It's Monday, What Are You Reading (74)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I always enjoy seeing what other people have read and reviewed over the past week. It is also a great way to find new books to add to that ever-growing TBR list!

Books read:

Heartless by Gail Carriger

I enjoyed this latest book in the Parasol Protectorate series though I didn't think it was as good as the previous books. Still, it was entertaining and I liked learning more about the history of various characters.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

I was worried that I would not like this book though I am a fan of Dessen. Her books tend to be similar. Thankfully there were enough differences in the story that similarities in character personalities didn't bother me. I definitely liked this one more than Along For the Ride.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns in the UK) is one of my favorites that I've read so far this year. It is a book that I might not have picked up if I hadn't seen it in NetGalley and read YA author Zoe Marriott's excellent review. I love that the main character is POC. I think this is the first YA fantasy that I've read with a Latina protagonist. I will definitely buy a finished copy this September!

Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger

Jazz in Love reminded me a little of the movie Bend It Like Beckham. This was a fun book but definitely not as good as Shine, Coconut Moon. I had some issues with the romance and Jazz got on my nerves at times with her bad decisions though she meant well most of the time. 

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles

This book is quite different from Perfect Chemistry. While Amy could be selfish and annoying, I liked reading about her adventures in Israel. She did grow on me and the book is quite funny. 

Books reviewed:

The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Currently reading:

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I've already read this series but that was a couple of years ago so I thought it would be fun to reread them. Actually I ran out of reading material while visiting my parents and this is one of the few selections at Wal-Mart that I wanted to own. The Lightning Thief is just as much fun the second time around and I wish I hadn't waited so long to reread it. It is definitely better than the movie!

What I plan to read next:

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I really liked Raised By Wolves when I read it earlier this year. It is currently my favorite werewolf book so I am looking forward to this sequel and hoping it will be just as good.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

When I read Heist Society last year, I thought that the book was similar to Ocean's Eleven. This one sounds kind of like Ocean's Twelve (the con artists get conned). I have a feeling this will be a fun book though not as good as the Gallagher Girls series. Wish we didn't have to wait so long for Out of Sight, Out of Time.

Ruby Red by Kersten Gier

I am eager to dive into this time travel story. Plus I love the cover. Hope the story will be just as lovely :)

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

I am reading this for a blog tour. I really enjoy this author's historical fiction books set during WWII and this is the final book in the Wings of Glory series. 

Review: Always a Witch

Always a Witch

By Carolyn MacCullough

Publication date: July 11, 2011

My review:

In this sequel to Once a Witch, Tamsin Greene must travel back in time to save her family. Their enemy Alistair Knight has somehow found a way to Travel to 19th Century New York to destroy the Greenes. In an effort to stop Alistair, Tamsin takes a dangerous job as a maid with the Knight family which places her squarely in the sights of evil Liam Knight. According to a prophecy, Tamsin will be forced to make a terrible choice. Will Tamsin prove to be the savior of the Greene family or will she lose everyone she loves?  

In some ways I liked Always a Witch more than Once a Witch. For one thing, Tamsin isn't moping about her lack of Talent. I also enjoyed the historical setting of New York in the 1800s. With these exceptions however I think Once a Witch is the better book. One thing I missed in the sequel is the humor. Always a Witch is a much darker book. I don't mind that but I liked the humor in Once a Witch. As far as the villains go, I thought Alistair Knight was bad but his ancestors are even more vile. Liam Knight and his mother La Spider are truly horrible people, which makes them candidates for great villains. Unfortunately we don't really get to know them as characters or understand their motivations. Likewise we don't get to see why Jessica Knight behaves the way she does. Another disappointment is the romance. Gabriel isn't around for much of the book and his relationship with Tamsin is lacking in chemistry.

My overall feeling about this book is that everything is on the surface and the story is rushed. There are some creepy moments but I felt disappointed by the lack of development for the villains. It also didn't make sense that Tamsin fit into that time period so easily. How could she know all the things she'd need to know to be believable?  I did like the ending and how the crisis was resolved but if there is a third book in the series I am not sure that I will read it. Always a Witch would have been a better novel if it wasn't so rushed and more time was allowed for character development. 

