December 20, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (8)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.


If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
19486412From Goodreads:

"Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . .
  A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.   But who did what?
  Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
  Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.
"
I've read two of Liane Moriarty's previous novels — The Husband's Secret and What Alice Forgot — and particularly loved the latter. Moriarty does such a wonderful job of creating characters who feel real. Big Little Lies sounds like a bit more of a mystery than some of her other books but from what I've seen it's been getting good reviews, and I'm eager to check it out for myself!

What books are you hoping to find in your stocking this Christmas?


December 17, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Rook, First Frost, and Ink & Bone

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we just can't wait to get our hands on!

Oh look, it's a Waiting on Wednesday post! Haven't had one of those on the blog in ages...

Anyway, without further ado, my WoW picks:

Rook by Sharon Cameron

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Goodreads' description:

"History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
"

I think I first saw this one mentioned by Lindsey at Bring My Books as one of the top books she's looking forward to in 2015. And then once I read the description I was like, "Yep, that is going on my TBR list!" I read and enjoyed Sharon Cameron's The Dark Unwinding (have not yet read the second book!) and so I'm hoping Rook will deliver as well. It sounds like a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel but...set in a future Paris? Very cool.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

21853633

Goodreads' description:

"From the New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells comes a story of the Waverley family, in a novel as sparkling as the first dusting of frost on new-fallen leaves...

It's October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree... and all the magic that swirls around it. But this year, first frost has much more in store.

Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley’s Candies. Though her handcrafted confections—rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds—are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts.

Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. With each passing day she longs more for a baby— a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has.

Sydney’s daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to…if only he could see it, too. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke?

When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is First Frost.

Lose yourself in Sarah Addison Allen's enchanting world and fall for her charmed characters in this captivating story that proves that a happily-ever-after is never the real ending to a story. It’s where the real story begins.
"


I quite liked Garden Spells, so I'm interested to see how Sarah Addison Allen continues those characters' stories in this sequel (pretty sure it's the first sequel she's written to any of her books...?). I particularly enjoyed the subtle use of the magic in this world in Garden Spells, so I hope that keeps up in First Frost.

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine


20643052

"In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.…
"

Anything involving the Great Library of Alexandria gets automatic points from me. A world where you can only access books by use of alchemy? Spies? Heresy? SIGN ME UP. 

What books are you waiting for?

December 12, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (7)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

  The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

17302192From Goodreads:

"An international sensation, this hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: to find out if he is capable of true love.

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges.
"
Okay, so it feels like pretty much everybody else has read this book already. My mom's read it. My roommate's read it. I'm pretty sure my sister's read it. How have I not read it yet? I do not know, because it sounds really adorable and everyone seems to love it.

If you are not like me and have read this book, let me know what you thought of it! If somehow, like me, you have been living under a rock for the past year been too darn busy with school to read anything, even this book, let me know that too, and then we can commiserate together.


December 5, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (6)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

The Shadow Year by Hannah Richell

18480926From Goodreads:

"On a sultry summer’s day in 1980, five friends stumble upon an abandoned lakeside cottage hidden deep in the English countryside. For Kat and her friends, it offers an escape; a chance to drop out for a while, with lazy summer days by the lake and intimate winter evenings around the fire. But as the seasons change, tensions begin to rise and when an unexpected visitor appears at their door, nothing will be the same again.

Three decades later, Lila arrives at the same remote cottage. With her marriage in crisis, she finds solace in renovating the tumbledown house. Little by little she wonders about the previous inhabitants. How did they manage in such isolation? Why did they leave in such a hurry, with their belongings still strewn about? Most disturbing of all, why can't she shake the feeling that someone might be watching her?

The Shadow Year is a story of secrets, tragedy, lies and betrayal. It’s a tale that explores the light and dark of human relationships and the potential the past has to not only touch our present, but also to alter our future.
"
YA is still my comfort zone, but I've been branching out a bit more in the last year into adult fiction, and this is one of a few adult books that made it onto my wishlist. It just sounds mysterious and intriguing and a little creepy... Also, it sounds like it might be written in interweaving timelines (past and present), which can be a neat format if done well.

Has anyone else read this one, and if so what did you think? And what books are you hoping Santa brings you this year?

