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?

In My Mailbox (59)

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.

For review:

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Purchased:

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

This isn't available in the U.S. yet so I bought it from the Book Depository as a birthday gift to myself :) I really liked Zoe Marriott's other books and I am excited about this retelling of Cinderella/Asia-inspired fantasy.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This was an impulse buy on my Kindle. I read the first few chapters and thought they were good but now the story is slowing down as Kvothe talks about his past. I hope it picks up again. I've heard it is an excellent fantasy novel.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

I bought this to reread on my vacation and ended up not having time for it. I really like the Percy Jackson series but I have only read the books one time.

From the library:

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

I have reservations about this book which is why I didn't buy it! I liked Nightshade though it reminded me a lot of Blood and Chocolate.  I may not read this because I'm sick of love triangles but we'll see...

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Schecter

I loved Michelle Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter and this is a YA book about Cleopatra Selene. I'm eager to read this and hope I won't be disappointed!

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

I became interested in reading this because Jim Dale narrates the audio books and I loved his work on the Harry Potter audio versions. The Emerald Atlas has been compared to Harry Potter and the Lemony Snicket books also so I have high hopes...

Stay by Allie Larkin

I am in the mood for some chick lit and this one features a cute dog too. Perfect way to end the summer!

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

I have heard really good things about The Borrower and I like the connection to libraries. I don't know if I will have time to read this but it does sound promising. 

Review: The Dark Enquiry

The Dark Enquiry

By Deanna Raybourn

Publication date: June 21, 2011

My review:

When Lady Julia finds out that Brisbane is involved in an investigation dealing with her brother Bellmont, she decides that he needs her help whether he wants it or not. This leads to humorous situations, complications, and danger for Lady Julia. A medium is murdered and Bellmont may have been connected with her. In her attempts to assist Brisbane, Julia may end up squarely in the killer's sights.

The Dark Enquiry is another excellent entry in the Lady Julia Grey mystery series. By now Lady Julia and her family are beginning to feel like old friends. I like how we learn more about Brisbane in each succeeding novel. Here the challenge is for Lady Julia to find a way to pursue her interest in investigative work while at the same time finding a way to compromise with Brisbane over her safety. Lady Julia has seen some really horrible things through the course of previous investigations and even been in danger but this book puts her in more danger than ever before. I like that Julia isn't afraid of grunt work as she learns to be a better investigator.

I was surprised by the mystery in this one. I wasn't expecting the identity of the villain. There were so many possibilities to choose from! I should have known better. While I was able to figure out the killer from the first book in this series, I couldn't figure out the killer in the other books because things are never straight forward. There is also a really interesting new character that was introduced and I have a feeling we will be seeing more of this person in the future.

My favorite part of The Dark Enquiry was the humor (the March family are such fun characters) and the relationship between Julia and Brisbane. I really love reading about this couple! They are strong people who don't always see eye to eye but they are perfect for each other. Overall I think this series just keeps getting better and better. I am eager to read the next book. If you enjoy mystery with a little romance, and historical settings, then this series might be for you. Be sure to start with book one, Silent in the Grave.

Readalikes: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig, the Ursula Blanchard mysteries by Fiona Buckley, the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger (because of the humor, romance, and mystery elements), the Lady Serafina Trent mysteries by Gilbert Morris (Christian fiction but similar with a lady detective)

Note: I received an e-ARC of this title for review from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review: Heartless

Heartless

By Gail Carriger

Publication date: June 28, 2011

My review:

When Alexia finds out about a threat to the Queen, she begins to investigate not realizing just how close to home the investigation will take her. Is the threat from the vampires, the werewolves, the Order of the Brass Octopus, or someone else entirely? 

I am always thrilled to read the books in the Parasol Protectorate series and while this one contained the trademark wit, supernatural creatures, and steampunk elements, I was somewhat disappointed. I was able to figure out the identity of the villain early on and their motivation while understandable was not in keeping with what is known about their character. I never got the sense that Alexia was in danger the way I did while reading Changeless and Blameless. The story seemed to lack some of the suspense and mystery though there was a twist that I was not expecting.