Readalikes (I consider these to be better books than Always a Witch but they are similar in subject): 

Gateway by Sharon Shinn, Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle, The Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink, The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell, The Glass series by Maria V. Snyder

Note: I received an ARC of this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review

Review: The Girl in the Garden

The Girl in the Garden

By Kamala Nair

Publication date: June 15, 2011

My review:

Rakhee Singh postpones her engagement so that she can deal with family issues from her childhood before moving forward in her life. This means heading back to India to face the secrets of her past. The summer that Rakhee turned eleven, her mom took her to India to visit relatives for the summer. This is a fish out of water experience for Rakhee but she comes to enjoy her time there particularly because of her cousin Krishna and even Krishna's bossy older sister Meenu. The girls have fun playing but are warned to stay away from the jungle and the monster that lives there. Rakhee having been raised in America does not believe in the superstitions that her Indian family has so she questions their explanation until one day she stumbles upon a garden and finds out the truth.

While this book has drawn comparisons to The Secret Garden (it does have a secret garden after all) this story is darker and the protagonist more likeable than Mary. Rakhee is an inquisitive girl and she notices everything around her. She senses that something is wrong with her mother and she is highly attuned to her behavior. She also notices the menace that seems to emanate from the villain of the story and the secrets that the adults are hiding. Her cousins on the other hand are quite happy to take the adults' explanations at face value. Rakhee's arrival stirs up all kinds of trouble as she asks questions no one wants to answer. Her American values set her apart from her traditional family and the author does an excellent job of portraying just how foreign everything feels to Rakhee. 

The Girl in the Garden is the kind of book that draws the reader into the story. The descriptions of Rakhee's experience in India from the people she meets and the foods she eats to the garden itself are beautiful and added to my enjoyment of the novel. However there is a darkness to the story with the family secrets, a forced arranged marriage, Rakhee's mom and her mental health, and her parents' marital woes. While I was able to figure out some of the secrets, I was still surprised by some of the revelations. The one thing that disappointed me about this book is that I thought we'd see more of Rakhee as an adult given the way that the book starts with her leaving her fiance to confront her past. I like that most of the novel focuses on that childhood summer in India but the ending doesn't really show that the adult Rakhee has grown or changed. Perhaps it is more realistic that way. It does show that she is taking the first steps toward making peace with her mom. I think this is an excellent debut novel and I can't wait to see what Kamala Nair writes next. 

Readalikes: Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami, The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

Note: I received an ARC of this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review

Waiting on Wednesday (63)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I'm waiting on:

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Publication date: February 14, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

I am interested in reading this book (though I hate the cover) because as a kid I loved the character of Robin Hood, especially in the Disney animated version where Robin is a fox. Also I think the story sounds promising and reminds me of books by Celia Rees. Historical adventure novel? Sign me up!

Teaser Tuesdays (59)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read 

Open to a random page 

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser 1:

"I almost stab him right then. What would this man know of God's will? He is insane, hardly human with his wild eyes and predatory hunger. My hands shake with rage, though I'm not sure who it's directed at."

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Chapter 21

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do. 

This is a fantastic debut novel. The picture is from the UK cover, which I prefer to the U.S. one (it is also the one that the author likes and she said that is how she pictures Elisa to look).

Teaser 2:

"Alexia named the gun Ethel. She could hit the Woolsey pot shed at six paces if she concentrated, but anything smaller or farther away was rather beyond her skill level. This didn't stop her from carrying Ethel, usually inside a reticule made to match her gown."

Heartless by Gail Carriger

p.20

Heartless is the fourth book in this fun and humorous series. In that particular scene, Alexia's coach is being attacked by mechanical "zombie" porcupines.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (73)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I always enjoy seeing what other people have read and reviewed over the past week. It is also a great way to find new books to add to that ever-growing TBR list!


This was a rough week for me because of things at work and some minor health issues (I am feeling much better now) but I am glad it is the weekend. I am visiting my parents this week and I only brought one library book and my Kindle so my reading choices are somewhat limited. Plus they are returning from their trip to India and Sri Lanka for the past 3 weeks so we'll have some catching up to do and I won't want to spend that time reading :)

Books read:

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

I was a little disappointed with this ending to the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. It did get better towards the last half of the book but it could have been so much better.

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

This book was an okay read for me. In some ways I liked it more than Once a Witch (Tamsin wasn't moping about her lack of talent and I liked the historical setting) but it still didn't live up to its potential. There are some interesting villains here but we don't even get to know them.

Overbite by Meg Cabot

This sequel is darker than Insatiable. I did miss the humor from the first book. What I did like was that Mina has more common sense this time around. She still has some maturing to do though but the book ends hopefully.

Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie Review

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Dolci di Love by Sarah-Kate Lynch

Currently reading:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I prefer this UK cover of the book. Author Rae Carson said that this is how she pictures Elisa. For those of you who don't know, this debut YA fantasy features a POC heroine and all main characters are POC. The fantasy world appears to be inspired by South America. The picture makes her look like she is a Bedouin princess but that is just from a particular part of the book where she is traveling in the desert.

