader not because she wants it, but because she has to do it to help her people. She also makes mistakes and is very human and likeable. I love all the medical ethical questions this series brings up too. Overall, I didn't love the romance, and since most of this book is about the romance it really brought my rating down. Despite that, this is a fascinating dystopian world and the trilogy is worth reading if you absolute need a new dystopian. :D<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.</span></em><br />My Rating: <span style="font-size: large;">4 / 5 stars</span><br />
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<em>Vortex</em> is book 2 in the <em>Tempest </em>trilogy. <strong><span style="font-size: large;">SPOILERS</span></strong><br />
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<em>Tempest</em> was exactly the kind of time travel book I love best, all twisty and complicated and mind-bending, and the good news is that <em>Vortex</em> continues the awesomeness (minus the cover, which I don't think qualifies for awesomeness - not my favorite). Plus, Jackson is now training with the CIA and a good portion of the beginning goes through that. I thought it was so interesting and I liked reading about the conflicted lives of CIA agents and how they have to lie to so many people about what they do. There are some great new characters too. Then everything goes crazy again with lots of time travel mix-ups and a certain child named Emily appears again from the future making things <em>very </em>complicated (she's my favorite). And there's plenty of Holly, too, though things are not right since Jackson and Holly's original timeline got all skewed. Anyway, it's all a big mess, but I'm a big fan of time travel messes. :D It ends in kind of a shocking place and I can't wait to see what happens in the final book.<br />
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One star off my rating for content - too much swearing for my tastes and a little bit of sexual innuendo. This one is also pretty violent at times.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-6504909952267825432013-03-06T00:00:00.000-08:002013-03-06T00:00:18.095-08:00Classic Double Challenge: Jane Eyre vs. JaneOkay, I wasn't going to do a double challenge for this one, but after I read <em>Jane</em>, I just had to get some of the original in my system. I watched my favorite movie interpretation (the 2006 miniseries with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens which you need to go watch RIGHT NOW if you haven't seen it and are a Jane Eyre/period drama fan) and it still wasn't enough so I reread Jane Eyre. And by the way? It's no contest. <em>Jane Eyre </em>is by far the superior book here. :D<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText1909494631234915332"><em>Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. <br /><br />She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed. <br /><br />With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers.</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span><br />
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Quite simply one of my top favorite books of all time. There's so much to say about Jane Eyre but it's all been said. I'll just say that for me, Jane has always been an inspiration. She comes from a quiet, abusive background and with nothing but sheer determination becomes educated and talented. She finds true love and she has the moral courage to leave it behind when it becomes wrong to stay. She cares more about family than money. She learns to be happy even with a broken heart. It's so easy to cheer for Jane when she finally receives everything her heart has ever wanted. I just feel like I've learned so much from her and can always find some new trait she has that I want to emulate every time I read it. And what a story. So sweeping! So gothic. And Mr. Rochester. Yeah. What can I say? I love <em>Jane Eyre</em> and I always will. <br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText13943985202871235907"><em>Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. <br /><br />But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?<br /><br />An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers</em></span><br />
<em></em><br />
My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">***</span><br />
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I liked this much less than April Lindner's <em>Catherine</em>, and maybe it's because I like <em>Jane Eyre </em>so much more than <em>Wuthering Heights. </em>It takes a lot to try and retell <em>Jane Eyre </em>and it just wasn't good enough. But still entertaining, nonetheless.<br />
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Maybe it just tried too hard to be like the original. In <em>Catherine</em>, April Lindner took a lot of plot liberties (which I liked), but <em>Jane </em>is trying too hard to be the real thing. Almost every scene in <em>Jane </em>was taken from the original - even most of the dialogue was just paraphrased. I liked the rock star twist, but I really had a hard time seeing any chemistry between Nico and Jane. I just didn't see what Nico saw in Jane. There were no sparks, no real reason why he'd fall in love with her. In the real Jane the romance is instant and real and this didn't even come close.<br />
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Plus, certain things were different that I had a hard time with. Why, in this modern world, would Nico choose to stay married to his insane wife? And mental institutions are not as bad as they were in Jane Eyre's time so I really don't understand what the hold up is. Except it's almost like Nico's still in love with his crazy wife, which messes everything up. That's just not right. How can I believe he loves Jane, that he's found his soul mate, if he still has feelings for his wife? Plus, what happened to Jane's moral fiber? If she's willing to sleep with Nico so quickly why does she care about being his mistress when the truth is revealed? It just didn't add up for me. <br />