November 28, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (5)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

16074758From Goodreads:

"It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations.

As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine...
"
When this book first starting floating around the blogosphere, I kinda dismissed it as a sort of fluffy, 'mystery-lite' read in the vein of Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, which isn't really my style. And let's face it, that title and cover don't exactly exude a serious vibe.

But then I saw that Racquel over at The Book Barbies was raving about it, and we chatted on Twitter and she persuaded me that it is indeed a well-plotted, intense read worthy of my time. So it made its way onto my Christmas list! 

What books are you hoping to find under the tree?

November 22, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (4)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth


18269807From Goodreads:

"You think you know the story of Rapunzel...
Charlotte-Rose de la Force, exiled from the court of the Sun King Louis XIV, has always been a great teller of tales.
Selena Leonelli, once the exquisite muse of the great Venetian artist Titian, is terrified of time.
Margherita, trapped in a doorless tower and burdened by tangles of her red-gold hair, must find a way to escape.
Three women, three lives, three stories, braided together in a compelling tale of desire, obsession and the redemptive power of love.
"
I'm a sucker for fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, and I've seen lots of glowing praise for this adult historical retelling of Rapunzel. If you've read it, let me know what you thought!

What books are you hoping to find under the tree?

November 15, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (3)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

Pre-order of Rivals in the City by Y.S. Lee
20652522
From Goodreads:

"In a tale steeped in action, romance, and the gaslit intrigue of Victorian London, Mary Quinn’s detective skills are pitted against a cunning and desperate opponent. Mary Quinn has a lot on her mind. James Easton, her longtime love interest, wants to marry her; but despite her feelings, independent-minded Mary hesitates. Meanwhile, the Agency has asked Mary to take on a dangerous case: convicted fraudster Henry Thorold is dying in prison, and Mary must watch for the return of his estranged wife, an accomplished criminal herself who has a potentially deadly grudge against James. Finally, a Chinese prizefighter has arrived in town, and Mary can’t shake a feeling that he is somehow familiar. With the stakes higher than ever, can Mary balance family secrets, conflicting loyalties, and professional expertise to bring a criminal to justice and find her own happiness?"
This is the final book in the Agency series and one that I can't wait to get my hot little hands on! I've read and own all 3 other books in the series, and I know this one is already out in the UK but I want the US edition to match my others :D Can't wait to read about Mary's (and James's) last adventure, but it will be sad knowing it's the last book! :'(

What books are you hoping Santa brings?

November 8, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (2)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


This week's pick:

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
From Goodreads:

"In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.
"
From what I can tell, this is a quiet historical novel that isn't flashy but is so well-written it's been getting good reviews from pretty much every corner of the blogosphere. If you've read it, let me know what you thought!

What books are you hoping Santa brings?

November 1, 2014

All I Want for Christmas... (1)

Since my blog's had a 2-month-long-and-counting break since the last time I posted...why yes, I *am* still alive! (Somewhere underneath this massive pile of grad school assignments, that is...)

Every year my mom asks me to send her my book wishlist for Christmas, since it just isn't Christmas without books. In the hopes of getting some content onto this blog more regularly, I'll be posting my book wishlist picks on here.

If anyone would like to join in with picks from their own wishlist, please feel free to add your link in the comments :) And if you've read any of the books on my list, let me know what you thought of them (good, bad, or otherwise!)


First pick:

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

From Goodreads:

"Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.
"
I think pretty much everything I've read about this one has been glowing. I've got high hopes here (please tell me this book will live up to them!)

What books are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

August 27, 2014

Why I Appreciate Edward Ferrars and You Should Too


We're nearing the end of Austen in August, hosted by The Book Rat, and I've been very much enjoying the various posts for this event! I've noticed a strange, sad pattern emerging, however, and that is: nobody really seems to like Edward Ferrars.

This is an error that must be rectified, and hence I bring you: the List of Reasons to Appreciate Edward Ferrars.

1.) He's honourable.

To a fault, perhaps, and many readers seem to think it is a fault — that his determination to uphold the engagement to Lucy Steele is nearer stupidity than anything else. But at that time, men breaking off engagements was not done. Edward would have been considered a monstrously insensitive jerk, if you will, for doing so. Not to mention it would have given Lucy Steele the opportunity to sue him for "breach of promise". (And knowing Lucy Steele, she just might have!)


