Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Can't Wait Wednesday #2 Five Poisoned Apples (An Anthology)


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. This meme is based on Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It's where we share an unpublished book we are anticipating.

Why I Can't Wait: I love love love fairy tale retellings. I haven't read this anthology yet, but I have Five Enchanting Roses as an e-book that is published by the same publisher as the book featured below. I was reading a note from the editor and found out about this book online. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. This anthology came about because of a fairy tale writing contest. Unfortunately, this is the last year for the contests. Anyway, Snow White is not a favorite fairy tale, but of course, I'm basing this on the Disney version. I don't typically read the original fairy tales. I probably will at some point, but I am nervous since they are typically darker. What fairy tale do you like to find retellings the most? Mine is probably Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid.





Title:  Five Poisoned Apples
Authors: Skye Hoffert, Jenelle Hovde, Cortney Manning, Maddie Morrow, and Rachel Wallen
Publisher: Rooglewood Press
Published: Winter 2018 (December 2018 according to Goodreads)
Genres: Retellings
Format: e-book




Summary from Goodreads:

A TALE SO DARK AND LOVELY

FALLING SNOW—Skye Hoffert
The strange dark circus is the only life she’s ever known—but is Snow a performer or a prisoner?

RAVEN'S HEIR—Jenelle Hovde
Taking her in could risk the lives of his rebel band—but how can Damien leave the young woman at the huntsman’s mercy?

THE FAIREST ONE—Cortney Manning
Her people look for the prophesied Fairest One—but can Livna find courage to step out of the shadows and save her nation?

RED AS BLOOD—Maddie Morrow
He’s been hired to assassinate the princess, no questions asked—but how can Zaig take the life of one so young, so innocent?

SNOWBIRD AND THE RED SLIPPERS—Rachael Wallen
She longs to be worthy of the scholarship that changed her life—but can Jeong Hayan survive the bitter rivalry of a prestigious New York dance school?

The final Rooglewood Fairy Tale Contest, featuring five dark and beautiful retellings of Snow White. Have an apple, pretty child . . 

Monday, October 29, 2018

To Suit a Suitor by Paula Kremser



Title:  To Suit a Suitor
Author: Paula Kremser
Publisher: Sweetwater Books
Published: November 8, 2016
Genres: Clean Romance, Regency, Romance
Pages: 256
Series: standalone (I think)
Source: own
Format: e-book




Summary from Goodreads:

Julia North is nearing the end of her third London season and has just been jilted. Again! All she wants is to leave London and its eligible gentlemen behind. When the opportunity to leave for two months comes her way, Julia jumps at the chance. But her mother will only let her leave on the condition that she choose Julia's next suitor, and her mother isn't nearly as picky as Julia would like. Against her better judgment, Julia makes the promise and leaves town, only to run into Henry Chamberlain. Julia is warned that his heart is locked up tight, but she doesn t need to be warned away from him; Julia has been jilted enough to know that his flirtatious smiles can't be taken seriously. With time running out, a change of mind and a change of heart is their only chance for the joy that only true love can bring.





At the beginning of this story, there is a little backstory into Julia’s mom and her potential snob (suitor). I’m glad the story didn’t follow them. The male was definitely a piece of work, but now that I think about it, it would probably be a little funny at times if it did follow them. The guy made Julia’s mother promise him that they wouldn’t get married until her daughters did because he didn’t want to shell out money for their doweries. Based on this alone, I can see a union between the two to be pretty loveless. As the story progresses, you’ll probably see the same traits in Julia’s mother.


Anway,I didn’t think there was a lot of action to this story.  Think there was a lot of emotional back and forth insecurity. I think I’m more a plot driven person. I liked the story a bit at times, but I really wanted more exciting things to happen. This might just be a problem that regencies can have. I do really enjoy them, but it’s much more about the people themselves. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but I just need a little more action. I did enjoy the ending and the two main characters I just needed a little more.


Saturday, October 27, 2018

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan




Title:  The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder
Author: Rachel McMillan
Publisher: Harvest House
Published: March 1, 2016
Genres: Mystery, Historical, Christian Fiction, Romance
Pages: 222
Series: Herringford and Watts #1
Source: own
Format: paperback



Summary from Goodreads:

In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever--if they can stay alive long enough to do so. 





