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It takes a brave author to write a sequel to a beloved classic that everyone knows, either because they have read the book or seen one of many film adaptations. It takes a great author to pull it off. Jim Piecuch is both brave and great! In Tim Cratchit's Christmas Carol, Piecuch takes the character Tiny Tim and gives us a glimpse into his adult life.
Tim Cratchit is now thirty-ish, an accomplished physician and surgeon, working for the upper class in London, but also helping those who cannot afford care, much like himself when old Ebenezer Scrooge became a part of his life. However he isn't happy, his life is not the full life Scrooge would have envisioned for him. He lives alone, save for his maid and gardener, in a large house in London. He works six out of seven days and on the seventh day he spends most of his time seeing patients with "emergencies." Tim knows something is missing and that something is a family of his own.
But this Christmas that all changes. A young mother brings her very sick son to the doctor that treated her as a girl in the hopes he can help him. This case consumes Tim as he sees himself in the little boy. The compassionate, caring man he once was reemerges and new life is breathed into Tim. Everyone takes notice, including the young Jane, the daughter of one of Tim's affluent patients.
What makes this story a wonderful sequel to Dicken's classic is that the author really stayed true to the characters that the original built. Tim is still kind and compassionate, his family is still large and loving. Even old Scrooge shows up in flashbacks as Tim remembers his past and he stays true to the man he changed into that one fateful Christmas.
Tim's story follows the same line as Scrooge's. Tim has fallen off the path that Scrooge set him, now he needs a little direction, this time from a kind old gentleman. This old gentleman never interacts with Tim personally, but does speak to all the characters that support him. None know his name as he only introduces himself as "an old friend of the doctor's," but the young mother does notice his cufflinks. They are gold with the initials "E.S." on them. I think we all know who that is ;)
Overall Piecuch has done something that few authors can claim. He's taken a classic story, in this case Dickens's A Christmas Carol, and expanded on it, giving the characters a life after the events of Dickens's classic. What makes it great is that it is done in such as way that it is believable. This is an author to watch for and I plan to read more of his books!
I received a copy of this book for free from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Tim Cratchit is now thirty-ish, an accomplished physician and surgeon, working for the upper class in London, but also helping those who cannot afford care, much like himself when old Ebenezer Scrooge became a part of his life. However he isn't happy, his life is not the full life Scrooge would have envisioned for him. He lives alone, save for his maid and gardener, in a large house in London. He works six out of seven days and on the seventh day he spends most of his time seeing patients with "emergencies." Tim knows something is missing and that something is a family of his own.
But this Christmas that all changes. A young mother brings her very sick son to the doctor that treated her as a girl in the hopes he can help him. This case consumes Tim as he sees himself in the little boy. The compassionate, caring man he once was reemerges and new life is breathed into Tim. Everyone takes notice, including the young Jane, the daughter of one of Tim's affluent patients.
What makes this story a wonderful sequel to Dicken's classic is that the author really stayed true to the characters that the original built. Tim is still kind and compassionate, his family is still large and loving. Even old Scrooge shows up in flashbacks as Tim remembers his past and he stays true to the man he changed into that one fateful Christmas.
Tim's story follows the same line as Scrooge's. Tim has fallen off the path that Scrooge set him, now he needs a little direction, this time from a kind old gentleman. This old gentleman never interacts with Tim personally, but does speak to all the characters that support him. None know his name as he only introduces himself as "an old friend of the doctor's," but the young mother does notice his cufflinks. They are gold with the initials "E.S." on them. I think we all know who that is ;)
Overall Piecuch has done something that few authors can claim. He's taken a classic story, in this case Dickens's A Christmas Carol, and expanded on it, giving the characters a life after the events of Dickens's classic. What makes it great is that it is done in such as way that it is believable. This is an author to watch for and I plan to read more of his books!
I received a copy of this book for free from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Hmmm....where to start with this one? I liked Suspicion by [a:Alexandra Monir|3505204|Alexandra Monir|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1279060133p2/3505204.jpg] on one hand, on the other I didn't. The story itself was addicting, I felt like I had to keep reading to know what happened to the characters. But then at the same time it was boring.
Yeah I know, but that's how I felt during the entire book! The book begins with a flashback on the tragic events that changed Imogen Rockford's life, the death of her parents. It then goes back to the present and follows a now 17 year-old Imogen as she is gearing up for graduation and post-high school life when yet another tragedy befalls her family. This time it leaves the young woman as the sole heir to the Rockford estate. Basically she becomes a duchess and the second part of the book is very Princess Diaries-ish.
Imogen is a tough character to like but also hard to dislike as well. She is traumatized by her past, doesn't rely on people easily, and now she is a duchess. She has the choice to not accept her inheritance however that would mean the people working at the estate would now be without jobs and the town that relies on the estate would go desolate. So Imogen accepts and is whisked away from her American life into the English court system. And here's where the story loses me.
So I'm pretty sure, in fact I'm 100% positive, that if a lovely British person read this book he/she would be offended with the author's take on current society. I'm pretty sure (and my UK peeps correct me if I'm wrong) that a new Duchess is not received in the same way as she is in this book. Yes I believe that the media would hound her because she is current news, but would an entire town depend on her? Would an entire town love and adore her just because she is the Duchess? In today's world I don't think so. If this was written as historical fiction, maybe I could see it, but now not so much. I mean do Duchesses still have a personal maid to do all their clothe shopping and fix their hair and do their makeup for them?! Are Duchesses still greeted as "Your Grace" and bowed to? Do they have servants at their beck and call? Maybe I'm completely off base, but this just doesn't seem realistic in today's society. I could see someone going up and asking for an autograph but would that even happen?
