Thursday, July 31, 2014

Book Review: Sometimes It Lasts

Sometimes It Lasts (Sea Breeze, #5)Author: Abbi Glines
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Sea Breeze # 5


Cage York has to choose between a love of the game and a love of the girl in this sultry Sea Breeze novel from New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines.

Cage York finally has everything he ever wanted.

And Eva is at the very top of that list; the perfect girl with a temper as hot as her fabulously flawless body. But for Cage, a baseball scholarship has always been a close second. So when Cage finally gets his chance, he and Eva must endure a long distance relationship and all the dangerous temptations that come with it. Temptations that former bad boy Cage York may not be able to escape.

Then after receiving some illicit photos that show Cage has been behaving badly very badly. Eva finds solace in the comforting arms of her insanely attractive neighbor Jeremy, who vows that he will take care of Eva in ways Cage never could. It’s an offer that may be too good for Eva to turn down.

Torn between his baseball dream and the girl of this dreams, Cage must prove he’s worthy of Eva’s love, or risk losing her to Jeremy forever.


“But dreams change. Fate has a way of showing you paths you want more.”

“No excuses; those were just weak.”

“I was desperate but I wanted to hear her tell me I was it for her. That the future was us.”


“Somehow I’d managed to function without feelings.”

This story is everything I expect a sequel to be, but then again I expected nothing less from a book by Abbi Glines. In While It Lasts, readers fell in love with bad boy Cage York who was sent to work for one long, hot summer on a farm because of a DUI. Here he met Eva Brooks and their love story magically unfolded. This book picks up where the first left off, but this time around Cage has been accepted into his dream school and that means suffering through a long distance relationship with Eva. We will watch them fight and struggle to keep their fairytale romance intact. They face brand new obstacles in this book, and another boy is thrown into the mix for Eva. As always, Abbi Glines delivers a wonderful, addicting new book with absolutely amazing character to boot!

Rollercoaster ride in hyper drive. This is the best description that I can come up with for this book. I was experiencing so many emotions as Eva and Cage break up and reunite and fight for one another. It was all so passionate and just the kind of story that made me fall in love with Abbi’s writing in the first place. I would even venture as far to say that I enjoyed this book more than the first. Eva and Cage were really put to the test here and I thought this was a pretty accurate representation of a long distance relationship and the kind of emotions that you experience while in the middle of one. Beautifully written!

All of Abbi’s book are written and paced so well. I always fly through them in about a day’s time. I got through this story even faster because once all the drama hit the fan there was no way I could ever put it down. I really enjoyed some of the added information that Glines put into the story that allowed us to catch up with characters from some of her past novels and see where their lives had taken them. I will remain a true, devoted Glines fan for as long as she is writing these awesome books!


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Simon Pulse in exchange for my honest review***





Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Book Review & Blog Tour: When I Fall In Love

When I Fall in Love (Christiansen Family, #3)Author: Susan May Warren
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Tyndale
Series: Christiansen Family # 3


Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she’d vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled—or maybe yanked—away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.

Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.

Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace’s faith will face its toughest test yet.


The Christiansen family stored up happiness like stones on the rocky Lake Superior shore.

There was more waiting for her. She just didn’t want to travel halfway around the world, alone, to find it.


He tasted good, like hot summer nights. And freedom. And happiness.
I absolutely love family sagas. I have never read one that I have not fallen in love with completely. The Christiansen family saga has welcomed me in with love and warmth over the last three books. My family has always been so close that this family just made me feel right at home and every book in this series has been nothing less than amazing. Susan May Warren has such a gift with words. She is one of those authors that every single book she writes makes me lose track of the time and miss the characters when I finally put it down. If you are familiar with these books then you know what I mean by my last statement. Get ready for Grace’s story in this new edition to the Christiansen family saga!

Max and Grace’s relationship is obviously my favorite part of this book mainly because it started out as a friendship. Their friendship is so endearing and their relationship unfolds just the way an actual relationship would. They are very understanding of one another and supportive of one another as well. Max and Grace both have difficulties and obstacles that they have to overcome, but Max more so than Grace at times because of the decisions that he makes. However, Grace is really good for Max because she keeps him down to earth and really strives to take care of him.