I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book before I read it. I didn’t really have a lot of expectations, good or bad. The story was told from three different perspectives, Merinda, Jemima, and Ray. I feel like Jemima had more time from her point of view. I could be wrong. I also enjoyed hers the most so that could be why. I do think there are funny moments to this book. This book was a slower paced read. A quite bit slower than I liked. There were some references to Sherlock, which I enjoyed. The book also had short quotes in the beginning of each chapter. I think all the quotes were fake literature the author created. Some were funny. I don’t always read those, but I would in this case.


I guessed who I thought did the crimes. I was kind of right but then I doubted myself, so yeah. I do think the romance kind of happened a bit fast. I was glad with the pairings but would have loved a slower burn. I probably will read the second book, but if I don’t like it much better, I don’t know if I’ll bother with the rest. I still think it’s a four star, but it was just too slow for my taste, especially being a mystery. I’ll just have to wait and see.


This is definitely a pretty clean book. I think blas*** is used.


Thursday, October 18, 2018

Series I'd Like to Reread




Title:  Tiger's Curse
Author: Colleen Houck
Publisher: Sterling
Published: January 11, 2011
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 403
Series: Tiger Saga #1
Source: own
Format: paperback


Summary from Goodreads:

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.


Why I'd Like to Reread it: I have read books in this series multiple times. This was Colleen's debut book she self-published. This one (and I believe one more) was picked by a publisher and republished. The publisher she worked with only wanted to have four books, but Colleen always planned to have five. The fifth book released earlier this year. This is one of my favorite series, and I want to reread the first four and read the novella in this series for the first time. Colleen has said there are elements in the book that will be in play in the last book. I kind of want to see if I can make any guesses. I'm not the smartest reader when it comes to picking up on elaborate things, but I don't know that I necessarily think to look for them.






Title:  Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: September 7, 2010
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 323
Series: Firelight
Source: own
Format: paperback

Summary from Goodreads:


Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away;if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.
Why I'd like to reread it: It's been a while since I've read this series. I remember really loving the books. I've told my sister before, I wish I knew what books on my shelves I would love before I read them. I think it would be cool to have a lot of books on my shelves that I know I would love to reread.






Title:  Timeless
Author: Alexandra Monir
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: January 11, 2011
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasty, Time Travel, Romance
Pages: 280
Series: Timeless #1
Source: do not own (but I'd like to own it again!)
Format: Hardbook

Summary from Goodreads:

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's family, she is forced to move from Los Angeles to New York City to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she has never met. In their historic Fifth Avenue mansion, filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers the biggest family secret of all - an ancestor's diary that, amazingly, has the power to send her back in time to 1910, the year it was written. There, at a glamorous high-society masquerade ball, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life. And she finds herself falling for him, and into an otherworldly romance.

Soon Michele is leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves - and to complete a quest that will determine their fate.


Why I'd Like to Reread it: I absolutely love time travel books but have not really read a lot. I remember really enjoying this one. This is one of the few duologies that I've read. I love young adult romance books and think this one is underrated. I've been wanting to own these books again. Hopefully, I've learned my lesson this time and keep them whenever I own them again.



I know a lot of people have the mentality that there are so many books they want to read that have yet to come out. I prefer to read books with less sexual content in them. These days, it can be harder for me to find cleaner reads, especially young adult. As far as I know, I've never been against rereading. I can understand not wanting to reread a lot since there are new releases. I have even read a book and wanted to reread it right then!

Are there any books in a series you want to reread? Do you like to reread?

Saturday, October 13, 2018

My TBR List Winner for October




My TBR List is hosted by Berls and Michelle @BecauseReading

The books I picked for y'all to vote on were:





The winner is:





I'm kind of glad this one won because it's the shortest book! Bad of me I know, but I just haven't been reading a lot. I've only read one book so far this month I think. Thanks for voting on my list everybody! 

Thursday, October 11, 2018

An Unexpected Romance by Patti Jo Moore




Title:  An Unexpected Romance
Author: Patti Jo Moore
Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances
Published: June 7, 2018
Genres: Christian Romance, contemporary
Pages: 215
Series: Emerald Coast Romance #2
Source: won/own
Format: paperback

Summary from Good Reads:

Gracie Norton has happily relocated from north Georgia to a quaint community on Florida’s gulf coast. Since she loves children and animals, she’s thankful for her new job as a veterinary assistant, and she’s drawn to the precious twins who’ve moved in next door. Their handsome but reserved father is a different story, however. 

Widower Blake Donovan hopes moving his young twins to a small coastal town will give them all a fresh start. Yet his dissatisfaction with his job and his unwanted, growing attraction for his pretty neighbor are frustrating him. He wonders if he will ever feel a sense of peace again. 

