Review: The Kiss of Deception

The Kiss of Deception

By Mary E. Pearson

Published: July 15, 2014

In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assasin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

My review:

Lia (formally known as Princess Arabella) is being forced to wed the Prince of Dalbreck to cement peace between their kingdoms. On the day of her wedding after going through the painstaking process of having a wedding kavah tattooed on her back (like a henna tattoo but a little more painful), she has the chance to escape with the help of her maid Pauline. The two end up in the town of Terravin where Pauline's aunt has a tavern. Soon Lia is working as a barmaid and no one would recognize her as a princess...except for two young men who show up one day. Rafe and Kaden are attractive and attentive but one is an assassin and one is secretly the prince she was meant to marry. 

I liked Lia as a protagonist. I felt bad for her because of her relationship with her dad and the way his advisers treat her. She is also expected to have an arranged marriage while her brothers can marry for love which is pretty unfair. At the same time her decision to run jeopardizes the safety of her country, something she doesn't seem to realize at the time. I also liked how she treated Pauline like an equal and wasn't afraid of hard work. 

I don't want to say too much about Rafe and Kaden so I don't give away their identities. I didn't like how Lia seemed so instantly attracted to both of them and the way she was so trusting of them. It was easy for me to figure out which character was the killer and which was the prince but that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book too much. I also appreciated that while there was a suggestion of a love triangle it was resolved by the end and hopefully it will stay that way in the sequel. 

The description of this book places a lot of emphasis on romance and while there is some romance and attraction between characters, this is still a fantasy novel with some worldbuilding, politics and some magic (the "gift" of First Daughters). There is even a prophecy and a mysterious and ancient book that Lia stole before she left Morrighan, written in a language she doesn't recognize. There are a few different cultures mentioned in the book: the Morrighese (Lia's people), the people of Dalbreck (though we don't get to know as much about them), the "barbaric" Vendans and the gypsy like vagabond camp. The political situation between the kingdoms is explored lightly but we may see more in the next book. 

Lia believes that she doesn't have the gift that First Daughters are supposed to have. Her own mother lost her gift and hasn't forseen anything in years. Now that she is on her own however she starts to hear or sense things that may or may not be the gift. It seems to be kind of a premonition or feeling about danger or something happening. At least that's how it is for Lia. The book explains a little bit about the gift and the history of the gift and hopefully we'll find out more in the next book. Aside from the gift there isn't any other sign of "magic" or fantastical creatures. It gives the book an almost historical feel instead.

The first part of the book is something of an adventure story with Lia escaping her wedding and hiding out in Terravin. It is more lighthearted as Lia learns how to be a tavern maid and also has some romantic possibilities. There are a few darker moments too as we are introduced to the assassin and other problems Lia faces. The second part of the book is more action packed and sets up the sequel. The cliffhanger ending left me anxious for the next book, The Heart of Betrayal. It is a good debut though I hope to gain a better understanding of the conflict between the kingdoms, the "gift" and the prophecy as the trilogy progresses. I think readers who enjoy fantasy, historical fiction and some romance would like The Kiss of Deception. 

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley

Waiting on Wednesday (162)

"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:

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

Release date: August 4, 2015

Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in this story of a wisecracking girl who meets a weird but brilliant boy and their roller-coaster of a semester that’s one part awkward, three parts thrilling, and five parts awesome

When Philip Digby first shows up on her doorstep, Zoe Webster is not impressed. He's rude and he treats her like a book he's already read and knows the ending to. But before she knows it, Digby--annoying, brilliant and somehow attractive?--has dragged her into a series of hilarious and dangerous situations all related to an investigation into the kidnapping of a local teenage girl. A kidnapping that may be connected to the tragic disappearance of his own sister eight years ago.

When it comes to Digby, Zoe just can't say no. Digby gets her, even though she barely gets herself. But is Digby a hero, or is his manic quest an indication of a desperate attempt to repair his broken family and exercise his own obsessive compulsive tendencies? 

A romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a crime novel where catching the crook isn't the only hook, a friendship story where they aren't even sure they like each other--this is a contemporary debut with razor-sharp dialogue, ridiculously funny action, and the most charismatic dynamic duo you've ever met.

So this book has a lot to live up to if it wants to be "Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Beuller's Day Off" but the reviews I've read by Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal were pretty positive so I'm willing to give it a try!