This commitment to honour can also help to explain why he does not tell Elinor about the engagement — it's a secret, after all, and doubtless both he and Lucy agreed to keep it so (although obviously she doesn't keep up her end of the bargain!) — and why he does not truly pursue Elinor. Of course, they are drawn to each other and since she doesn't know about his engagement, she hopes for a proposal...but really, Edward does not do anything that blatantly signals his intentions to propose. (Unlike, say, Willoughby, who takes a lock of Marianne's hair and then absconds to London to get hitched to Miss Grey with her 50,000 pounds.)

Basically, in a rather sticky situation Edward is being a gentleman the best way he knows how, as well as steering clear of a lawsuit.

2.) He doesn't care about climbing the rungs of society.

Unlike his relatives, Edward's not all about status or wealth.



"But he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him distinguished—as—they hardly knew what. They wanted him to make a fine figure in the world in some manner or other. His mother wished to interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to see him connected with some of the great men of the day. Mrs. John Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these superior blessings could be attained, it would have quieted her ambition to see him driving a barouche. But Edward had no turn for great men or barouches. All his wishes centered in domestic comfort and the quiet of private life."


Won't be THAT quiet with all those chickens around... (gif source)
Rather, he's interested in becoming a clergyman and taking care of his parish. In fact, he places such little importance on social position that he is willing to risk his own — not once but twice — by becoming engaged to women his family disapproves of (and then in the case of Elinor, actually marrying her).

And the fact that he's nothing like his sister is enough to put him into Mrs. Dashwood's good books immediately: "'It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. It implies everything amiable. I love him already.'"

3.) He's practical.

Remarkably pragmatic, in point of fact. When discussing a scenic view, he says,



"I like a fine prospect, but not on picturesque principles. I do not like crooked, twisted, blasted trees. I admire them much more if they are tall, straight, and flourishing. I do not like ruined, tattered cottages. I am not fond of nettles or thistles, or heath blossoms. I have more pleasure in a snug farm-house than a watch-tower—and a troop of tidy, happy villages please me better than the finest banditti in the world."


So, let's be honest: with that sort of level head he'd probably be very good at fixing things around the house!

And chopping wood. See? (The wet shirt doesn't hurt, either.)

4.) He doesn't cave to pressure from his family.

On two scores, actually — that he break off the engagement to Lucy Steele, and that he choose a distinguished sort of career. Edward knows who he is, and he isn't going to be coerced or persuaded to betray his values. As he says, "I wish as well as every body else to be perfectly happy; but, like every body else it must be in my own way. Greatness will not make me so."

5.) He's funny.

Not, like, Mr. Tilney funny, but Edward has a sense of humour. It's on the dry, subtle side, so maybe some readers just miss it, but it's there. I think it's one of the reasons Elinor is attracted to him, frankly — because it's similar to her own sense of humour.

By way of example:



"Now, Edward," said [Marianne], calling his attention to the prospect, "here is Barton valley. Look up to it, and be tranquil if you can. Look at those hills! Did you ever see their equals? To the left is Barton park, amongst those woods and plantations. You may see the end of the house. And there, beneath that farthest hill, which rises with such grandeur, is our cottage."

"It is a beautiful country," he replied; "but these bottoms must be dirty in winter."

"How can you think of dirt, with such objects before you?"

"Because," replied he, smiling, "among the rest of the objects before me, I see a very dirty lane."



6.) He can hold his own in a verbal fencing match.

He and Marianne often find themselves in the midst of a good-natured argument, and Edward gives as good as he gets. (Plus, he gets extra points for having the patience to deal with Marianne at all.)

Case in point:



"What magnificent orders would travel from this family to London," said Edward, "in such an event! What a happy day for booksellers, music-sellers, and print-shops! You, Miss Dashwood, would give a general commission for every new print of merit to be sent you—and as for Marianne, I know her greatness of soul, there would not be music enough in London to content her. And books!—Thomson, Cowper, Scott—she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree. Should not you, Marianne? Forgive me, if I am very saucy. But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old disputes."

"I love to be reminded of the past, Edward—whether it be melancholy or gay, I love to recall it—and you will never offend me by talking of former times. You are very right in supposing how my money would be spent—some of it, at least—my loose cash would certainly be employed in improving my collection of music and books."