What I plan to read next:

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

As a Sarah Dessen fan I am looking forward to reading this book. I have noticed that her characters are all very similar though.

Heartless by Gail Carriger

I simply can't get enough of this series! I know that once I finish it, there will be a long wait for Timeless.

Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger

I loved Shine, Coconut Moon which makes me even more eager to start this one. I like how Neesha Meminger combines humorous writing with important subject matter for an entertaining book that still makes you think.

What have you been reading and what is on your agenda for this week?

Review: Dolci di Love

Dolci di Love

By Sarah-Kate Lynch

Publication date: March 29, 2011

My review:

When Lily Turner finds evidence of her husband's secret life (a girlfriend and two children) in his golf shoe, she  has a little too much wine and decides to take a trip to Italy to see her husband without thinking it through. Brokenhearted, she somehow crosses paths with the League of Widowed Darners, a group of elderly women who make it their mission to mend hearts. With the help of these well meaning meddlers, Lily may find the peace and answers she seeks.

Lily is an uptight character who has suffered her share of sorrows from dealing with an alcoholic mother to failed attempts to have children of her own and now a cheating husband. She may have flaws (like drinking too much) but she is a character that draws the reader's sympathy. Even her husband Daniel is more than just a cheating cad. The author could easily have turned him and the mistress into villains but she did not. Instead there is some depth to his character and I could even feel sorry for him a little. My favorite characters by far are the widows because they add so much humor and fun to the story. I liked the idea of their league and how they tried to help people even when they are sometimes misguided.

Dolci di Love is a surprisingly upbeat book given how the story begins with Lily's painful discovery. The descriptions of Tuscany, the food, and eccentric characters make for a more enjoyable reading experience. I was surprised a little bit by the direction the love story takes. While the unrealistic ending feels like a Hallmark movie this novel has some charm particularly due to its setting and the secondary characters. I still liked it in spite of its flaws, something that could be said of the characters as well. If you enjoy reading about Italy or are a fan of films like Under the Tuscan Sun and Letters From Juliet you might like Dolci di Love.

Readalikes: Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen, The Violets of March by Sarah Jio, Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook

Review: Forever

Forever

By Maggie Stiefvater

Publication date: July 12, 2011

My review:

In this conclusion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Sam and Grace are still trying to find a way to be together in spite of overwhelming odds. Cole is racing to find a cure and Isabel's father is desperate to eliminate the wolves, using his considerable political clout to do so. Meanwhile a dead body is found in Boundary Wood with signs that it was attacked by wolves. Time is running out for everyone...

Maggie Stiefvater's writing is beautiful as always. Whether it is poetry, song lyrics, or description, she really knows how to set the scene. In Shiver, she did a particularly good job of making the reader feel the cold that causes the wolves to shift by her descriptive imagery. In Linger she used music to good effect to reflect the mood of the characters. In Forever she uses lyrics and poetry again to capture what the characters are going through. 

Just as in Linger, the chapters once again alternate between the viewpoints of Grace, Sam, Cole, and Isabel. Cole and Isabel have served as a foil for Sam and Grace since the second book. Here though they aren't officially in a relationship they become the more likeable couple as they work together to save the wolves. Sam and Grace kind of descend into Edward and Bella territory with their "forever love" which annoyed me. I think they are too similar to each other. Their relationship reminds me of the relationship between Bingley and Jane from Pride and Prejudice. It is sickeningly sweet at times and I preferred reading about Isabel and Cole instead which is ironic considering how I wished they were not so much of a focus in Linger. There are some nice moments of character growth especially for Sam and Cole. I liked how Sam was able to face his fears and feelings about what happened to him as a boy. I also enjoyed seeing Cole fulfill some of his potential. He improves a little bit as a character. Even Grace grows up in the way she stands up for herself with her parents though she has a long way to go.   

For some reason, I found this book to be a slower pace than Linger. At one point I was ready to give up on the story, feeling that I didn't care anymore about what was going to happen to the characters. The pacing is uneven. Once the action of the story gets under way it does get better but the first part of the book is so slow and at times Sam and Grace seem to need a jolt of adrenaline. Isabel echoes this complaint when she gets angry at them because they don't appear to be worried about the threat to the wolves. Sam is a very laid back character and he sometimes tends to bury his head in the sand. I could really relate to Isabel's frustration with Sam and Grace and their inaction. Thankfully they do finally decide to do something about the situation with the wolves. 