Review: When the Moon is Low

When the Moon is Low

By Nadia Hashimi

Published: July 21, 2015

Mahmoud's passion for his wife Fereiba, a schoolteacher, is greater than any love she's ever known. But their happy, middle-class world—a life of education, work, and comfort—implodes when their country is engulfed in war, and the Taliban rises to power.

Mahmoud, a civil engineer, becomes a target of the new fundamentalist regime and is murdered. Forced to flee Kabul with her three children, Fereiba has one hope to survive: she must find a way to cross Europe and reach her sister's family in England. With forged papers and help from kind strangers they meet along the way, Fereiba make a dangerous crossing into Iran under cover of darkness. Exhausted and brokenhearted but undefeated, Fereiba manages to smuggle them as far as Greece. But in a busy market square, their fate takes a frightening turn when her teenage son, Saleem, becomes separated from the rest of the family.

Faced with an impossible choice, Fereiba pushes on with her daughter and baby, while Saleem falls into the shadowy underground network of undocumented Afghans who haunt the streets of Europe's capitals. Across the continent Fereiba and Saleem struggle to reunite, and ultimately find a place where they can begin to reconstruct their lives.

My review:

I loved The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, Nadia Hashimi's debut novel. It was my favorite book published in 2014 so I had high hopes for her sophomore effort and for the most part I was not disappointed.

The story begins with Fereiba as a young motherless girl, a fact that her stepmother never lets her forget. At times it is like she is Cinderella as she toils away while her older brother and younger half sisters go to school. Fereiba is intelligent however and eventually she is allowed to attend school herself though she is several years older than the other girls in her class. She quickly advances earning the admiration of her father. Her future plans come to an end when a marriage is arranged for her. Not to the neighbor boy she has fallen for but to his cousin Mahmoud. Thankfully Fereiba's mother in law is a wonderful woman who makes her feel at home and Mahmoud is a kind and intelligent young man and the two eventually fall in love.

With the rise of the Taliban, trouble enters the picture. Most of Fereiba's family have already fled Afghanistan including one of her sisters who is now in England. When the worst happens, Fereiba realizes that she has to get herself and her three children to safety even though they don't have legal documents. The narrative continues in the alternating voices of Fereiba and Saleem as they travel from Afghanistan to Iran, Turkey, and Europe, hoping to make it to England. 

I loved Fereiba's story. I felt sympathy for her from her earliest days and triumph when she succeeded in school. I think that was my favorite part of the story although I found their journey to be riveting as well. It was just easier to connect with Fereiba as a character then before things started to speed up in the plot. I think the story rushed through her marriage years to get the reader to the crisis point and this was to the detriment of character development in the latter part of the book. Fereiba is so vibrant in the first part of the book but that fades as we switch back and forth between perspective.

Saleem was harder to connect to emotionally. I felt bad for him but at the same time I couldn't relate to him or his anger. He could be reckless but he did have admirable qualities like his work ethic and I was routing for him to make better decisions and be reunited with his family. I think it was important to the narrative to have his perspective especially when he was separated from Fereiba and his sister and baby brother. This allowed us to see what it was like for undocumented immigrants in refugee camps and their desperation to escape. 

While I didn't always feel the emotional pull or connection with the characters that I'd hoped for, I still thought this book was a moving story. It made me think about the refugee situation and illegal immigration issues especially for those struggling to escape danger in their homeland. I also liked the portrayal of family and the love of a parent. Both Fereiba and Mahmoud are admirable though imperfect people. I wish Mahmoud had more time on the page but ultimately this is the journey of Fereiba and Saleem both physically and internally as they move past the pain of what happened in Afghanistan and learn to redefine their parent-child relationship.

I thought this was a really good book. It wasn't quite as good as The Pearl That Broke Its Shell but Hashimi set the bar pretty high with her debut. When the Moon is Low will likely make my list of favorites for 2015. I think readers who like Khaled Hosseini and Jhumpa Lahiri should definitely give this author's books a try! They are perfect for book discussion groups too.

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss

Sunday Post (13) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. I will also be sharing my It's Monday post on Twitter #IMWAYR.

I had a nice weekend visit with my parents and on Saturday my sister and her husband came over for dinner with their dogs so we got to meet Jordy, their new Sheepadoodle puppy. Jordy is very sweet and she gets along with her big brother Raji.
 