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Anyway, it was kind of fun to read as a Jane fan, but also incredibly frustrating. I liked the modern setting, but this retelling fell short for me in every other way.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-85108774917017305422013-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:002013-03-04T09:31:17.761-08:00The Nightmare Affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText5840151953326462405"><em>Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.<br /><br />Literally.<br /><br />Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.<br /><br />Then Eli’s dream comes true.<br /><br />Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.</em></span><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">***</span><br />
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Copy for review provided by NetGalley. Thank you!<br />
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I liked <em>The Nightmare Affair</em> well enough, but as far as paranormal boarding school books go it did not "wow" me. I was hoping for <em>Hex Hall</em> level humor and awesome powers, but everything here was pretty bland. Dusty was trying really hard to be one of those witty, kick-butt, powerful heroines, but I wasn't impressed. First off, I was expecting the Nightmare thing to be more interesting. She doesn't give people nightmares - she essentially enters others' dreams and quietly observes them, gaining magical power from them. Kind of boring. Of course, with Eli it's a little different as she starts to see things in his dreams that foretell awful events in the future.<br />
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But the whole mystery thing? So predictable. I wanted to scream at Eli and Dusty because they were being so blind. Duh! You do not suspect the most obvious person!!! You do not fall for red herrings! You do not walk right into the real murderer's OBVIOUS trap! It was a little disappointing.<br />
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But it was a quick read and some of the powers people had at school were interesting and fresh. I'll probably check out the sequel, but I won't be rushing out, desperate to read it.<br />
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<em>The Nightmare Affair </em>is available tomorrow.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-84743379901574135182013-02-28T00:00:00.000-08:002013-02-28T00:00:10.294-08:00The Runaway King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText11106235139856256682"><em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!<br /><br />Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?<br /><br />The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!</span></em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span></span><br />
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<span><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Warning! If you haven't read <em>The False Prince </em>yet, read no further!!! Spoilers are inevitable.</span></strong></span><br />
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<span>Copy provided for review by NetGalley. Thank you!</span><br />
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<span>Ok. Woah. This sequel blew me away. I was really excited to read it and really worried that it couldn't live up to my love for <em>The False Prince, </em>which was awesome partly because of Sage's big reveal about his real identity. That out of the way, how could <em>The Runaway King</em> live up? But it does.</span><br />
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<span>It's successful because the adventure is so much bigger. <em>The False Prince'</em>s action was contained in one setting, but in <em>The Runaway King</em> we actually get to see more of Jaron's kingdom, and what's going on is not pretty. There's all sorts of courtly intrigue ramping up the action and there's no way to know who to trust (a feature I always love in a book :D). </span><br />
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<span>And Jaron has not changed (or at least not for the worst). He's still impulsive and ridiculously clever and Sherlock-ian observant and sometimes foolish, but any time he does something I consider stupid, it's revealed later that he knew <em>exactly</em> what he was doing and I have to declare him a genius. And his awesome thief skills are on full display in this book. Plus! PIRATES!!! As if this book needed any more coolness.</span><br />
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<span>The final resolution is a little bit deus ex machina and I'm not sure I totally trust a certain character's almost complete turn around, but we'll see. And something's got to happen with the romance. There's NO WAY it can end up the way it just did. Can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy!</span><br />
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<span>Recommended for: Fans of courtly intrigue, action/adventure, awesome thieves (reminds me often of Megan Whalen Turner's <em>Queen's Thief </em>series), and a very entertaining story.</span><br />
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<span><em>The Runaway King </em>is out tomorrow!</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-41166776041810069292013-02-26T00:00:00.000-08:002013-02-26T00:00:06.774-08:00Just One Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText7943006893310533630"><em>A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay<br /><br /> When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.<br /><br />Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!</em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span></span><br />