Forever does have an open ending but this will not bother everyone. For some it will be an echo of real life but for others it will feel like a letdown because of the lack of closure. I did not need to know everything that happens but I did want some closure to the story after hanging in there through the boring parts. This is the first time that I have ever compared Breaking Dawn favorably to another book. I thought the pacing was better in Breaking Dawn and though the ending was so neatly wrapped up at least there was closure! Overall I thought Forever was a good book but it could have been so much better. Maggie Stiefvater is a talented writer and perhaps I just expect more from her because I know she is capable of it.

Readalikes: The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint by Bree Despain, The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, 13 to Life by Shannon Delany, Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin, Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Note: I received an ARC of Forever as part of a blog tour courtesy of I Read Banned Books.

Waiting on Wednesday (62)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I'm waiting on:

Legend by Marie Lu

Publication date: November 29, 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

I am excited about this one because it reminds me of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesdays (58)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read 

Open to a random page 

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser 1:

"Grace, I thought, closing my eyes. Please remember who I am. I opened my eyes. She was gone."

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

p. 112

While I love Maggie Stiefvater's writing style I have been struggling to get through this final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. The pacing is very slow for what should be a thrilling conclusion. I think I had issues with the pacing when reading Linger too.

Teaser 2:

"I swallow and try to smile, but my stomach is roiling, although this time it's not from hunger. Alistair will come here again. Somehow I have to stop him."

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

p.91

I think I like this sequel to Once A Witch even more than the first book. I like that the time travel aspect plays a bigger part and most of the book so far has been set in 19th Century New York.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two Movie Review

After years of waiting the final Harry Potter movie was released last week and I was able to watch it Sunday morning.  I did not watch the movie in 3D and I've heard that it is actually better in 2D because the film is visually dark. I wasn't sure if the movie would end up doing the book justice but I was really pleased with it. There were some truly emotional moments, especially with Alan Rickman's portrayal of Snape. I could hear people in the audience sniffling and I was blinking back tears myself. I also loved Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of Hermione as Bellatrix in the Gringotts scenes. She really captured Hermione's expressions and character. There were some parts that I thought could have been much better (the King's Cross scene disappointed me as well as the Dumbledore storyline) but overall I thought it was a fantastic way to end the films. I liked the special effects but it was the emotional scenes that made the movie a winner for me. It is the end of a journey in a way and I am sad to say goodbye to these characters again though I am looking forward to the Blu-ray to see if there are any deleted/extended scenes. 

Have you seen the final film? What did you think of it? Did it meet your expectations?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (72)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I always enjoy seeing what other people have read and reviewed over the past week. It is also a great way to find new books to add to that ever-growing TBR list!

Books finished:

The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair

The Girl in the Garden was such a beautifully written book. I really identified with Rakhee and liked unraveling the secrets surrounding the garden and her family's past.

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire made me laugh out loud quite often and kept me entertained though it is a long book. Rick Riordan is certainly one of my favorite YA authors now. It is rather funny that if it wasn't for the Percy Jackson movie (which I was disappointed with), I wouldn't have read the books but if I'd watched the movie first, I probably would have skipped the books. Now I love all of his mythology-based books. I am currently trying to get my sister to give either this series or the Percy Jackson series a try. No success yet.

Books reviewed:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Currently reading:

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Ugh. While this is not as disappointing as Breaking Dawn at least that series finale seemed to have better pacing. This is kind of plodding. I kind of don't care anymore what happens to Sam, Grace, and company. Maybe vampires need to move to Mercy Falls and liven things up. I will keep reading because it is for review but it won't be fun. Maybe things will get better if I keep reading... 

Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

I liked Once a Witch when I read it in 2009 but it seems too long ago and I've forgotten what happened. Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of recap. I do own the first book so I may end up having to dig it out for a refresher.

What I might read next:

Eon by Alison Goodman

I loved this when I originally read it and I started rereading it a few months ago but put it aside to get to library and review books. Now I want to pick it up again so I can get to the sequel.

Eona by Alison Goodman

I read a review of this one last week and now I want to read it even more. I've had my copy since April but because I wanted to reread Eon first I have put off reading this. 

Overbite by Meg Cabot

I liked Insatiable though I did have some issues with Mina's romantic relationship. I kind of thought the guy was a jerk. I hope she has learned her lesson this time and look forward to reading about her new adventurous career.

Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I was surprised by how much I liked Raised By Wolves so I am excited to give this sequel a try. So far all the reviews I've read are positive. Bryn is a great character and I can't wait to read more about her.

That is what my reading plan looks like for the week.


What have you been reading lately?