Ok, enough ranting, back to the general story. Aside from the cultural issues that I don't believe meet today's standards, the story itself was good. The synopsis says that it is a "modern-day take of the classic Rebecca." Now I've never read Rebecca so I cannot make that comparison. However I have read several reviews that this isn't true and that it is a very poorly done re-telling. Again I can't make that comparison, but I wanted to warn those that may know the story.
Myself I thought the overall story was good. It was boring at parts and at times I felt like it was dragging. Then at other times I couldn't turn the page fast enough! The actual plot revolves around the death of Imogen's older cousin who should have become Duchess. However she dies in a freak accident in the same garden that her parents and her cousin's parents ten years earlier. The plot becomes a murder-mystery with a little (I mean like a smidgen) of paranormal thrown in as an afterthought.
My conclusion....I just don't know. I'm on the fence. I liked it but I didn't. So my final star rating would be a 3.5. Like I already said, I felt like I couldn't set the book down. It kept my attention, but at the same time the storyline fell flat and bored me to tears. The conclusion of the story and final plot twists I had figured out long before they came and I felt like the book just ended. The closure was too tidy and this whole long plot was resolved in just a few pages.
NOT okay!!!! The paranormal element was thrown in as an afterthought and really played no part in the actual story, so it should have been edited out. The mystery wasn't too mysterious and I had it solved at around the 60% mark. The romance was too insta-love for me and I felt like it also fell flat. The characters weren't memorable, in fact I only remember Imogen, her cousin (don't remember her name) and the love interest (also don't remember his name). This book just wasn't for me. Now I know that not every book is for every person, so if you enjoy mystery and have NOT read Rebecca then you may enjoy. If you do read it, come back and let me know what you think!
I received an eARC of this book from Delacorte Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review
Yeah I know, but that's how I felt during the entire book! The book begins with a flashback on the tragic events that changed Imogen Rockford's life, the death of her parents. It then goes back to the present and follows a now 17 year-old Imogen as she is gearing up for graduation and post-high school life when yet another tragedy befalls her family. This time it leaves the young woman as the sole heir to the Rockford estate. Basically she becomes a duchess and the second part of the book is very Princess Diaries-ish.
Imogen is a tough character to like but also hard to dislike as well. She is traumatized by her past, doesn't rely on people easily, and now she is a duchess. She has the choice to not accept her inheritance however that would mean the people working at the estate would now be without jobs and the town that relies on the estate would go desolate. So Imogen accepts and is whisked away from her American life into the English court system. And here's where the story loses me.
So I'm pretty sure, in fact I'm 100% positive, that if a lovely British person read this book he/she would be offended with the author's take on current society. I'm pretty sure (and my UK peeps correct me if I'm wrong) that a new Duchess is not received in the same way as she is in this book. Yes I believe that the media would hound her because she is current news, but would an entire town depend on her? Would an entire town love and adore her just because she is the Duchess? In today's world I don't think so. If this was written as historical fiction, maybe I could see it, but now not so much. I mean do Duchesses still have a personal maid to do all their clothe shopping and fix their hair and do their makeup for them?! Are Duchesses still greeted as "Your Grace" and bowed to? Do they have servants at their beck and call? Maybe I'm completely off base, but this just doesn't seem realistic in today's society. I could see someone going up and asking for an autograph but would that even happen?
Ok, enough ranting, back to the general story. Aside from the cultural issues that I don't believe meet today's standards, the story itself was good. The synopsis says that it is a "modern-day take of the classic Rebecca." Now I've never read Rebecca so I cannot make that comparison. However I have read several reviews that this isn't true and that it is a very poorly done re-telling. Again I can't make that comparison, but I wanted to warn those that may know the story.
Myself I thought the overall story was good. It was boring at parts and at times I felt like it was dragging. Then at other times I couldn't turn the page fast enough! The actual plot revolves around the death of Imogen's older cousin who should have become Duchess. However she dies in a freak accident in the same garden that her parents and her cousin's parents ten years earlier. The plot becomes a murder-mystery with a little (I mean like a smidgen) of paranormal thrown in as an afterthought.
My conclusion....I just don't know. I'm on the fence. I liked it but I didn't. So my final star rating would be a 3.5. Like I already said, I felt like I couldn't set the book down. It kept my attention, but at the same time the storyline fell flat and bored me to tears. The conclusion of the story and final plot twists I had figured out long before they came and I felt like the book just ended. The closure was too tidy and this whole long plot was resolved in just a few pages.
NOT okay!!!! The paranormal element was thrown in as an afterthought and really played no part in the actual story, so it should have been edited out. The mystery wasn't too mysterious and I had it solved at around the 60% mark. The romance was too insta-love for me and I felt like it also fell flat. The characters weren't memorable, in fact I only remember Imogen, her cousin (don't remember her name) and the love interest (also don't remember his name). This book just wasn't for me. Now I know that not every book is for every person, so if you enjoy mystery and have NOT read Rebecca then you may enjoy. If you do read it, come back and let me know what you think!