When a serious situation occurs, Gracie must overcome her biggest fear to help Blake and his twins. In doing so, she realizes how much she cares for the children and their father. Blake’s medical emergency results in a restoration of his faith—and helps him realize he can’t deny his feelings for Gracie. Could young twins be the matchmakers to bring about an unexpected romance? 


Review:


This is my first book by Patti. At times, this book reminded me of a Love Inspired book. It has hooks that are common for that line. I really enjoyed Blake's twins. There were some cute moments. I did feel the attraction to falling in love happened a little too fast because Gracie and Blake didn't know each other that well. Most of their interactions felt like Gracie was mostly only falling in love with the kids and not really knowing anything much about Blake. I wish the interaction with Gracie and Blake was fleshed out more. Although that was too fast for my opinion, I still like this book. 




Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Can't Wait Wednesday


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. This meme is based on Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It's where we share an unpublished book we are anticipating.

I've read two books by Jessica Brody and enjoyed them quite a bit. The ones I've read are My Life Undecided and Karma Club. I will note that it's been a while since I read these two, but I do think Karma Club had drinking in it and could have had some cursing. I'm not sure. It's been a while. The book I'm anticipating is Middle Grade, so I hope it will be a clean read. Unfortunately, you just don't know anymore.

Anyway, I absolutely adore this cover and love the movie Freaky Friday movie with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.





Title:  Better You Than Me
Author: Jessica Brody
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: November 13, 2018
Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Pages: 432
Series: standalone
Format: Hardcover & e-book


Summary from Good Reads

It's Freaky Friday meets Hannah Montana when two twelve-year-old girls--one a famous TV star, the other an obsessive fan--switch bodies with hilarious and disastrous results.

Ruby Rivera is a twelve-year-old superstar with millions of followers. Skylar Welshman is a seventh grader who wants to be cool--and she's Ruby's biggest fan. When Skylar and Ruby meet on the set of Ruby's hit show, Ruby of the Lamp, and wish they could switch places . . . it happens!

Now Ruby is living Skylar's life--going to a normal school, eating fro-yo, sleeping in, texting boys . . . it's amazing. And being Ruby is even better than Skylar imagined--her fancy closet is huge, everyone wants to be her friend, and she gets to spend every day with Ryder Vance, her dreamy costar. Life is a blast!

But when Ruby finds herself dealing with mean girls and Skylar discovers that being a celebrity isn't all red-carpet glamour, the girls start to wonder if being yourself isn't so bad after all. Can they swap bodies again? Or are they stuck being each other forever?


Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I've Read



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. I don't go out of my way to read really long books, but I'm happy with the page lengths on these.







  1. Winter by Marissa Meyer 827 pages
  2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer 563 pages
  3. Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck 560 pages
  4. Cress by Marissa Meyer 552 pages
  5. The Hollow by Jessica Verday 509 pages
  6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 507 pages
  7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 498 pages
  8. I Am Here by Ema Toyama 496 pages
  9. The Complete Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Kanata 480 pages
  10. Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck 479 pages

Out of my list, my favorites are the Tiger books, Winter, and Jane Eyre. All of these I liked pretty well.
I will admit that Cress was my least favorite of the Lunar Chronicles. The Lunar Chronicles series
was definitely out of my element for a genre I typically don't read. I'm not the biggest into sci-fi
and for the longest time avoided the series because of that. I am glad I read it. I really love fairy tale
retellings. Jane Eyre is also my favorite classic, but it's been like 8 years since I've read it.

I don't go out of my way to read really big books, but it makes me want to keep that in mind and pick
some out at some point in time. Personally to me, I would consider anything over 400 a long book.
I know Tome topple is 500+ when the readathon is going on. Just curious, what do you consider a
minimum for a long book?


*All pictures are from Goodreads

Saturday, October 6, 2018

My TBR List Meme #1

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Because reading is better than real life

My TBR List is hosted by Berls and Michelle @BecauseReading

The first Saturday of the month, you list 3 books on your TBR, digital or physical, and let people vote on it. On the second Saturday, you announce the winner. Read the book and post a review on the fourth Saturday. Michelle mentions what to do when the months vary on the amount of weeks in the month, so I won't go into anymore details on how that will change the rules.

Since this is October, I decided to pick more thriller and mystery type books.




The only thing worse than forgetting her past . . . is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.


Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.



Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.



When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.


When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.



Author Joanna Davidson Politano's stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance.



In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.


Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.



While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever--if they can stay alive long enough to do so.


*Pictures and summaries from Goodreads