Susan May Warren writes about a tough situation in this book: a terminal disease. I was skeptical to begin with because I usually do not read books this heavily loaded. It is just a personal preference of mine, but this book changed my mind on that topic entirely. This book caused me to look at life a little differently because of the picture that Warren paints. We were also introduced to Raina and Casper in this book, who I am assuming will be featured in the next book!


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Tyndale House and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review***





Monday, July 28, 2014

Book Review: A Grave Matter

A Grave Matter (Lady Darby, #3)Author: Anna Lee Huber
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Series: Lady Darby Mystery # 3


Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her dear friend, Lady Kiera Darby is in need of a safe haven. Returning to her childhood home, Kiera hopes her beloved brother Trevor and the merriment of the Hogmanay Ball will distract her. But when a caretaker is murdered and a grave is disturbed at nearby Dryburgh Abbey, Kiera is once more thrust into the cold grasp of death.

While Kiera knows that aiding in another inquiry will only further tarnish her reputation, her knowledge of anatomy could make the difference in solving the case. But agreeing to investigate means Kiera must deal with the complicated emotions aroused in her by inquiry agent Sebastian Gage.

When Gage arrives, he reveals that the incident at the Abbey was not the first—some fiend is digging up old bones and holding them for ransom. Now Kiera and Gage must catch the grave robber and put the case to rest…before another victim winds up six feet under.


Or else why would I be running toward a dead body and a disturbed grave when by all rights I should be fleeing in fright?

I’m not sure what I expect to find. A fully dressed corpse? A ghost? A vampire like Lord Ruthven in Polidori’s story? I was not normally given over to fancy.


Lord Buchan’s best option was to hire a private inquiry agent, and he would find no gentleman better than Sebastian Gage.


I am so incredibly thrilled to see that this series is still keeping me on the edge of my seat even after the third book. I have gained so much respect over the years for mystery writers because it is difficult to write mysteries that are engaging, alarming to the reader, and most importantly that make sense. Anna Lee Huber is a solid author who builds an intense mystery and investigation in every single book she has written. I am a devoted fan just because of the heart that she obviously puts into her writing, her scenes, and her characters. Lady Darby has grown as a character and a sleuth and has used her past failures and the baggage she once carried to make her stronger and more confident.

Anna Lee Huber really knows how to write not only a great mystery, but a killer romance as well. It is no secret that Kiera and Sebastian’s steamy romance is one of the best reasons to follow this series. They have survived many ups and downs since the first book came out, and I always love to follow their newest escapade. They do frustrate me at times, but Huber knows how to build suspense and she does always give readers a juice little scene to hold onto! They are the perfect match and their relationship is always growing and changing, which is what makes it so interesting to read about.

I was happy to see that Kiera is a more established investigator now. This particular investigation was given to her by someone outside of her immediate family, so I was very pleased to see that Kiera is making a name for herself. Kiera’s family is so great and has been so supportive of her from the very beginning. I love the bond that she has with them and how much they believe in her and her ability to investigate. We get to meet Kiera’s brother, Trevor, in A Grave Matter, and he is a great edition to an already so loveable family!


***A free copy of this book was sent to me by the publishers at Berkley Trade in exchange for my honest review***




Sunday, July 27, 2014

Book Review: The Queen of the Tearling

The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1)Author: Erika Johansen
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: Harper
Series: The Queen of the Tearling # 1


On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.


Queen. There was the word again. Kelsea tried to think of herself of a queen and simply couldn’t.

“I am the long death of the Tearling. Forgive us.” He nodded, looking over her head, and before Kelsea could turn around, the world went dark.

Perhaps daring will win them.


I’m the Queen. I’m not bound by them.
I have been unable to find many positive reviews for this book, and if you are hoping to read another review in which the reader was displeased with this novel then you will not find that here. I really enjoyed this book. I find that a lot of readers are complaining that the book was compared to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, but here is the difference for me. This book does not really remind me of either of these books, but I do not let something like a bad book comparison cloud my judgment of a novel. This new series has a lot to offer, in my opinion. The world, the new queen, and the fantasy was enough to entice me to fly through this book, and that was no easy feat because this book was around 440 pages. Plus this book has already been picked up by Warner Bros., I believe. To top it all off, Emma Watson with play the Queen of the Tearling!