I received an eARC of this book from Delacorte Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review
I received a copy of this book from the author as a part of a blog tour in exchange for review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
True Calling by Siobhan Davis is book one in a new Sci-Fi dystopian world. Ariana Skyee is seventeen, training to be a soldier (by her choice), in her new world Novo. Two years ago, her and her family were evacuated to the planet when Earth became uninhabitable. The new government erased everyone's memories of those left behind leaving many confused and feeling as if something or rather someone is missing. As Ari's family starts to fall apart, the government announces their plans to repopulate the human race in the form of "The Calling" and Ari along with all seventeen year olds are forced to marry and mate (for lack of better term). Plagued by dreams of a boy she doesn't know and falling in love with a boy she shouldn't, Ari starts to uncover the government's dark secrets.
Okay I'm going to level with you all....I really loved this book! I liked the characters, the writing, the plot, the world-building....all of it. So yes, there will be fangirling (a lot of it) in this review. And I'm not going to apologize for it ;)
Ariana is a strong character and a decent female lead. I'll admit that at times I felt like she was a bit dramatic, but it's in our nature as girls to be that way. What I loved about Ari though is her devotion to her family, despite all odds. She loves them and will do anything for them, even participating in the horrible pageant.
Ugh...the Calling...what can I say that isn't a spoiler?! The Calling is the government's way to control who you sleep with...end of story. Not really! It's very reminiscent of a bad reality TV show...you know the one. I think it starts with a B ;) All boys and girls, seventeen years of age, are matched with ten perspective people to be their mate. Over a course of weeks the government and all parties involved (along with the adoring public) will vote on who you are to marry. Obviously our Ari is against this from the start and has every right to be!
With the Calling, comes Cal Remus, also seventeen and extremely good-looking according to Ari but also knows it...yeah he's that kind of guy. Or at least Ari thinks he is. Slowly his character is revealed and I found him quite charming but I felt like something was off. I don't know why, just my opinion.
Then there's Zane from Ari's dreams. She doesn't know if he exists or not. If he does, she has no memory of him and no idea what their relationship was or is. (The whole memory wipe thing is a tad confusing...). But for some reason she is connected to him and is determined to figure out how.
Ari's world is fascinating to me. She lives on a planet called Novo, just 12000 miles from Earth. The government was gone to great lengths to make the world like Earth. Each region is fashioned after places from home...Hawaii, New York, Colorado just to name a few. But it's too neat and too clean...too perfect. Ari comments on how the lines are too even, which in my brain makes sense and I kept picturing something like the movie The Truman Show where looks were deceiving and Truman lived inside this town/dome unaware of the world outside.
Overall I thought the book was fantastic! The author did a wonderful job of conveying the character's emotions and her world. I felt like I was there in Novo, thousands of miles from a desolate Earth. I can't wait for the next installment in this series :D If I have any complaints (which really they aren't complaints, more of just I want more) it would be that whatever happened on Earth isn't explained. So why they had to evacuate isn't mentioned other than the Earth was no longer habitable. There was also a hint of aliens with a mention of "we know now we are not alone." Creepy goodness! Also I smell a love-triangle coming with mystery boy and Cal, but as I'm indifferent to Cal I say bring it on! If you enjoy science fiction, dystopias, and of course young adult fiction, I highly recommend you check it out! I believe you will love it as much as me! Well maybe not as much as me, but you get the picture ;)
True Calling by Siobhan Davis is book one in a new Sci-Fi dystopian world. Ariana Skyee is seventeen, training to be a soldier (by her choice), in her new world Novo. Two years ago, her and her family were evacuated to the planet when Earth became uninhabitable. The new government erased everyone's memories of those left behind leaving many confused and feeling as if something or rather someone is missing. As Ari's family starts to fall apart, the government announces their plans to repopulate the human race in the form of "The Calling" and Ari along with all seventeen year olds are forced to marry and mate (for lack of better term). Plagued by dreams of a boy she doesn't know and falling in love with a boy she shouldn't, Ari starts to uncover the government's dark secrets.
Okay I'm going to level with you all....I really loved this book! I liked the characters, the writing, the plot, the world-building....all of it. So yes, there will be fangirling (a lot of it) in this review. And I'm not going to apologize for it ;)
Ariana is a strong character and a decent female lead. I'll admit that at times I felt like she was a bit dramatic, but it's in our nature as girls to be that way. What I loved about Ari though is her devotion to her family, despite all odds. She loves them and will do anything for them, even participating in the horrible pageant.
Ugh...the Calling...what can I say that isn't a spoiler?! The Calling is the government's way to control who you sleep with...end of story. Not really! It's very reminiscent of a bad reality TV show...you know the one. I think it starts with a B ;) All boys and girls, seventeen years of age, are matched with ten perspective people to be their mate. Over a course of weeks the government and all parties involved (along with the adoring public) will vote on who you are to marry. Obviously our Ari is against this from the start and has every right to be!
With the Calling, comes Cal Remus, also seventeen and extremely good-looking according to Ari but also knows it...yeah he's that kind of guy. Or at least Ari thinks he is. Slowly his character is revealed and I found him quite charming but I felt like something was off. I don't know why, just my opinion.
Then there's Zane from Ari's dreams. She doesn't know if he exists or not. If he does, she has no memory of him and no idea what their relationship was or is. (The whole memory wipe thing is a tad confusing...). But for some reason she is connected to him and is determined to figure out how.
Ari's world is fascinating to me. She lives on a planet called Novo, just 12000 miles from Earth. The government was gone to great lengths to make the world like Earth. Each region is fashioned after places from home...Hawaii, New York, Colorado just to name a few. But it's too neat and too clean...too perfect. Ari comments on how the lines are too even, which in my brain makes sense and I kept picturing something like the movie The Truman Show where looks were deceiving and Truman lived inside this town/dome unaware of the world outside.