Thankfully the humor and some new developments helped to make up for those flaws. Lord Akeldama is back in a big way and he is such a fun character. I haven't always liked Ivy's character though she adds comedic value to the series with her hats. This book hints that she may have a bigger role to fill as the series continues. The storyline with Biffy really added some emotional depth and I look forward to seeing what happens with him. We also learn more about Professor Lyall who has always been one of my favorite characters and I liked gaining a deeper understanding of who he is. The ending suggests new complications in vampire/werewolf relations with the hive queen and the introduction of a new character. Overall this was a really good book and I can't wait to read Timeless.

Review: Shine, Coconut Moon

Shine, Coconut Moon

By Neesha Meminger

Publication date: February 20, 2009

My review:

Samar and her mom have created a quiet life for themselves in New Jersey. Though her dad left when she was too young to remember him and her mom is estranged from her family, they have a strong family of two and friends they can count on. Still, Sam misses what her best friend Molly has with her huge, boisterous family-a sense of shared history, culture, and memories. This comes to the fore in the aftermath of September 11th when a stranger in a turban appears at the door. The stranger turns out to be her mother's younger brother, Uncle Sandeep, and he wants to bring the family back together. This unexpected arrival brings complications into Sam's life as she questions what she has believed about her family. It also brings turmoil as Uncle Sandeep is targeted by racists.

Coconut is a term for a person who is "brown on the outside, white on the inside." One of Sam's Indian classmates brings up the issue because Sam doesn't seem to identify with her heritage at all. She knows nothing about being Sikh and doesn't even know Punjabi. This idea is central to the book. Because of Uncle Sandeep and her Indian classmate Balvir, Sam starts to investigate her culture. She doesn't want to be a "coconut" anymore. Her uncle wisely says that a coconut is also a "symbol of resilience" because it flourishes in adversity. Both Sam and her uncle have gone through difficult times because of racism.  

Sam has grown up not knowing any of her relatives because of her mom's bad relationship with her parents. Sharan was trying to protect Sam from going through the pain she endured while growing up but at the same time she is hurting Sam by not allowing her to know her extended family. I like that Sharan is portrayed as a good mom. She is protective of Sam but also allows her room to be herself. Usually in books Indian parents are portrayed as very strict but Sharan is pretty modern and they have a good relationship. It kind of reminded me of an Indian version of The Gilmore Girls but without the rapid and funny dialogue. Even Sharan's relationship with her parents is similar to that of Lorelai with her parents. They love their daughter but they have different cultural values that cause them to clash with Sharan. The scenes with Sam and her grandparents are really touching. It is obvious that they have missed having her in their lives too. I really liked Uncle Sandeep and how he is there for Sam and tries to bring the family back together. He is kind of a mentor to Sam and he helps her make sense of her confusion about her family, Sikhism, and who she is. He also is not afraid to be true to himself even when facing racism.

The secondary characters like Molly and Balvir also add to the story. Molly is a good friend to Sam even though she may not always understand what Sam is going through. I like how welcoming and accepting she is. Balvir is an interesting character because her life is what Sam's might have been like if she had grown up in a traditional Punjabi Sikh family. The one character I can't stand is Sam's boyfriend Mike. I don't really see why she puts up with him. He comes across as a complete jerk from the very beginning.

Aside from my dislike of Sam's boyfriend, I thought this was an excellent book. It explores a lot of deep themes (racism, ethnic identity, religion, family) while at the same time having quite a bit of humor. I found myself relating to the Sam as she realizes she is a "coconut" because I was one as a teen too and still feel that way sometimes. I liked how this issue was examined. You don't have to be a South Asian though to understand to what Sam is going through. Anyone who has ever struggled to be true to who they are would be able to relate. I also enjoyed learning about Sikhism, a religion I didn't know that much about.   Shine, Coconut Moon is Neesha Meminger's first novel. 

Readalikes: Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger, Does My Head Look Big In This by Randa Abdel-Fattah, Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah, Blue Jasmine by Kashmira Sheth, Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami, Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

Taking a Trip

Today I am on my way to Canada! Every year my family makes a trip up there to see our relatives. I am excited to see everyone.

Because my aunt and uncle only have dial up Internet access, I will probably not be able to do any blogging. I do have some posts scheduled for while I am gone and I hope you will stop by. 

Now just for fun, here is a video my sister took on her recent trip to Sri Lanka with our parents:

This video was taken at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. I love the dancing elephant and you can catch a glimpse of a cute baby elephant. Of course this has nothing to do with Canada but I just wanted to share it with you :) I hope to go to Sri Lanka with my family sometime in the future and this is one of the places I want to see.