This is a debut novel, but I honestly had no idea of this fact until about three quarters of the way through. Erika Johansen writes with such confidence that you would never guess on your own that this was her debut novel. The Queen of the Tearling is a phenomenal read with a less than confident heroine who finds her way in this new kingdom that she has recently inherited. She is a called the “True Queen” and really lives up to her title throughout the first novel in this series. Kelsea, the queen, is an enrapturing character who goes from weak and timid to strong and valiant. She is a bit awkward at times, but that is what makes her so realistic. Kelsea was one of the best parts about this book and I cannot wait to see Emma Watson portraying her.

This story does contain some explicit and graphic scenes. There is quite a lot of talk about the slave trade organized between the Tearling and Mortmesne, and there are some brief talk about rape and bad language. I usually will not read a book in which rape is even discussed, but here I was able to read over because it helped me realize what type of world Kelsea and the Tearling were living in. It also helped me see how powerful and intimidating the Mort people were to the Tearling people. I will say that the graphic parts are enough that I would not allow even a young teen to read this book. However, it does not take away from the story. The Tear Queen, Kelsea, becomes so confident and decides to overcome all that her people has witnessed and been a part of. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Harper in exchange for my honest review***





Book Review: Landline

LandlineAuthor: Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press


Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?


“Nobody’s lives just fit together. Fitting together is something you work at. It’s something you make happen - because you love each other.”

“I love you more than I hate everything else.”

“Neal didn't take Georgie's breath away. Maybe the opposite. But that was okay--that was really good, actually, to be near someone who filled your lungs with air.” 

“Georgie. You cannot be jealous of Dawn – that’s like the sun being jealous of a light bulb.”


“Nothing good is easy.”
Landline turned out to be a bit different than I expected it to be. I knew going in that this was not young adult, and of course this does not bother me because I read just as many adult books as I do young adult ones. This book breaches on the genre known as magical realism. The main character, Georgie, is transported to the past when she uses her parents’ old yellow landline that is stored away in her bedroom closet. Georgie is facing a lot of realistic problems within her marriage and when she uses the landline one night to contact her husband, who has left for Christmas to visit his parents in Nebraska, she realizes that she is talking to the Neal from the 1990’s, not 2013.

This book was not my favorite from Rainbow Rowell, but it did have its shining moments. The only thing that I really disliked about the book was the fact that Georgie questioned the phone and her sanity over and over again. She spent pages deciding if it was real or not. What shined through for me was the wonderful picture that Rowell painted of these two lovers and their broken marriage. We learn so much about Neal and Georgie through their late night phone calls, Georgie in 2o13 and Neal in the 1990’s. They face problems that many people face each and every day. Georgie is wrapped up in her job and Neal is unhappy about how his life has turned out.

We go between past and present Neal and Georgie and like I said before we learn a lot about their marriage and their relationship. I really enjoyed Georgie and Neal in the past. They were very relatable characters. Rowell does a really great job with relationships, always! She just gets them and how to make readers fall in love with both characters despite obvious flaws. I actually wish that Georgie would have spent more time on this magical phone. She was not on the phone as much as I would have liked. Those were the best moments of the book!

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review***




Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Book Review: The Butterfly and The Violin

The Butterfly and the Violin (Hidden Masterpiece, #1)Author: Kristy Cambron
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Series: Hidden Masterpiece # 1


And then came war . . .

"Today." Sera James spends most of her time arranging auctions for the art world's elite clientele. When her search to uncover an original portrait of an unknown Holocaust victim leads her to William Hanover III, they learn that this painting is much more than it seems.

"Vienna, 1942." Adele Von Bron has always known what was expected of her. As a prodigy of Vienna's vast musical heritage, this concert violinist intends to carry on her family's tradition and play with the Vienna Philharmonic. But when the Nazis learn that she helped smuggle Jews out of the city, Adele is taken from her promising future and thrust into the horrifying world of Auschwitz.