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<span>Contemporary YA is not my go-to genre, but reviews here and there have led me to pick one up now and again - leading me to discover that I trust two authors of contemporary YA to always deliver a gorgeously written story with real heart: Stephanie Perkins and Gayle Forman. Gayle Forman's <em>If I Stay </em>and <em>Where She Went </em>were so beautiful and heartbreaking, so I was kind of excited to try out <em>Just One Day</em>. Once again, she's given readers a very real, very entertaining, and very moving story.</span><br />
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<span>Okay, but first I have to say straight up that it was hard for me to get past my "Oh my gosh I hope my daughter never ever ever makes the decision Allyson just did!!!!!" constant reaction to almost everything Allyson does from the moment she meets Willem until they part. This book could definitely serve as a "How NOT to Travel Safely in Europe" guide. I'm still shaking my head. What was she thinking????</span><br />
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<span>But the point is that she has never allowed herself to be herself, to be spontaneous, to follow her dreams - and she does. And the chemistry between her and Willem is great and their adventure amazing. Oh so wishing I could go to Paris <em>right now. </em>Craving chocolate and bread and crepes and seriously I've got to stop thinking about it so let's change the subject.</span><br />
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<span>I loved that certain things tied the book together - Shakespeare is a recurring theme, disguises and nobody being who you expect them to be. There's definitely a lot of mystery surrounding Willem and even though I can't say I loved this character, I know Gayle Forman's holding out on me and I can't wait to read <em>Just One Year </em>so I can't find out what's really going on in his head.</span><br />
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<span>This story succeeds because it's much more than some whirlwind day in Paris, lovely though it may have been. Allyson has to return home and adjust to college and face up to her very demanding parents and her struggling best friend and realize that nothing about her life is going the direction she wishes it were. She makes new friends and stands up for her real interests and then, only then, does she finally return to Europe and I will say no more. :D</span><br />
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<span>Recommended for: fans of sweet contemporary YA with real character growth. Also for fans of travel, Europe, and especially Paris.</span><br />
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<span>Content: A pinch of sexual content, not graphic. Some innuendo and swearing scattered throughout. Allyson is not a drinker or a party-er, so there are no crazy college frat scenes.</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-80961644990044552812013-02-22T15:53:00.000-08:002013-02-22T15:53:10.422-08:00Everbound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText6558048690177542303"><em><span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.<br /><br />Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.<br /><br />Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.<br /><br />In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Warning: Spoilers for book 1!</span></strong></div>
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<em>Everbound </em>was a big hit with me! I was immediately wrapped back up into Brodi Ashton's very clever, modern take on Greek mythology and I have to say that I liked this sequel even better than the original. Everything was more. There was more at stake for Nikki (she's being pressured from every direction about Jack's disappearance), more at stake for Cole (which I can't expound on without spoilers for book 2), and the absolute most at stake for Jack (Hello? Stranded and dying in the everneath here?).</div>
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Nikki continues to grow as a character. She started out in book 1 kind of empty (product of having the life sucked out of her for a hundred years of course, but I still thought she could have been less boring) but she has been on a very organic growth spurt ever since and I've really appreciated seeing her develop some guts and courage. And I was hanging on for the entire book, watching Jack fade from her dreams and panicking that she wouldn't make it in time (even though part of me knew there was no chance he would just <em>die</em> there). Then there's Cole who I thought was acting a little out of character at times, but a big reveal at the end... well, I won't say any more. And even though I suspected it, well done Ms. Ashton. Well done.</div>
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This book also digs deeper into the mythology and I could gush forever about Brodi Ashton's interpretation of the underworld (which we finally get to see and spend time in!). So original, so fresh, but so familiar - which is exactly what I like my mythology retellings to be.</div>
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There are some weaknesses here, mainly that it's a little predictable and that Nikki's quest through the Everneath is a little formulaic. I also think some of Nikki's relationships in the real world weren't very well done. Her best friend (can't even remember her name it was that bad), her dad, and especially her little brother all seemed kind of superficially drawn.</div>