Overall I thought the book was fantastic! The author did a wonderful job of conveying the character's emotions and her world. I felt like I was there in Novo, thousands of miles from a desolate Earth. I can't wait for the next installment in this series :D If I have any complaints (which really they aren't complaints, more of just I want more) it would be that whatever happened on Earth isn't explained. So why they had to evacuate isn't mentioned other than the Earth was no longer habitable. There was also a hint of aliens with a mention of "we know now we are not alone." Creepy goodness! Also I smell a love-triangle coming with mystery boy and Cal, but as I'm indifferent to Cal I say bring it on! If you enjoy science fiction, dystopias, and of course young adult fiction, I highly recommend you check it out! I believe you will love it as much as me! Well maybe not as much as me, but you get the picture ;)
Oh my!! I seriously loved this book....it's dark, gritty, and the main character is not the good heroine. Oh no she's the bad guy and I sorta love her :D
The Young Elites by Marie Lu is the first in a new dystopian, fantasy series about a group of young men and women who have special "gifts" granted to them from surviving the blood fever as children. Our main character, Adelina Amouteru, is arrested after accidentally killing her father one night when she was running away. On the day of her execution, she is saved by a group who call themselves the Dagger Society and like her have powers or magic from surviving the blood fever. The problem, Adelina didn't know she had powers until the night she killed her father. Now she has to learn how to use them and fast! Terren, leader of the Inquisition Axis, is hunting her and the Daggers down and he won't stop until they are all dead.
I love Adelina! She is a scary chick! All her life she's been told she's a disappoint by her father for being a malfetto (a child that survived the blood fever marked/scarred/changed). With the fever, her hair turned to silver and one of her eyes was removed. Some malfettos were rumored to have powers and because Adelina had none, her father ignored her, taunted her, provoked her, and abused her in attempts to bring powers to the surface. This is enough to break anyone! And for our Adelina it does. She is constantly haunted by her father's ghost, and her powers (when they finally surface) are fueled by fear. This takes her to some very dark places. She questions herself constantly, knowing that the pain she inflicts isn't right, but taking pleasure in causing it.
Then there's Terren. He is a powerful young man in a high position with the court. Terren is ruthless, but not cruel. And he finds Adelina fascinating. However he is obsessed with finding the Dagger Society and hunting down all malfettos to purge the country of them. But he's hiding a big secret. Honestly, I had figured out his secret early on, but I won't spoil it for you ;) Trust me you'll understand his character much better!
And finally Enzo, or the Reaper, leader of the Dagger Society, crowned prince, and rightful ruler of the country. He has his own obsession and plans to use Adelina to get it. Enzo plans to take his country back by force and help the malfettos, especially since he's one himself. He is ruthless, cunning, and driven, but with Adelina he finds himself enchanted and unable to focus.
The entire story centers around the Dagger Society taking back the kingdom and training Adelina how to use her unique powers. The author has created a whole new world and I'll admit that in the beginning I was more than a little lost. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a futuristic world or a historical fiction. Then I realized it wasn't set on Earth at all...my bad. Once I realized this, the book flowed well and I was amazed at how intricately Adelina's character plays out. We see a broken girl at the beginning of the book who slowly progresses into a young woman with power and the ability to take on anyone. And she does!
Overall I thought the book was great! At times the flow lagged a bit, especially when Adelina would berate herself over her feelings. For the most part though, there was plenty of action and plot twists that I didn't see coming. And the ending...I'll admit I may have shed a few tears for our bad girl. Then the epilogue...eep! I can't wait for the next in this series to come out :D
The Young Elites by Marie Lu is the first in a new dystopian, fantasy series about a group of young men and women who have special "gifts" granted to them from surviving the blood fever as children. Our main character, Adelina Amouteru, is arrested after accidentally killing her father one night when she was running away. On the day of her execution, she is saved by a group who call themselves the Dagger Society and like her have powers or magic from surviving the blood fever. The problem, Adelina didn't know she had powers until the night she killed her father. Now she has to learn how to use them and fast! Terren, leader of the Inquisition Axis, is hunting her and the Daggers down and he won't stop until they are all dead.
I love Adelina! She is a scary chick! All her life she's been told she's a disappoint by her father for being a malfetto (a child that survived the blood fever marked/scarred/changed). With the fever, her hair turned to silver and one of her eyes was removed. Some malfettos were rumored to have powers and because Adelina had none, her father ignored her, taunted her, provoked her, and abused her in attempts to bring powers to the surface. This is enough to break anyone! And for our Adelina it does. She is constantly haunted by her father's ghost, and her powers (when they finally surface) are fueled by fear. This takes her to some very dark places. She questions herself constantly, knowing that the pain she inflicts isn't right, but taking pleasure in causing it.
Then there's Terren. He is a powerful young man in a high position with the court. Terren is ruthless, but not cruel. And he finds Adelina fascinating. However he is obsessed with finding the Dagger Society and hunting down all malfettos to purge the country of them. But he's hiding a big secret. Honestly, I had figured out his secret early on, but I won't spoil it for you ;) Trust me you'll understand his character much better!
And finally Enzo, or the Reaper, leader of the Dagger Society, crowned prince, and rightful ruler of the country. He has his own obsession and plans to use Adelina to get it. Enzo plans to take his country back by force and help the malfettos, especially since he's one himself. He is ruthless, cunning, and driven, but with Adelina he finds himself enchanted and unable to focus.
