Waiting on Wednesday (66)

"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:

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Publication date: March 20, 2012

Synopsis:

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, her memory is a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and dirt under her nails. All she wants is to go home. But even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers as Cammie and her friends face their most difficult challenge yet. With only their training and a few clues to guide them, the girls go in search of answers on the other side of the world. But the Circle is hot on their trail and will stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

I love this series and I have been waiting for the sequel to Only The Good Spy Young for what feels like forever. :)

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesdays (62)

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:


"Jill looked at me, face grim and eyes wide with fear. 'It's Adrian. You have to rescue him.'"

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

p. 197

I was concerned that I wouldn't like this book because it featured Sydney as a main character but I shouldn't have worried. This spin-off of the Vampire Academy series is fantastic so far! I'm having trouble putting it down to do less important things like eating and sleeping...

Teaser 2:

"Long ago, I believed that, given a choice, people would turn to good as they would to the light. I believed that reporting-honest, unflinching pictures of the truth-could be a beacon to lead us to demand that wrongs be righted, injustices punished, and the weak and the innocent cared for. I must have believed, when I started out, that the shoulder of public opinion could be put up against the door of public indifference and would, when given the proper direction, shove it wide with the power of wanting to stand on the side of angels."

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

p. 3

I'm still on the first chapter of this book (blame it on Bloodlines) but I like the writing style. I have heard that it takes awhile to get into the story so I am prepared to be patient. 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (77)

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 past week I didn't have as much time to read or write reviews.  With the long weekend ahead I may be able to read more this week. 


Tuesday is the first meeting of the new book discussion group I'm starting at the library. I am excited and hope there is a good turnout. We will be deciding which book to read for September (either Someone Knows My Name by Laurence Hill or Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok) and coming up with books for October.

Books read:

Jane by April Lindner

This was a creative modern retelling of Jane Eyre (ignore the historical looking cover) and I liked it though it did have a few flaws.  

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

At first I didn't think I'd be able to get into this book but I ended up enjoying it as much as Raised By Wolves. I like it when there are surprises that I don't see coming! 

Books reviewed:

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

Currently reading:

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I have been wanting to read The Postmistress ever since I saw a picture of it in a review magazine.  It has also received many positive reviews and I like it so far, Iris especially. 

What I might read next:

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

I really want to read this soon so I will make sure I get to it this week. I like that it is a YA book that tackles issues of religious beliefs.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

I have heard good and bad things about this book so I am interested in finding out for myself. I like that the main character is a librarian and from the excerpt I read, I know it references a lot of children's books. 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I decided to buy this book after reading an excerpt of it. At first I wasn't even sure I wanted to read it but now I think I will enjoy it even if it isn't as good as the Vampire Academy series.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

I realized that I've had this book since June and I still haven't read it yet! I hope I will get to it this week.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

My cousin's wife told me that this was an excellent book so I was thrilled when I found a copy available on the shelf at my library. It sounds like my kind of book and might make a good future pick for my book discussion group.

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

I am super excited to read this Cinderella based fantasy but I've kept putting it off because of my massive TBR pile. I may not get to it this week but hopefully I'll be able to read it soon. It sounds amazing and I've enjoyed Zoe's other fantasy novels.

In My Mailbox (60)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.


This week I checked out a bunch of "book club" books from the library, downloaded some YA galleys from GalleyGrab and bought Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. I am excited about In The Sea There Are Crocodiles especially since it is based on a true story. I am also looking forward to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Kitchen Daughter which were both highly recommended.

For review:

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Courtesy of Simon and Schuster Galley Grab

Purchased:

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

From the library:

In the Sea There Are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Review: The Other Countess

The Other Countess

By Eve Edwards

Publication date: July 12, 2011

My review:

Ellie Hutton may hold a grand title (Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime) but it is worthless. She is also penniless thanks to her father's addiction to alchemy. It has led to his ruin as well as that of his patron, the late Earl of Dorset. After Dorset's death, Ellie and her father are thrown out on their ears by the new Earl of Dorset, William Lacey. Will hates Arthur Hutton and blames him for his father's death and the family's dire financial situation. He also doesn't think much of the alchemist's daughter. Years later they meet again when Ellie is at Queen Elizabeth's court. Will is there to find a wealthy bride to save his family but when he meets Ellie he is drawn to her without realizing her true identity. 