A photo posted by Christina T (@readextensively) on Jul 25, 2015 at 3:50pm PDT

A photo posted by Raji Parker and Jordy (@raji_parker.and.jordy) on Jul 25, 2015 at 7:08pm PDT

 
The weather was beautiful though a little humid so we spent some time outdoors. My parents' gladiolas are blooming and they look very pretty. I meant to take a picture but forgot. Their garden is growing like crazy and I got to eat some of the fresh produce. We also got some sweet corn from a local farmer. Their corn is so tasty and my parents have been buying from them since I was a teen.

My book groups meet this week and while I finished the book for my afternoon group, I ended up hating the book for the evening group so I didn't finish it (Home to Woefield by Susan Juby). I feel guilty about that but at the same time I don't believe in forcing myself to read something that I really don't like! I found the characters to be annoying and it is written from multiple points of view. Also the way it is written makes the characters sound like they are part of a documentary and they are telling the interviewer their perspective on the same stories/events. I am curious to see how the other members of the book group felt about it.

I also have some reviews that I hope to get caught up on but my laptop is giving me some problems. I almost bought a new one when Best Buy had a sale over the weekend but I decided to wait and do some research to find a good one. I'm also tempted to buy an iPad though I'm not sure how that would work with blogging. Hopefully my current laptop will hold out a little longer but I know its days are numbered.

Last week on my blog:

Top Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity (post)

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert (review)

Books read:

A School for Brides by Patrice Kindl

I liked this book once I got into the story. It is humorous and while not as good as Jane Austen (really what is?) I think readers who like that time period and style of writing would enjoy this light YA novel. There is a bit of mystery also regarding some missing jewelry and a mysterious suitor. It is a companion novel to Keeping the Castle but it can definitely be read as a standalone.

The Crown of Ptolemy by Rick Riordan

I thought this novella was a fun team up between Carter and Sadie Kane and Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. It also included sample chapters of the new book which stars Annabeth's cousin Magnus. I think it even gave a glimpse of some Norse gods (Thor and Frigg).

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (reread)

I listened to this book on audio because I was looking for something to download from Overdrive for my long drive. While I love the book I wasn't a big fan of the narrator, especially her voice for Adrian.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson (reread)

I wanted to reread this book before I read The Heart of Betrayal. I also need to write a review of it still so that is going to be my next priority. I think I liked it more the first time I read it because the author uses this device to hide the identity of which guy is the prince and which is the assassin and when you reread it, you already know. It was good to reread it though because I picked up on some things I missed the first time.

Currently reading:

If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

So far I like this though the characters can be a little frustrating. Both sisters are struggling with some issues in their lives-one is still friends with her ex-husband and his sweet and perfect new wife and the other has marital problems she doesn't want to face. I think this is very different from what Kristan Higgins typically writes but there are still some humorous elements to the writing style.

What I might read next:

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

Ana of California by Andi Teran

New books received:

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (for review)

The Crown of Ptolemy by Rick Riordan (purchased)

Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

By Amy E. Reichert

Published: July 21, 2015

You’ve Got Mail meets How to Eat a Cupcake in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

My review:

You've Got Mail is one of my favorite romantic comedies. I also loved The Shop Around the Corner, the classic Jimmy Stewart film that inspired it and I liked the novel How to Eat a Cupcake so when I saw the description for this book, I knew I had to read it. I also kind of had high expectations for it and thankfully The Coincidence of Coconut Cake delivered.

Lou is finally realizing her dream of owning her own restaurant. It's even in the black even though they aren't making that much money but she is optimistic and she has the love and support of a great staff and a sweet elderly couple who eat there every week. She's engaged to Devlin Pontillier, a handsome and powerful attorney and life couldn't seem to be better. On the morning of Devlin's birthday Lou bakes him an amazing coconut cake and takes it to his apartment to surprise him. Unfortunately it is she who is surprised when she finds he is not alone. Later that same day Al visits her restaurant to review it for his column and he is less than impressed by the service and the underdone food so he gives Louella's a very critical review even though he usually visits a restaurant more than once before writing about it.