The veil of innocence is lifted to expose a shuddering presence of evil, and Adele realizes that her God-given gift is her only advantage; she must play. Becoming a member of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, she fights for survival. Adele's barbed-wire walls begin to kill her hope as the months drag into nearly two years in the camp. With surprising courage against the backdrop of murder and despair, Adele finally confronts a question that has been tugging at her heart: Even in the midst of evil, can she find hope in worshiping God with her gift?

As Sera and William learn more about the subject of the mysterious portrait--Adele--they are reminded that whatever horrors one might face, God's faithfulness never falters.


Sleep became a welcome escape.

Sera thought she’d been searching for a lost painting that couldn’t have been worth anything to anybody. Now it was worth the equivalent of one hundred million dollars?

Could snow hold memories? Adele wondered. It fell down around her now just as it had on so many other nights she’d waited for him.


Surely the snow held memories. Adele didn’t question it anymore. Not after she’d been loaded on the train to the work camp – she knew it to be truth now.


Kristy Cambron takes readers through a time in history that always stands out and is still talked about today. She covers World War II, one of my favorite parts of history to read about, and remembers a time when Jews were discriminated against and unthinkable evil was brought about their nationality. This story switches back and forth between two separate time periods: present day and World War II. The story is told from alternate viewpoints and ultimately the stories are connected in a way that you could never imagine. It is a truly beautiful story that ended up wowing me so much more than I first expected. Adele’s story takes place right in the middle of Hitler’s reign and Sera’s story takes place in modern times, but both of these women are strong and have passions that keep them moving forward!

The best part of this story is how much the two main characters, Adele and Sera, have in common. They both place a strong emphasis on their faith and look to God for guidance in all things. They also both face the aftermath of betrayal, as they were both betrayed by someone that they loved desperately. I enjoyed Adele’s story so much more, but I found myself having to pause and really allow all that was happening to soak in. Of course, we all know that World War was not pleasant for many people living in Europe, even if you were supposedly part of the Nazi party. Adele was caught trying to aid a Jewish family and much of the story deals with her punishment for that. It is a truly deep and heartbreaking story.

Regardless of your faith, if you are a World War II era fan then you need to pick up a copy of this book. The words, imagery, and story in general are so rich in all aspects. This is a series, I have recently found out, and if all the rest of the books have a story like this one to tell then I think we are in for a real treat. Kristy Cambron is a fresh, new voice in the world of true literature. The pacing of this book was almost perfect, and that is something that we all know is hard to find. I was glued to every word on every page.


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest opinion***




Monday, July 14, 2014

Book Review: The Stepsister's Tale

The Stepsister's TaleAuthor: Tracy Barrett
Publication Date: June 24, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen


What really happened after the clock struck midnight?

Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire. 

When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...

From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.


You are a Halsey. You are the last of the Halsey line, you and your sister. You have much to live up to. Never disgrace the Halsey name.

“She doesn’t feel like a sister. And it’s strange having that man around.”


And where do I go? Jane asked herself. Who will comfort me?


This Cinderella retelling offers a new twist at an all too familiar story. This time we hear from Isabella’s, Cinderella in this story, stepsister, Jane. We get a different perspective in this story; one where “Cinderella” is no longer the poor, pitiful, innocent little girl that we all came to know and love. She is painted in this story as a spoiled rotten child full of vengeance and resent towards her father because he decided to move her way out in the country with no servants and certainly no fancy food and ball gowns. This story will have you feeling sorry for a different character entirely. You might just find yourself feeling sorry for both of Ella’s stepsisters.

The pacing of this book was slow and I kept expecting something more exciting to happen. The most action that I witnessed for a while was the fact that Jane, her sister, Maude, and their mother, were always on the verge of starvation, but the pacing crept along quite slowly. While I loved Jane, I didn’t care too much for their mother. She let the girls be bullied and did not seem to care for them as much as any mother should. I felt so sorry for the girls and I just really couldn’t stand the way that their mother treated them, especially when her new husband is around.