Ellie is a Cinderella-like character. She lost her mother at an early age and while her father isn't mean to her, he is rather neglectful. His addiction to alchemy comes before everything including Ellie's welfare. He is oblivious also to how others perceive him. Ellie has had to put up with a lot of heartache and things are made worse during her first encounter with Will Lacey as he is kicking them off his estate. Thankfully for Ellie, she may have horrid relatives but she is a smart and resourceful girl. She isn't perfect and she doesn't see her true worth but she is brave and determined. I also liked that she stays true to her time period. Sometimes historical characters are given modern sensibilities to the point that the story rings false. That was not the case here. Ellie's life is bound by the rules of 16th century England so she can't just leave her dad and provide for herself. 


Will is definitely a flawed hero. He has a serious issue with unforgiveness and he unfairly accuses Ellie of low morals among other things. At the same time he cares for the welfare of his mother and siblings. He is aware of his duty to provide for his family and save their estate. He believes this can only be accomplished by marrying a wealthy woman. It wouldn't be a problem if he hadn't fallen for the poverty stricken Ellie. Further complicating the situation is the identity of Ellie's father . Will's reluctant bride to be is Lady Jane Perceval, a wealthy pawn in her family's schemes. Jane could have been written as a horrible person but instead the author gives her redemptive qualities. 


 The Other Countess is a historical romance that would appeal to adults as well as teens. In some ways it reminds me of something Philippa Gregory or Robin Maxwell would write for the YA market. It is relatively clean but the innuendo and chemistry between the characters adds heat to the romance. There is historical detail about clothing, customs, life at court, historical figures, politics, and religion but it does not overwhelm the story. The romance takes center stage. Overall I was really pleased with The Other Countess. It is a good blend of historical fiction and romance with characters that readers could care about. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, The Queen's Lady. If you enjoy historical romance and Tudor fiction, consider adding The Other Countess to your TBR list.


Readalikes: Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein, A Sweet Disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov, The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley, The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby




Note: I received an ARC from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review

Review: Juliet Immortal

Juliet Immortal

By Stacey Jay

Publication date: August 9, 2011

My review:

Juliet and Romeo's tragic love story was made famous by Shakespeare's play. In this reimagining, Juliet was killed by Romeo in exchange for immortality. She too was granted immortality by the Ambassadors of Light to help them defeat Romeo and his masters in their quest to destroy love. For centuries, Juliet has been reborn to protect soul mates even as Romeo seeks to tear them apart and lead them to tragic ends. Now Juliet has fallen in love with one of the soul mates she is supposed to protect even as Romeo tries to convince her that the Ambassadors of Light aren't as pure of heart as they seem and that if she can love him again they will both be set free. 

Juliet Immortal has an interesting premise with the idea that Romeo is a villain. In this rebirth, Juliet is temporarily living the life of Ariel, a girl who was injured in a car accident while on a bad date. Romeo of course, takes over the corpse of the bad date. While running from Romeo, Juliet/Ariel is rescued by Ben. She finds him attractive but to her horror, it turns out that he is one of the people she is supposed to protect and his soul mate is Ariel's best friend Gemma.This forbidden love along with the battle between the Ambassadors of Light and Romeo's dark Mercenary masters makes up the main plot. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Ambassadors of Light and the Mercenaries but the questions aren't all answered. It just seems to be a convenient plot device at times. 

Some of the characters are not exactly likeable at first. I did feel sorry for Ariel and I liked how Juliet was able to provide an outsider's perspective on Ariel's life and relationship with her mom and best friend. She also made things better for Ariel in a way. Juliet doesn't seem to have learned much from her past mistakes with Romeo. She quickly falls for Ben and at one point realizes that she has known Ben for less time than she knew Romeo before marrying him. What I did like about Juliet was how she tried to help people. She had quite a bit of unforgiveness in her heart towards Romeo which is understandable and made her a more realistic character. At first I couldn't stand Romeo but he turned out to have some unexpected good aspects to his character. Ben didn't have a lot of depth but he did remind me of Alex Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry and I did like his character and root for his relationship with Juliet. Gemma, the other major character, can be really horrible at times but then she also has some kindness in her. I liked that she was neither good or bad though she should have been a better friend to Ariel.

Overall I thought that Juliet Immortal was a creative idea and the chemistry between Ben and Juliet was good but the book fell a little short of the mark at times especially where the Ambassadors of Light/Mercenaries are concerned. I did find it to be a page turner and the descriptions kind of added to that feeling of suspense/horror. I also think the book ended well though one little twist was not unexpected to me. With its flaws it still offered some deeper ideas about friendship, family relationships, forgiveness, and love. Purist fans of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet might not like this but those who read the play and were not fans of Romeo might find it an enjoyable spin. The romance might also appeal to fans of Simone Elkeles. As far as retellings of Romeo and Juliet go, I prefer Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors. Juliet Immortal is a good book but it could have been a little better. 

Readalikes: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (because of the forbidden love and similarities between Alex Fuentes and Ben), Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly is a much better book but there is a similarity in the way Juliet has a purpose in saving/helping people), The Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

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

Waiting on Wednesday (65)

"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:

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Publication date: April 8, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A paranormal mystery involving London’s most notorious killer

In 1888, following her mother’s sudden death, seventeen-year-old Arabella Sharp goes to live with her grandmother in a posh London neighborhood. At her grandmother’s request, Abbie volunteers at Whitechapel Hospital, where she discovers a passion for helping the unfortunate women and children there.

But within days, female patients begin turning up brutally murdered at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Even more horrifying, Abbie starts having strange visions that lead her straight to the Ripper’s next massacres. As her apparent psychic connection with the twisted killer grows stronger, Abbie is drawn into a deadly mystery involving the murders, her mother’s shadowed past, and a secret brotherhood of immortals—who’ll stop at nothing to lure Abbie into its “humanitarian” aims.

I really want to read this one not only because I am fascinated by the Jack the Ripper killings and like the setting/time period but because I know the author. We were were friends years ago in college and even back then Amy had a talent for writing and a love of history.  I read her early work and it was pretty good (for one of our history classes she wrote an Elizabethan murder mystery). I was thrilled to find out she'd written a book and I can't wait to read Ripper next year!

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesdays (61)

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!

My teasers:

"For a moment, I felt the warmth of his body and the strength of his arms clasped around me. When he released me I took a step back so I could see him better. 'If anyone had to save my life, I'm glad it was you.' His eyes were softer, darker than I'd seen them before."

Jane by April Lindner

p. 108 (ARC)

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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, an iconic 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. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.

Part irresistible romance and part darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.


Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classics. So far I find this to be an excellent and creative retelling.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (76)

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!


I didn't have a What Are You Reading post last week since I was on vacation in Canada so this week's post is for two week's worth of books.

Books read:

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

I thought this was a moving story most of the time but it does have some flaws. I think it would appeal to fans of If I Stay or Sarah Dessen's books.

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

I was surprised that I liked Vanish. Unfortunately there was a love quadrangle (Jacinda loves Will, Cassian loves Jacinda, Tamra loves Cassian, and oh, yeah suddenly Jacinda is kissing Cassian too) but the story improved by the end and left us with another cliffhanger.  I will likely read the next book but hopefully it will end well.

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad

This book kind of annoyed me because although there is a good message, the characters are irritating. 

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

I love to read historical fiction set during the Tudor period and I was pleased with The Other Countess though it focuses more on the romance than history.  I think this would appeal to fans of Philippa Gregory though it is pretty tame in comparison. 

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

This was a good finish to the Wings of Glory series. I didn't like it as much as the other two books but it was still entertaining and interesting to read about WWII, fighter pilots, and what was happening on the home front during the war.

Stay by Allie Larkin

This was a cute and funny story that would make a good romantic comedy film for someone like Katherine Heigl. It actually reminded me a little of 27 Dresses, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Must Love Dogs (the film).

Currently reading:

Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

We'll see if I can get through Trial By Fire this week. I started reading it before I went on vacation and decided I didn't want to take any library books with me to Canada just in case. So far though I really liked Raised By Wolves, I am struggling to get into this book. To be fair I am only on the first chapter so maybe it will pick up soon. 

What I plan to read next:

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I have heard that this is excellent and I think it would make a good book discussion pick. I also love reading about the time period and the cover is so pretty.

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

I have heard mostly good things about Small Town Sinners and I'm eager to read it for myself.

Jane by April Lindner

This has been sitting on my bookshelf unread since last year. Last night I watched the new version of Jane Eyre on DVD and decided the time has come to finally read Jane. I can't wait! Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books so I am interested in seeing how a modern twist will work.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

I want to read this one soon since it came out in June. Hopefully I won't need to reread Heist Society first. Ally Carter's books are so much fun but the one I really want to read is Out of Sight, Out of Time.

So that's what my reading week looks like. 

What have you been reading and what are you planning to read next?

Oh, and another question: I am looking for book recommendations for my new book discussion group. Any suggestions?