"And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the authors or their heirs."

"No, Edward, I should have something else to do with it."

"Perhaps, then, you would bestow it as a reward on that person who wrote the ablest defence of your favourite maxim, that no one can ever be in love more than once in their life—your opinion on that point is unchanged, I presume?"

"Undoubtedly. At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed. It is not likely that I should now see or hear any thing to change them."


7.) He admits when he's made a mistake.

Edward's no idiot, he realizes it was a mistake to get engaged to Lucy — indeed, he calls it a "foolish, idle inclination" — but hindsight is always 20-20. At least he's able to own up when he's wrong. 

8.) He's relatable.

I think perhaps this is what some readers least like about Edward, whether or not they realize it. He's more ordinary than Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley or Captain Wentworth or Colonel Brandon. Edward is an introvert, who enjoys the simple pleasures of a quiet life in a parish. Also, I rather suspect he might struggle with some mental health issues — namely, anxiety and depression. His "want of spirits" is mentioned more than once, and he often seems rather down and moody. Of course, perhaps it's just due to the situation he's in, but I think he may have a general tendency to anxiety/depression.

Looking serious.
Edward doesn't go in for grand gestures like Mr. Darcy (paying for weddings, hmmmm?) or grand turns of phrase like Captain Wentworth ("you pierce my soul; I am half agony, half hope"). He doesn't have a tragic backstory like Colonel Brandon. And he isn't quite as...well, knightly...as Mr. Knightley.

After all, Edward screwed up. He made a poor, impetuous decision when he was younger to get engaged to a woman he later realized he did not love. He's flawed. And yet that is what is so often celebrated in contemporary novels — characters you can really identify with, ones who feel real — so why do we wish, or perhaps even expect, our Austen heroes to be extraordinary?

There are likely far more Edwards walking around in the real world than there are Fitzwilliams or Fredericks. And given the above list — that's fine by me.


August 25, 2014

My 2nd "Austen in August" Guest Post!

My second guest post for Austen in August is now up at The Book Rat! In this one I split up some of Austen's classic couples, and do a bit of my own matchmaking. For example, what if Elizabeth Bennet and Henry Tilney hit it off?

Head on over to The Book Rat to check it out!

August 24, 2014

Time Between Us: Get It... or Forget It?

This is a new feature I'm starting up, because as book bloggers we all know that there are too many books to read, and not enough time. I need to know which books are must-reads and which ones I can just plain ignore.

For which I turn to you, my readers! I'll pick a book each week that I'm wondering about, and you can tell me if I should GET IT...or just FORGET IT.
This week: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone


This one kinda sounds like the movie The Lake House for a YA audience. I enjoyed that film, and I tend to like time travel in books, so this one certainly caught my eye. I'd just like to know... does it really deliver on that awesome-sounding premise? I'm a bit worried it'll be too romance-heavy and not enough substance. Is this a case of insta-love...?

Vote! What do you think: get it, or forget it? And then leave a comment letting me know why!

August 20, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: When My Heart Was Wicked and The Midnight Queen

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we just can't wait to get our hands on!

This week's picks:

When My Heart Was Wicked by Tricia Stirling


Goodreads' description:

"'I used to be one of those girls. The kind who loved to deliver bad news. When I colored my hair, I imagined it seeping into my scalp, black dye pooling into my veins.

But that was the old Lacy. Now, when I cast spells, they are always for good.'

16-year-old Lacy believes that magic and science can work side by side. She's a botanist who knows how to harness the healing power of plants. So when her father dies, Lacy tries to stay with her step-mother in Chico, where her magic is good and healing. She fears the darkness that her real mother, Cheyenne, brings out, stripping away everything that is light and kind.

Yet Cheyenne never stays away for long. Beautiful, bewitching, unstable Cheyenne who will stop at nothing, not even black magic, to keep control of her daughter's heart. She forces Lacy to accompany her to Sacramento, and before long, the "old" Lacy starts to resurface.

But when Lacy survives a traumatic encounter, she finds herself faced with a choice. Will she use her powers to exact revenge and spiral into the darkness forever? Or will she find the strength to embrace the light?
"

First, that cover...just gorgeous! The autumnal colour scheme, the hair turning into ravens, the ink-style font... wow.