The entire story centers around the Dagger Society taking back the kingdom and training Adelina how to use her unique powers. The author has created a whole new world and I'll admit that in the beginning I was more than a little lost. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a futuristic world or a historical fiction. Then I realized it wasn't set on Earth at all...my bad. Once I realized this, the book flowed well and I was amazed at how intricately Adelina's character plays out. We see a broken girl at the beginning of the book who slowly progresses into a young woman with power and the ability to take on anyone. And she does!
Overall I thought the book was great! At times the flow lagged a bit, especially when Adelina would berate herself over her feelings. For the most part though, there was plenty of action and plot twists that I didn't see coming. And the ending...I'll admit I may have shed a few tears for our bad girl. Then the epilogue...eep! I can't wait for the next in this series to come out :D
Waking-up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly is about Connor Reed and Megan Scott who after a wonderful evening wake-up to find themselves married! I have to say I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, light-hearted read that tugged at my own emotions just a little. Megan is an independent woman who isn't looking for love. In fact she's given up on men entirely, going as far as setting up an appointment for in vitro fertilization because really who needs a man. Connor also isn't looking for love in a relationship, instead he wants a partner (basically all the fun stuff of marriage without the emotional drama of love). He finds that in Megan, at least he thinks he does. But as we all know women are emotional creatures and as he convinces her to stay with him she finds herself falling and falling hard.
I can't say I blame her. Connor is kinda perfect and he worships her! The relationship that builds between them is a bit superficial to begin with, but as the book progresses the author does a nice job of showing how the two characters just fit together like two pieces of one puzzle. It's a sweet story full of highs and lows. I also cannot deny that I found myself snickering through several parts. If you enjoy contemporary romance, new adult fiction, or romantic comedies than I believe you'll enjoy this book :D (FYI: this book does contain sexual content, so I recommend it for mature audiences ONLY)
I can't say I blame her. Connor is kinda perfect and he worships her! The relationship that builds between them is a bit superficial to begin with, but as the book progresses the author does a nice job of showing how the two characters just fit together like two pieces of one puzzle. It's a sweet story full of highs and lows. I also cannot deny that I found myself snickering through several parts. If you enjoy contemporary romance, new adult fiction, or romantic comedies than I believe you'll enjoy this book :D (FYI: this book does contain sexual content, so I recommend it for mature audiences ONLY)
I seriously enjoyed reading Fast Forward by Juliet Madison. The story was sweet, funny, and showed how one decision can affect your entire life! On the eve of Kelli Crawford's twenty-fifth birthday, she seems to have everything she's ever wanted in life: a successful career as a model, a best friend to share her secrets with, and a boyfriend who loves her and is going to propose! Then on the morning of her birthday, Kelli wakes up to find she is fifty, married to the boy from high school everyone (including herself) made fun of, and she's a mom....soon-to-be grandmother! Kelli has to find a way back to the past to "fix" her life and make sure this future doesn't happen, but as the day goes on she questions if what she thought she wanted is really what she needs.
As I said the story is sweet and very reminiscent of the movie 13 going on 30 with Jennifer Garner. Kelli's character starts out as immature with no real set plans for her future other than to continue modeling. In fact, I found her hard to like as she was self-centered and reminded me more of a high school girl instead of 25 year old woman. As the book progressed though, so did Kelli and her likability factor :D I fell in love with her as she struggled to figure out why she was sent to the future and what she could do to get the future she wanted. If you enjoy romantic comedies, contemporary women's fiction than I highly recommend you check this book out! It's worth the read (also short and sweet! Read it in one sitting!).
As I said the story is sweet and very reminiscent of the movie 13 going on 30 with Jennifer Garner. Kelli's character starts out as immature with no real set plans for her future other than to continue modeling. In fact, I found her hard to like as she was self-centered and reminded me more of a high school girl instead of 25 year old woman. As the book progressed though, so did Kelli and her likability factor :D I fell in love with her as she struggled to figure out why she was sent to the future and what she could do to get the future she wanted. If you enjoy romantic comedies, contemporary women's fiction than I highly recommend you check this book out! It's worth the read (also short and sweet! Read it in one sitting!).
Persuaded by [a:Misty Dawn Pulsipher|7111457|Misty Dawn Pulsipher|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1402537552p2/7111457.jpg] is a modern day re-telling of the Jane Austen classic Persuasion and follows the relationship of Hanna Elliot and Captain Derick Wentworth. Hanna is a school teacher, 28, and unmarried, heading to the beach to spend the summer with her younger sister and her family when she runs into her ex. Derick is an accomplished sailor, winning the American Cup, but now he is looking for a summer out of the limelight, so he heads to Old Lyme Beach to spend the summer with his sister and her family when he sees the woman who broke his heart standing on the beach.
I have to say I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters, the storyline, the seamless way the author retold the classic story flowed together and created an all new story to love. Hanna is quirky, has little self-confidence, but her kindness attracts every man she meets. The failed engagement/whirlwind romance between herself and Derick has left her single at 28 without a family of her own. She had no closure, he just disappeared with nothing but a vague note. For years she held out hope that he might come back for her, but it became painfully obvious when she started to see his name on TV that it would never happen. Now she’s closed off her heart and mind to the possibility of having her own family and starting a new relationship.