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But still, this is an easy 4 stars (more like 4 and a half if I'm being honest with myself) because I <em>really </em>enjoyed the ride. :D Can't wait for book 3!<em></em></div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-35939667527622535182013-02-13T00:00:00.000-08:002013-02-13T00:00:14.550-08:00Classic Double Challenge: Wuthering Heights and Catherine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<em>Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine's father. After Mr Earnshaw's death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine's brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.</em><a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6185.Wuthering_Heights#"></a><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span><br />
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This is a reread for me and much as my English major half would like to give this five stars, the rest of me can't get past the fact that <em>Wuthering Heights </em>is a miserable book, all about miserable people who are determined to make others miserable too. That said, I can never read this without getting completely engrossed in the story. It is incredibly readable and sucks me in. I don't know why, because there's so much tragedy and so much of it happens because either Catherine or Heathcliff use and abuse each other or everyone around them. Still, I think I keep going for the little bursts of happiness and the few sane people (Nelly, for instance). And it does end on a note of hope and happiness for the next generation of people living at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. I also love the wild setting and the gothic bits. Such a fan of the ghostly scenes. :D<br />
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Recommended reading (at least once in your life) if you like classics and if you like a study in human nature. Which makes it sound boring, but I promise there's nothing boring about this fiery, passionate, and tragic story.<br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText18387347668754922864"><em>A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you’ve never seen it before.<br /><br /><strong>Catherine</strong> is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad’s famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?<br /><br /><strong>Chelsea</strong> has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years—a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn’t die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her—starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.<br /><br />Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.</em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span></span><br />
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<span>I really enjoyed reading this and I think April Lindner did a great job of translating <em>Wuthering Heights </em>to the modern world. I loved watching for all the little nods to the original but I also loved that this story was NOT the original. In fact, I don't think it quite captures the same feeling of the original, which I'm okay with. I find <em>Wuthering Heights </em>a bit depressing and the characters completely unlikeable. <em>Catherine</em>, on the other hand, had much more sympathetic characters. I found myself empathizing a lot more with Catherine and Hence's story than I ever did Catherine and Heathcliff's. Catherine is not the horrible, selfish monster her literary counterpart is and Hence is NOT the devilish psychopath Heathcliff is. He maybe comes off a bit gruff and grumpy at first, but as the story moves along he only ever does one truly despicable thing (and it's pretty bad, but it doesn't ruin him as a character). Still, I couldn't help feeling that Catherine and Hence's love story was more of a lust story.</span><br />
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<span>What really kept me speeding through this book was Chelsea. She's intelligent and determined (a little stubborn) and very brave. </span><span>Chelsea is a great character and I enjoyed her sleuthing (even if I did see the big mystery and reveal at the end coming from the beginning - <span style="background-color: #666666; color: #666666;">seriously there's obviously only one character in the whole book capable of homicide and it's made pretty clear from the start who that is. It drove me crazy that nobody thought to check out Quentin before. Guy hoards guns and is plainly mentally unstable - has a history of violence and death threats - and nobody looks for Catherine there? I'm not buying it</span>.) <span>Anyway, I really liked how the story was told about both generations and, once again, I loved that the story of the second generation is nothing like what it is in <em>Wuthering Heights</em>. </span></span><br />
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<span>Also, the setting was fun for me, especially because I am a musician and played in bands throughout high school. The rock/punk music history was interesting and of course New York is always a great setting.</span><br />
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<span>Content: There is some sexual content, though nothing explicit. There's also an attempted rape scene, which is also not very detailed. Surprisingly no drug use or drinking, considering all the rock musicians and very little profanity.</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640930778378622766.post-21587074133359209762013-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:002013-02-11T00:00:14.810-08:00Mini Reviews: 2-11-13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText2817805967122156985"><em>In this light magical correspondence, letters fly between Cecilia (author Pat), with Aunt Charlotte in Essex Rushton manor, and her cousin Kate (author Caro), with Aunt Elizabeth in London's Berkeley Square for alluring Georgina's season. Mistaking Kate for "odious marquise" Thomas of Schofield, a mysterious Miranda tries to poison Kate with drink from hot chocolate pot at Royal College of Wizards investiture for their country neighbor Sir Hilary of Bedrick Hall. When their shy friend Dorothea attracts men unwillingly, her step-mama Miranda Griscomb nee Tanistry, reveals evil motives and immense power, with ambitions against innocent brother Oliver.</em></span><br />