And I think the premise has potential, too. Love that it sounds like it focuses on a mother-daughter relationship (rather than being romance-centred) and said relationship sure sounds complex. I'm a little wary about how the magic/"witchy" element will be handled, but hopefully it'll work for me.

The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter


Goodreads' description:

"In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Merlin College, the most talented—and highest born—sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as Gray Marshall is about to discover…

Gray’s deep talent for magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace—and without a trace of his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of Callender’s country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the professor’s daughter.

Even though she has no talent of her own, Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of impropriety. But against her father’s wishes, Sophie has studied his ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.

Sophie and Gray’s meeting touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the king’s closest advisor pays the professor a closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost…"


I like the cover of this one as well — it's simple but striking, and those purplish-blue hues are beautiful. I don't tend to read a lot of adult (or perhaps this one would be considered New Adult) fantasy books, but this one appeals to me since it's set in our world at a magical college. The whole notion of gender roles in this society sounds intriguing, too. (Why are women not allowed to learn magic???)

What books are you waiting for?


August 19, 2014

Guest Posting for Austen in August!


 Hey everyone,

Just wanted to give a quick head's-up that I've got a guest post today at The Book Rat for Austen in August. It's a blog event celebrating all things Jane Austen — which I am all about, of course — so I'm really excited to be contributing a couple guest posts this year!

This first one's all about lessons I've learned from Austen's books...things like "officers may be dashing, but don't go dashing off after them" and other pearls of wisdom. Head on over to The Book Rat to check it out!



August 12, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Sitting on the Fence About

The Top Ten Tuesday meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week's topic is the books we aren't sure we want to read. I have a whole ton of books that would go on this list, so these are not really my *top* ten, but just ten that I picked. I'd love your opinion on whether or not they're worth my time and/or money!

Five books I have not read and do not own:

1.) Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien (and the third book, Promised) — I read and enjoyed Birthmarked, but having seen some negative things about the next two books in the series, I'm in a bit of a quandary. Should I continue on with the trilogy? Or should I cut my losses and stop while I'm ahead? Tell me! In fact, please vote in my "Get It... or Forget It?" poll to let me know what you think! (No one has voted so far, so your votes are greatly appreciated :) )


2.) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline — This is a case of "it's outside my comfort zone, but the book has been getting rave reviews." I probably won't get many of the '80s references, and I have never been into video games. Just generally, I'm not big on sci-fi (apart from dystopian and time travel). Is it still worth reading?
 

3.) Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder — this is one that I did a "Get It... or Forget It?" poll about earlier, and the result was a 50/50 split (which doesn't really help me, lol). Let me know if you think I should give this series a try!



4.) Banner of the Damned by Sherwood Smith — Crown Duel was one of my favourite books when I was younger. Has anyone read this newer book of hers, and if so, can you tell me whether or not it has a Crown Duel sort of feel?


5.) Allegiant by Veronica Roth — this is less a matter of if I'll read it, and more a matter of when, just because I'd like to know what happens and why everyone had such extreme reactions to this final book! I am apprehensive, though, given what I've heard about it, and so I think I'll probably get it out from the library rather than buy it. I know a lot of people were upset about the ending, but I haven't read any major spoilers, so please DO NOT SPOIL me :)


Five books I have on my shelves but haven't read yet:

1.) False Covenant by Ari Marmell (and the third book, Lost Covenant) — I felt mixed about the first book in this series, Thief's Covenant. Can anyone comment on whether the series improves as it goes on?



2.) Changeling by Philippa Gregory — I started reading this one but didn't get very far into it, as I just wasn't liking the writing style. Should I give it another chance? Or are my instincts bang on the money?

3.) Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins — I've read mostly good things about this series, but the cover just screams "typical YA paranormal romance." Who's read this book/series, and what did you think of it?


4.) The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze — I like the sound of the premise, but from the overwhelming number of negative reviews it seems like the execution is not on par with its potential. Would you agree?
 

5.) Illuminate (and Infatuate) by Aimee Agresti — Illuminate is intimidatingly chunky. I read a few pages, but it wasn't grabbing me at the time and so I put it down. Is this book/series worth devoting a good chunk of time to reading?



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