Derick has done everything in his power to forget Hanna, sailing to the ends of the earth to do so. And he thought he’d done a pretty good job of it until he sees her on the beach and then all those feelings come crashing back down. He left because she didn’t stand up for him, or at least that’s what he thinks because he only heard part of the conversation. So in true, young man, anger he throws his phone in the ocean and sails away with the plan of never looking back. Now when his life is hectic and crazy because he’s in the media, he finds her again. Only this time he plans to avoid her as much as possible and begins dating a woman ten-years his junior.
The whole romance is set on the beach in the summer as Hanna and Derick try, but fail, to avoid each other. Their families become friends and they are forced to spend time together. It isn’t until Derick confronts Hanna about their engagement (something their families do not know about) that the truth about what happened – why Derick left and why Hanna did what she did – that they each get closure. It’s a sweet romance and I found myself hurting for both characters throughout. I couldn’t take a side as each of them had valid arguments and they were both wrong.
Overall I enjoyed Hanna’s and Derick’s story, reading as it developed. It was sweet, swoon-worthy, and of course left me with a warm-feeling at the end. If you enjoy Jane Austen and retellings or you’re looking for a contemporary romance for your next read, I highly suggest this one!
Now you’ll have to excuse me. I do believe it is way past time for a Jane Austen binge read!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I have to say I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters, the storyline, the seamless way the author retold the classic story flowed together and created an all new story to love. Hanna is quirky, has little self-confidence, but her kindness attracts every man she meets. The failed engagement/whirlwind romance between herself and Derick has left her single at 28 without a family of her own. She had no closure, he just disappeared with nothing but a vague note. For years she held out hope that he might come back for her, but it became painfully obvious when she started to see his name on TV that it would never happen. Now she’s closed off her heart and mind to the possibility of having her own family and starting a new relationship.
Derick has done everything in his power to forget Hanna, sailing to the ends of the earth to do so. And he thought he’d done a pretty good job of it until he sees her on the beach and then all those feelings come crashing back down. He left because she didn’t stand up for him, or at least that’s what he thinks because he only heard part of the conversation. So in true, young man, anger he throws his phone in the ocean and sails away with the plan of never looking back. Now when his life is hectic and crazy because he’s in the media, he finds her again. Only this time he plans to avoid her as much as possible and begins dating a woman ten-years his junior.
The whole romance is set on the beach in the summer as Hanna and Derick try, but fail, to avoid each other. Their families become friends and they are forced to spend time together. It isn’t until Derick confronts Hanna about their engagement (something their families do not know about) that the truth about what happened – why Derick left and why Hanna did what she did – that they each get closure. It’s a sweet romance and I found myself hurting for both characters throughout. I couldn’t take a side as each of them had valid arguments and they were both wrong.
Overall I enjoyed Hanna’s and Derick’s story, reading as it developed. It was sweet, swoon-worthy, and of course left me with a warm-feeling at the end. If you enjoy Jane Austen and retellings or you’re looking for a contemporary romance for your next read, I highly suggest this one!
Now you’ll have to excuse me. I do believe it is way past time for a Jane Austen binge read!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
A cyborg Cinderella....really?!
So that was my initial reaction a few years back when Cinder by Marissa Meyer hit the shelves. In fact, if I'm being honest, that was my reaction to ALL fairy tale retellings. My thoughts were why mess up a good story. Well, I'm here to confess something to you...
Cinder is just...I was just so...OMG!!! It was amazing :D Who knew a cyborg Cinderella could be so awesome?! Cinder is a renowned mechanic (how convenient) in the town of New Beijing, part of the Commonwealth empire. When Prince Kaito arrives with his android for her to fix, Cinder discovers more than just a broken android, but a plot to overthrow the kingdom.
The author seamlessly interweaved her own sci-fi story with the classic! Cinder is the loathed step-sister/daughter who was adopted by the now deceased husband of Adri. Adri doesn't want Cinder, but keeps her because since she is a cyborg, she is property. All the money Cinder makes as a mechanic, goes to Adri. Basically she is like free labor. Pearl and Peony are the angel daughters, except one of them is truly kind to Cinder and I [icon name="fa-heart"] her! Then there's Prince Kai who only has eyes for Cinder just like in the classic. There's even a ball where the Prince dances with her....but this is where the similarities end.
Cinder is an intriguing lead lady. She's kind-hearted, if a bit naive and wants only her freedom. She has no memories of her life before she was adopted at 10, and I found this strange. Luckily the author explains it later on in the story. Cinder's competent but she is also extremely insecure with her cyborg nature. Cyborgs are less than human and as such are not looked at as human in the Commonwealth. They are treated as mere machines, with no feelings and no rights. So when the prince approaches her stall with his android she hides her mechanical parts so as not to reveal them.
Prince Kaito....oh my prince! He is thoroughly distraught in this book, except for when he is with Cinder. She takes his mind off the problems surrounding his kingdom, like the fact that his father has just died of Letumosis (the plague that is killing the populace) and now at 19 he is the emperor. Oh and you can't forget the pressure to marry queen of Luna (the first colony established on the moon hundreds of years ago) in an attempt to bridge peace. Prince Kai is naive, hard-working, and wants to marry someone of his own choosing, not for peace, and not a tyrant. So he has a plan, he's searching for the long-lost princess of Luna, the rightful heir who is rumored to have escaped to earth and is in hiding. His plan is to find her, but he hasn't really thought the whole thing through.
Meyer does a fantastic job of building this dystopian world. The plague, the colony on the moon, and the advanced technology along with the decaying lifestyles is intriguing and even believable. I can't wait to read more :D And the cliffhanger....