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<span>My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span></span><br />
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<span>Jane Austen meets Harry Potter. Sound fun? It is. Loads. Two cousins, Cecy and Kate, exchange letters, one in London for the season, the other at a country estate. It's all the romance and comedy of manners fun of a Regency novel, but in an alternate universe where spells are flying and love potions are messing things up and people are vying not just for titles and land, but magical power. I found this really entertaining, even though I occasionally found myself mixing up the two girls and their love interests, not always sure who was talking - surprising considering each girl was written by a different author... they must have similar writing styles. I've heard that there's a sequel, but that it's not as charming or hilarious as this one so I don't think I'll follow it up. </span><br />
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<span>Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction, magic, and regency romance. </span><br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<em>Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.</em><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span><br />
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I was in the mood to read this back at the beginning of December when I requested it from the library. Unfortunately, so was everybody else in Boise so it took me this long to get it. I thought about just returning it, but decided to try it out first. I'm so glad I did. I haven't laughed that much at a book in ages. It was truly hilarious. The first story was definitely my favorite, but I loved that all three take place in the same town and interconnect. All the characters were fun, but I especially loved the parents - the kind of parents who cut Harry Potter novel-sized pieces of cake and get arrested in riots caused by ceramic Christmas village pieces - oh my gosh I really just laughed my whole way through this. <br />
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Content: John Greene's story had a bit of profanity and there was a bit of sexually-based humor and innuendo.<br />
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Recommended for: Read this next Christmas if you love funny contemporary romances. <br />
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From Goodreads:<br />
<span id="freeText3541516717593494062"><em>Miss Mariah Aubrey, banished after a scandal, hides herself away in a long-abandoned gatehouse on the far edge of a distant relative's estate. There, she supports herself and her loyal servant the only way she knows how--by writing novels in secret.</em></span><br />
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<em>Captain Matthew Bryant, returning to England successful and wealthy after the Napoleonic wars, leases an impressive estate from a cash-poor nobleman, determined to show the society beauty who once rejected him what a colossal mistake she made. When he discovers an old gatehouse on the property, he is immediately intrigued by its striking young inhabitant and sets out to uncover her identity, and her past. But the more he learns about her, the more he realizes he must distance himself. Falling in love with an outcast would ruin his well-laid plans. </em><br />
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<em>The old gatehouse holds secrets of its own. Can Mariah and Captain Bryant uncover them before the cunning heir to the estate buries them forever?</em><br />
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My Rating: <span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span><br />
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I've liked Julie Klassen novels before, but I was surprised by just how much I really liked this one. I'd honestly call it more of a 4.5 stars. I usually check out a Klassen novel when I'm in the mood for a clean regency romance, but this one more than fit the bill. Her novels tend to feel long and rambly and a bit heavy on the Christian influence for me, but this one had none of those problems.<br />
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First off, Mariah is secretly a writer. I LOVED that, because it gave me an in-depth look at what Jante Austen's life might have been like. How she published with the help of her family, the every day life of a secret novelist, how to handle it when the secret becomes known, all the scandal and social pressure against being a novelist - oh man I loved all the details. Plus, if you're a Jane Austen fan, there are subtle nods to both <em>Mansfield Park </em>and <em>Persuasion </em>(my fave!). That, and there are tons of details about the navy and some very fun swashbuckling characters.<br />
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So, it's top notch as a historical fiction. Then there are the mysteries within mysteries. I had so much fun guessing things and I was very glad not to have been able to predict everything. The romance is sweet, but not overly gushy and saccharine. There are lots of great characters to get to know and love.<br />
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Recommended for: Fans of regency romance. If you've heard of Julie Klassen but weren't sure about the label "Christian Fiction" I'd say don't worry about it. The Christian influences in this one are minimal, but the romance is very clean. I especially recommend this one for Austen fans.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199624998247618525noreply@blogger.com0