When Al sees Lou at the pub, he is happy to see the pretty stranger he glimpsed once before when she was carrying a coconut cake, never realizing she is the owner of the restaurant he critiqued. They strike up a conversation about food (agreeing not to talk about work) and as Lou shows him around Milwaukee, he starts to feel differently about the city and about Lou. He is attracted to her but she is determined to maintain a friendship as she is dealing with her pain over Devlin's betrayal and her struggling restaurant. Gradually she starts to fall for him too.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a delightful contemporary romance. I loved the food descriptions and the way the author brings the setting to life so well. Lou and Al are both very likable protagonists and I enjoyed the development of their relationship and the resolution after the truth is revealed. Even though Al starts out as a negative food critic, popular for his brutally honest reviews of bad restaurants, he starts to change after spending time with Lou and starting to appreciate the city more. Lou has some self esteem issues that she has to work through. She is confident in her abilities as a cook but dating someone like Devlin really damaged her self image and her faith in her dreams. With the help of Al and her friends she begins to see the truth about herself and Devlin and to see how Al truly loves her.  

Overall I found myself charmed by this book and the characters and the sweet love story. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake would be perfect for foodies and fans of romantic comedies. 

Note: I received an ARC for review courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss

Top Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new subject each week and this week's topic is "Top Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters".

During my childhood and teen years I never saw characters in books that reflected who I am or even anything close to that. As someone who is Sri Lankan American there aren't really that many books out there with Sri Lankan American characters these days but I would have been happy with Indian protagonists too. I remember stumbling across a paperback YA novel that featured a teen foreign exchange student from Vietnam. Just the fact that she was Asian was something new to me. Sadly that was the only book I found back then and the other characters were all white. 

Now there is so much more diversity in books but I hope there will be even more books that reflect people across all races, religious beliefs, gender orientation and those with disabilities or even mental illness. I love reading about people from other walks of life and who have different life experiences and beliefs to my own but it is good to read books about people who are similar too. It can really help especially for teens and kids to find characters they identify with.

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

The new Ms. Marvel is Kamala Khan, a Muslim American teen who always admired the hero Ms. Marvel and then gains her own super powers unexpectedly and decides to use them for good. At the same time she is dealing with the pressure of pleasing her traditional parents and being an American teen. 

Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham

Scarlett is an amateur detective and after she passes out her new business cards she gains a client and a dangerous new case with connections to her father's murder. She also happens to be a Muslim American but I like that it isn't her defining characteristic. 

A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Mary was a common thief who was rescued from the gallows and educated and trained to be a female spy. This series looks at both women's rights and the role of women in society and issues of racism and class. Mary is part Chinese and part Irish. She has to come to terms with her heritage and family legacy as well as what she wants out of life as a woman in Victorian times.

Shine, Coconut Moon by Nisha Meminger

Samar is an Indian American but she has been raised as a "coconut" (brown on the outside, white on the inside) by her mom so she doesn't really identify with her Sikh heritage. Then her uncle comes to visit and the aftermath of September 11th and racial prejudice have Samar rethinking things.

Does My Head Look Big In This by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Amal was born in Australia but her family is originally from Pakistan. When she decides to start wearing a hijab to school, it is a decision that makes waves among her fellow students and the school administration.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

This novel set in Iran features gay teen Sahar who is in love with her best friend Nasrin. Homosexuality in Iran is a crime but being a transsexual is not (though there is discrimination against them). When Nasrin's family arranges a marriage for her, Sahar decides to undergo gender reassignment so she can be with Nasrin as a man. The novel explores homosexuality, transgender identity and first love in a sensitive way.

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

I love the original cover of this book and I loved the story too. Ai Ling is a brave, strong and intelligent heroine in this YA fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology. Author Cindy Pon is also one of the founders of Diversity in YA.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Ida Mae dreams of being a pilot and when the U.S. enters WWII and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) is formed she has her chance to try. The only problem is that she is black so she must pass as white to get in the program. The novel looks at issues of racism and sexism.

Joyride by Anna Banks

Carly has been living with her brother Julio since their parents were deported to Mexico a few years ago. Now she and Julio are working hard to raise the money to try to smuggle them over again. Arden is one of the popular, rich kids at her school.  Ever since his sister died, he has been aimless, quitting the football team and playing more and more pranks in her honor. When he meets Carly he thinks he has found his perfect partner in crime but their friendship is frowned upon by his racist father and her worried and protective brother. The book explores culture, values, racism and illegal immigration without being too heavy.

The Rearranged Life by Annika Sharma

Nithya is a college student whose future is planned out for her. She is going to graduate and go to medical school at a top university. She will also have an arranged marriage. Nithya has been okay with these plans till she meets James. Nithya knows her parents would never approve of her dating let alone dating someone who isn't even Indian but she can't seem to help her feelings. I like how this New Adult novel looks at the challenges of dating someone from another culture and religion but also the similarities between them. 