It's one of the worst I've read in a long time. I'm not sure I can wait for book two to be available in the library!!! If you enjoy young adult dystopians or are looking for a different kind of fairy tale with some hi-tech science fiction involved, go read it now!
So that was my initial reaction a few years back when Cinder by Marissa Meyer hit the shelves. In fact, if I'm being honest, that was my reaction to ALL fairy tale retellings. My thoughts were why mess up a good story. Well, I'm here to confess something to you...
Cinder is just...I was just so...OMG!!! It was amazing :D Who knew a cyborg Cinderella could be so awesome?! Cinder is a renowned mechanic (how convenient) in the town of New Beijing, part of the Commonwealth empire. When Prince Kaito arrives with his android for her to fix, Cinder discovers more than just a broken android, but a plot to overthrow the kingdom.
The author seamlessly interweaved her own sci-fi story with the classic! Cinder is the loathed step-sister/daughter who was adopted by the now deceased husband of Adri. Adri doesn't want Cinder, but keeps her because since she is a cyborg, she is property. All the money Cinder makes as a mechanic, goes to Adri. Basically she is like free labor. Pearl and Peony are the angel daughters, except one of them is truly kind to Cinder and I [icon name="fa-heart"] her! Then there's Prince Kai who only has eyes for Cinder just like in the classic. There's even a ball where the Prince dances with her....but this is where the similarities end.
Cinder is an intriguing lead lady. She's kind-hearted, if a bit naive and wants only her freedom. She has no memories of her life before she was adopted at 10, and I found this strange. Luckily the author explains it later on in the story. Cinder's competent but she is also extremely insecure with her cyborg nature. Cyborgs are less than human and as such are not looked at as human in the Commonwealth. They are treated as mere machines, with no feelings and no rights. So when the prince approaches her stall with his android she hides her mechanical parts so as not to reveal them.
Prince Kaito....oh my prince! He is thoroughly distraught in this book, except for when he is with Cinder. She takes his mind off the problems surrounding his kingdom, like the fact that his father has just died of Letumosis (the plague that is killing the populace) and now at 19 he is the emperor. Oh and you can't forget the pressure to marry queen of Luna (the first colony established on the moon hundreds of years ago) in an attempt to bridge peace. Prince Kai is naive, hard-working, and wants to marry someone of his own choosing, not for peace, and not a tyrant. So he has a plan, he's searching for the long-lost princess of Luna, the rightful heir who is rumored to have escaped to earth and is in hiding. His plan is to find her, but he hasn't really thought the whole thing through.
Meyer does a fantastic job of building this dystopian world. The plague, the colony on the moon, and the advanced technology along with the decaying lifestyles is intriguing and even believable. I can't wait to read more :D And the cliffhanger....
It's one of the worst I've read in a long time. I'm not sure I can wait for book two to be available in the library!!! If you enjoy young adult dystopians or are looking for a different kind of fairy tale with some hi-tech science fiction involved, go read it now!
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My Initial Reaction:
I think this gif covers everything I felt reading Splintered by A.G. Howard. I'm not even really sure how to begin! The concept of the story, a re-telling of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, intrigued me, yet I put off reading the book until just this week. I'm sorry to say that I'm glad I did. While there were aspects that I loved about the book. there were others that I just couldn't get past. Let me explain.
Alyssa is a young woman, haunted by the fact that she thinks she is going crazy. She hears bugs and flowers talk and so to make them shut up she "humanely" kills them and uses them in her art work...it gets worse. She's in love with her older best friend Jeb who happens to be dating her nemesis Taelor, and the mean girl claws come out. I found Alyssa a bit on the shallow side, always thinking of herself and rather than thinking about the situation she finds herself in she focuses on the crazy teenage hormones. Because you know, isn't that what all teens do when faced in a life or death situation, focus on kissing the object of their affection? I'm sorry there was just no getting around the fact that Alyssa annoyed me, but only a little ;)
Then the love triangle between Jeb and Alyssa and Morpheus....oh Morpheus. I like you :D He is a netherling in this world that Howard creates and a moth...he happens to represent the caterpillar from Carroll's tale and I love him. He brings the story drama, conflict, and a little hotness and drops hints about what will happen along the way as Alyssa travels through Wonderland. He was once Alyssa's best friend and now she has to decide whether she trusts him or not.
Now for the aspects I loved....I loved the world Howard created. She took Wonderland and made it dark and twisted. I know Wonderland was already dark and twisted from Carroll's perspective, but Howard takes it even further and brings the world to life through her words and Alyssa's descriptions. I loved the imagery that came with the description of the netherlings and Wonderland itself. I felt like I was there and that is a feat that most authors fail at.
Overall I struggled between giving the book 3 or 4 stars because I found the book utterly predictable, but decided that since the ending was enough to make me want to read the rest of the series that it deserves 4 stars. If you enjoy urban fantasy, the Wonderland stories, and young adult fiction I highly recommend you take a look at this book!
I think this gif covers everything I felt reading Splintered by A.G. Howard. I'm not even really sure how to begin! The concept of the story, a re-telling of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, intrigued me, yet I put off reading the book until just this week. I'm sorry to say that I'm glad I did. While there were aspects that I loved about the book. there were others that I just couldn't get past. Let me explain.