My favorite part of this book was Jane’s character. I loved seeing the story from an alternate point of view and actually feeling sorry for the stepsister and disliking Isabella. Jane was strong and fierce, and did all that she could for her family. I would go as far as saying that Jane was the reason they survived as long as they did. She also showed a taste for adventure and curiosity, which is always nice in a character. I did not dislike this book, but I wish there had been something more to pull me in from the beginning.


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Harlequin Teen in exchange for my honest review***



Saturday, July 12, 2014

Book Review: Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs

Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw DogsAuthor: Mary Jane Hathaway
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: Howard Books
Series: Jane Austen Takes The South # 2

From the bestselling author of Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits comes a new and comical contemporary take on the perennial Jane Austen classic, Emma.

Caroline Ashley is a journalist on the rise at The Washington Post until the sudden death of her father brings her back to Thorny Hollow to care for her mentally fragile mother and their aging antebellum home. The only respite from the eternal rotation of bridge club meetings and garden parties is her longtime friend, Brooks Elliott. A professor of journalism, Brooks is the voice of sanity and reason in the land of pink lemonade and triple layer coconut cakes. But when she meets a fascinating, charismatic young man on the cusp of a brand new industry, she ignores Brooks’ misgivings and throws herself into the project. 

Brooks struggles to reconcile his parent’s very bitter marriage with his father’s devastating grief at the recent loss of his wife. Caroline is the only bright spot in the emotional wreckage of his family life. She’s a friend and he’s perfectly happy to keep her safely in that category. Marriage isn’t for men like Brooks and they both know it until a handsome newcomer wins her heart. Brooks discovers Caroline is much more than a friend, and always has been, but is it too late to win her back? 

Featuring a colorful cast of southern belles, Civil War re-enactors, and good Christian women with spunk to spare, Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs brings the modern American South to light in a way only a contemporary Jane Austen could have imagined.

 
 Utter disaster on a cake platter.

Caroline stuck her head into the cold spray of water. No, she wasn’t ready for any kind of serious commitment. She wanted to have a good job and be professionally fulfilled before she vowed a lifetime of love to another person.

As for not working so hard, deep down he knew that no amount of vacation would fix what was happening in his heart.

“You love, completely, and everything is secondary. At least, that’s what happens with the best kind of love.”



I know that I have been reviewing a lot of books this summer and giving them pretty high ratings, but the fact is that they deserve it! This summer has just been full of really awesome books that deserve to be read and talked about. This book also deserves the five cupcake rating that it received. The second book in the Jane Austen Takes The South series is just as good, if not better, than the first which I read and reviewed just last month. The second installment is reminiscent of Jane’s Emma, but with its own twists added along the way. And of course, with a huge part of the South thrown in as well. The Southern Belle inside of me greatly approves of these books and cannot wait for the next to be released in November!

Do not mistake this series for an actual retelling of Jane’s books. I see this as a good thing, however, because Hathaway takes parts of Jane’s stories and writes obvious nods to them, but her books tell her stories too. There is an obvious influence of Jane Austen and I am not trying to discredit the fact that they are in fact looked at as retellings, but I enjoyed them more because they tell a different story, one that is new and fresh while still nodding to the literary classic that so many of us love and treasure.

Jane Austen would love these books! The characters are classic and have so many virtuous traits; they felt like friends. I could see this story playing out before me as I read the pages, almost as if I were watching a movie instead of reading a book. Everything felt so alive and real; the writing was better in this book than in the first one. Things felt more appropriately paced and only the ending felt a little rushed. Romance is not the first genre that I usually pick up, but if I were given more authors like Hathaway I certainly would!


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Howard Books in exchange for my honest review***






Friday, July 11, 2014

Book Review: Mark of Distinction

Mark of Distinction (Price of Privilege, #2)Author: Jessica Dotta
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
Publisher: Tyndale House
Series: Price of Privilege # 2


London is said to be the glittering jewel of society, a world unto itself—but to Julia Elliston it is a city of shadows. Her life is swiftly dissolving into scandal. And in Victorian society, even a whisper of scandal—substantiated or not—can be the death of a young woman’s reputation.

When Julia discovers that Lord Roy Pierson, her guardian and one of most influential men in England, is the father she has never met, she begrudgingly accepts his protection. But Chance Macy’s power is far-reaching as well.

Thrust into society as the Emerald Heiress, Julia is the toast of London, a celebrated curiosity. But in reality she’s trapped between the clutches of two powerful men. Aided only by a gentleman whose intentions she prays she can trust, Julia must finally take control of her own fate—but outwitting one’s foe rarely goes according to plan.


Truth comprised of bare facts is rarely more flattering than legend.

I had no idea my story would cause such an uproar.

London is not the same city that it was then.


Then, like a true member of the gentry, unaffected by the ripples of change, he rose, bowed, and left.

These books are truly written with the appeal of a Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte novel. Victorian society is always one of my favorites to read about because of the vintage feel it always brings. Not only that, but also for the scandal that usually accompanies any mystery set in this era. Julia Elliston’s story and life have captivated and I cannot believe that I have to wait for the third book in this series to be released. This is why I usually wait for the entire series to be released before I begin reading; I cannot stand the anticipation.

My favorite stories about the Victorian era usually have to do with the scrutiny that women were placed under during the time. Julia’s life is much like this. A women’s reputation could easily be diminished in this time because women had a place and role and anyone who dare stepped outside of that would be immediately ostracized. Julia is a brilliant character whom I love following around the streets of London. She knows how to manipulate the world she lives in, and she quickly realizes that it is a man’s world. Her character is so “gutsy”, for the lack of a better world, and I like to think that if I had lived in this time period I would have been just like her.

I must admit that I was scared that the sequel would not live up to the first book in this series, which I read last year. However, I devoured this book just like I did with Born of Persuasion. I laughed and gasped and did everything in between. You know it is a good book, or in this case series, when you are thinking about the plot and the characters long after you have put the book down. Jessica Dotta, I have to meet you because you are brilliant!


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Tyndale in exchange for my honest review***




Book Review: Boomerang

Boomerang (Boomerang, #1)Author: Noelle August
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Series: Boomerang # 1


The first book in a sensational New Adult trilogy from Noelle August

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?


I want someone who just wants me, without question. And I want to want him back. And just go for it.

I want the kind of love that feels like an arrow snapping from a bow – sharp, inevitable, soaring.

I wonder if Ethan feels like I do sometimes. Like I’m playing at adulthood. At being confident in totally strange situations.


I'm screwed because of his smile, because of that dimple that deepens when he laughs, his straight, even teeth, perfect except for one slightly turned incisor...I'm screwed, most of all, because of his kindness, which radiates from every pore. His passion, when he lets himself talk about things he loves...I'm screwed because of him, all of him. My body and my brain are conspiring against me here, but I can't let myself give in to them.

Boomerang is the start to a wonderful New Adult series that is sure to please many readers. The New Adult genre has really taken readers by storm here lately, and I too am on this bandwagon because the genre is just exquisite. The first book in this series tells the story of Mia and Ethan, who share a crazy, exciting night together and then find out the next day that they are both working an internship at the same place, Boomerang, a dating site started by a young business guru. To make matters worse, they soon find out that only one of them will be hired on in the fall, so they are competing against each other. As they spend more time together, they start to fall for each other and that only complicates things so much more.

The opening pages of this book pulled me in with their humor, wit, and promise of a fun, fast-paced story. I soon discovered that the entire book promised all of this as well. The book was so well-written that the words just flew off the page and I was finished with the book before I knew it. I was sad to finish this book, and I tried to postpone finishing it as long as I could. This book is the perfect beach or pool read for the summer. I was very excited to see that this is going to be a series because not only was it so easy to read, but I fell in love with the idea of Boomerang, the dating site, and all the drama that goes on there.

Mia and Ethan went well together; their personalities complement each other so well. Neither wants to outright admit their obvious feelings for each other. This was not an instant romance, but the chemistry was their all along and that is how I think a true romance should be written. I was able to fall in love with the characters as they were falling in love with each other. They were both thoroughly developed, and readers are able to see a little into their pasts and home lives. This is going to be an amazing series that many readers will be raving about soon!


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at William Morrow in exchange for my honest review***