Sunday Post (12) / It's Monday What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. I will also be sharing my It's Monday post on Twitter #IMWAYR.

I had a relatively quiet week. The weather warmed up to the 90s for the first time this summer and there were even a few sunny days along with all the rain. We did have a tornado warning while I was at work so we had to get all the library patrons to go down to the basement and we hung out there for half an hour till the all clear. We had a couple of those last year too but never any tornadoes or damage. My parents had some stormy weather that uprooted one of their apple trees (a small one) and their creek flooded but there was no damage to their house thankfully and the water receded quickly.

So the summer reading program is over and I feel kind of blah at the moment. I have some things to catch up on but I kind of miss planning programs. Next month is the back to school clothing swap for kids and I want to give away a couple of backpacks filled with school supplies. I am trying to decide if I want to go with cheaper character backpacks (one for a boy and one for a girl) that I think would be more popular with the kids or more expensive ones from L.L. Bean that have a lifetime warranty that parents would go for. I was looking at the local school supply lists and I was surprised at how much the kids have to bring now not just for themselves but to share with the classroom. Each kid has to buy their own set of headphones too. We used old fashioned headphones that belonged to the school in the good old days!

This coming weekend I will be going to visit my sister and finally meet my furry niece Jordy. I have to go shopping for a onesie and a dog toy in the meantime (she has a scratch that she keeps biting so the vet wants my sister to put her in a shirt).

 

I have a new onesie today. It says little sister. I wonder when I won't have to wear a onesie anymore..

A photo posted by Raji Parker and Jordy (@raji_parker.and.jordy) on Jul 10, 2015 at 6:17pm PDT

 

Last week on the blog:

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (review)

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan (review)

Books read:

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

This is the first book by Glines that I've read. I believe she writes primarily New Adult fiction but this is a novel for teens. It kind of reminded me of All Lined Up by Cora Carmack. I really liked it (not too heavy on the football stuff) and plan to read the next book in the series.

Joyride by Anna Banks

Joyride features a forbidden interracial romance and the issue of illegal immigration but it was surprisingly lighthearted at times too especially with the pranks that Arden plays. I thought it was pretty good.

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

The concept of this one reminded me a little of One Day (the film--I haven't read the book) but with a happier ending. It covers years in the life of Andrew and Rachel from the time they first meet in a hospital as little kids to their adult years.

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is a Pakistani American teen who gets superpowers and becomes the new Ms. Marvel while also trying to please her traditional Muslim parents. I liked this graphic novel and not just because it features diversity in its superhero.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

This is a selection for my afternoon book discussion group. The two main characters were once friends as kids until an incident destroyed their friendship. Larry was accused of murdering a girl in his class when they went on a date and she disappeared. They never found a body so he wasn't charged but the town considers him guilty and treats him as such. In present day, Silas is investigating the disappearance of another girl while the town is all too ready to believe Larry is involved. Then Larry is found shot. I ended up liking this book though it took a while to get into. The writing style is very descriptive and atmospheric and the narrative jumps back and forth in time.

Currently reading:

A School for Brides by Patrice Kindl

This is a companion novel to Keeping the Castle but it can be read as a standalone. The main characters are students at a finishing school for girls aimed at getting them married off but the problem is that there aren't any marriageable men in the area.The book has a lighthearted tone and I like it so far.

What I might read next:

Home to Woefield by Susan Juby

This is the book my evening book group is reading for July. I thought it would be a fun book but I read a little of it and find the protagonist annoying. Oh, boy. Hopefully it will get better.

Ana of California by Andi Teran

I hope to read this soon. I have read some really positive reviews. I do know that it isn't a direct retelling of Anne of Green Gables and that it is a little darker so I'll keep that in mind when I read.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I have heard mixed things about this book but I am going to read it with an open mind. From what I've read about it, this isn't a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird but rather her original version of the story that the publisher told her to rework and write about the young Scout. That could explain the differences I've heard about in characters and things that happened.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson (reread)

I loved this book when I first read it but never wrote a review. Shame on me! Now the sequel has been released and I want to reread this before I pick up The Heart of Betrayal.

The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig

This sounds different from Willig's other books and I like the time period it's set in. I am not always a fan of revenge novels but I am going to give this a try.

New books received:

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (library book)

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (library book)

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary Pearson (library book)

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder (library book)

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev (for review)

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner (for review)