Alyssa is a young woman, haunted by the fact that she thinks she is going crazy. She hears bugs and flowers talk and so to make them shut up she "humanely" kills them and uses them in her art work...it gets worse. She's in love with her older best friend Jeb who happens to be dating her nemesis Taelor, and the mean girl claws come out. I found Alyssa a bit on the shallow side, always thinking of herself and rather than thinking about the situation she finds herself in she focuses on the crazy teenage hormones. Because you know, isn't that what all teens do when faced in a life or death situation, focus on kissing the object of their affection? I'm sorry there was just no getting around the fact that Alyssa annoyed me, but only a little ;)
Then the love triangle between Jeb and Alyssa and Morpheus....oh Morpheus. I like you :D He is a netherling in this world that Howard creates and a moth...he happens to represent the caterpillar from Carroll's tale and I love him. He brings the story drama, conflict, and a little hotness and drops hints about what will happen along the way as Alyssa travels through Wonderland. He was once Alyssa's best friend and now she has to decide whether she trusts him or not.
Now for the aspects I loved....I loved the world Howard created. She took Wonderland and made it dark and twisted. I know Wonderland was already dark and twisted from Carroll's perspective, but Howard takes it even further and brings the world to life through her words and Alyssa's descriptions. I loved the imagery that came with the description of the netherlings and Wonderland itself. I felt like I was there and that is a feat that most authors fail at.
Overall I struggled between giving the book 3 or 4 stars because I found the book utterly predictable, but decided that since the ending was enough to make me want to read the rest of the series that it deserves 4 stars. If you enjoy urban fantasy, the Wonderland stories, and young adult fiction I highly recommend you take a look at this book!
Oh wow! It's not often that a book makes me sigh aloud at its ending, but this one did! Dear Mr. Knightley is a story about finding hope in our darkest time, overcoming our own weaknesses and stepping out of your comfort zone. Samantha Moore is a twenty-three year old foster kid turned adult who accepts a grant to go back to college to get her master's degree in journalism. There's just one catch. The foundation CEO who gives her the grant asks that she write him regularly with updates about her progress, not just in college but in life as well. To make her feel safe and comfortable in doing this, he never reveals his name only that she may write to him as Mr. Knightley. Sam does this and uses the letters almost like a journal revealing parts of herself that she has never told another soul, things about her past, her struggles with trust, her defense mechanisms, everything! But who is the mysterious Mr. Knightley?
I fell in love with Sam from the moment she wrote her first letter. It's clear that even as an adult her problems have followed her: nightmares from her childhood, trust issues, insecurity, lack of self-worth. But she is so much more. She's smart, loves books (specifically Jane Austen :D ) and is a bit naive to the way the world really works. Growing up without a family, shutting herself off from making real friends has hindered her, but this story is about discovering oneself and making lasting connections. The turn around of Sam from the start of the book to its end is poignant and beautifully written. As I said I love her!
But this story isn't just about Sam. It's also the other characters that come into her life and change her for the better. The Muirs, Kyle, Father John, Ashley, Debbie, and Alex have a huge impact on Sam and I love them all dearly. I understood them, even when there was little interaction as Sam is writing about them to Mr. Knightley. It's clear to the reader that these people care about her even when it isn't clear to Sam. And it is reading Sam's transformation as she sees what she has when it's been so clear to the reader that makes this a truly unique, heart-warming story.
Each chapter in this book, save the last one, is written as a letter, all to the mysterious Mr. Knightley (save a few written back to her or to his assistant). Truly it's a unique way of writing a book and reminds me of one of my favorites [b:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|2728527|The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|Mary Ann Shaffer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351979318s/2728527.jpg|2754161]. The story is unique and unfolds over two years as Sam starts her master's training and eventually graduates. The author infuses some Christian values throughout the story and we see the subtle changes this makes in Sam's life. I loved every word and will most likely read it again and again! If you enjoy clean contemporary women's literature, Jane Austen (because this is a bit of fan fic), or just a good feel-good story I highly recommend you get this book...but be sure to bring the tissues, you'll probably need them!
Gif to Sum It Up:
I fell in love with Sam from the moment she wrote her first letter. It's clear that even as an adult her problems have followed her: nightmares from her childhood, trust issues, insecurity, lack of self-worth. But she is so much more. She's smart, loves books (specifically Jane Austen :D ) and is a bit naive to the way the world really works. Growing up without a family, shutting herself off from making real friends has hindered her, but this story is about discovering oneself and making lasting connections. The turn around of Sam from the start of the book to its end is poignant and beautifully written. As I said I love her!
But this story isn't just about Sam. It's also the other characters that come into her life and change her for the better. The Muirs, Kyle, Father John, Ashley, Debbie, and Alex have a huge impact on Sam and I love them all dearly. I understood them, even when there was little interaction as Sam is writing about them to Mr. Knightley. It's clear to the reader that these people care about her even when it isn't clear to Sam. And it is reading Sam's transformation as she sees what she has when it's been so clear to the reader that makes this a truly unique, heart-warming story.
Each chapter in this book, save the last one, is written as a letter, all to the mysterious Mr. Knightley (save a few written back to her or to his assistant). Truly it's a unique way of writing a book and reminds me of one of my favorites [b:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|2728527|The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|Mary Ann Shaffer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351979318s/2728527.jpg|2754161]. The story is unique and unfolds over two years as Sam starts her master's training and eventually graduates. The author infuses some Christian values throughout the story and we see the subtle changes this makes in Sam's life. I loved every word and will most likely read it again and again! If you enjoy clean contemporary women's literature, Jane Austen (because this is a bit of fan fic), or just a good feel-good story I highly recommend you get this book...but be sure to bring the tissues, you'll probably need them!
Gif to Sum It Up: