Heartless: A Regency Romance by Jaimey Grant
Summary from Goodreads:
England 1820. The Duke of Derringer must marry within five days. Disgusted with his father for such a stupid codicil, he vows to marry the first woman he meets. That woman is Leandra Harcourt, illegitimate daughter of the late Earl of Harwood. Derringer marries her, refusing to admit he's helping her more than himself. Meanwhile, some disobliging soul wants him dead.
Read January 2013
Free e-book for Kindle
3 Stars
My Review:
I got this ebook for free on Amazon. This story had some fun and interesting things in it. I like Regency Romance, so there were aspects that I enjoyed. There were some nice twists in the story. The characters were ok.
My only big complaint about this book is that I read it as a "clean romance", but it wasn't clean by my definition. There are different definitions of clean romance. Some say that if there isn't graphic sex, then it is clean. For me it is more than that definition. If I read a book as a clean romance, then I don't want it to have graphic sex, but I also don't want it to have nudity or touching of private parts. Both of those were in this book.
Warnings: Nudity, touching private areas
I would not let my 14 year old read this book.
The Reluctant Bride by Donna Hatch (a very short story)
Summary from Goodreads:
Fleeing a looming marriage with a terrifying man, Abby meets a mysterious stranger who makes her a startling proposition.
Read January 2013
Free e-book for Nook
3 Stars
My Review:
This is a very short story that I got for free from Barnes and Noble on my Nook.
It is short and sweet. It isn't anything particularly special or outstanding, but it was a cute read that I enjoyed for the 30 minutes it took me to read.
Warnings: None
I would let my 14 year old read this book.
The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone
Summary from Goodreads:
A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her.
7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back?
Phoebe Stone tells the winning story of the spring when 7th grader Louise Terrace wakes up, finds the courage to confront the painful family secret she's hiding from - and finally get the boy.
Read January 2013
Library Book
3 Stars
My Review:
I liked this story, not the writing. The writing bothers me enough to give this a 3 star rating rather than 4 stars. Although this is a book about a middle school student, I don't think it needs to read like the middle schooler wrote it. Please use better grammar.
The story itself was good and I liked reading about the main character's journey. I loved "the boy" on Cinnamon Street. It was a short read, I did it in a day.
Warnings: Talk of Suicide, bullying
I have a middle schooler. She is 11. I wouldn't mind her reading about suicide if the writing were better. The story wasn't so bad, but the writing was just not good enough in this book for me to allow her to read it.
Crossed by Ally Condie (Matched #2)
Summary from Goodreads:
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
Read January 2013
Library Book
3.5 Stars
My Review:
I loved Matched. Although it came along when other dystopian books came also, it still was one of my favorites. Although Crossed did not thrill me as Matched did, I still liked it and I just re-read it in getting ready to read Reached (Matched #3). I'm glad I did the re-read.
I have some of the same complaints as before. I like the switching of points of view to get inside Ky's head. However, there are points about 3/4 of the way through the book that the 2 points of view get muddled. They are not as distinguishable as I wish they were.
Also, there is so much angst. I guess it is a rebellion. I like the lovey parts. I hope Reached has lovey parts included with the rebellion. And, I'm looking forward to finding out about Xander and his role in all of this.
Warnings: None
I would let my 14 year old read this, and she has.
All I Want by Jolene Perry, Kaylee Baldwin, and Rachael Anderson
Summary from Goodreads:
THREE STORIES. THREE COUPLES. ONE HOLIDAY.Pretty Near Perfect
by Jolene Perry
The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé's parents' home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.
Six Days of Christmas
by Kaylee Baldwin
When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.
Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.
Read January 2013
E-book
3.5 Stars
My Review:
These were 3 feel-good stories. They were a bit too perfect, but that is part of the fantasy of these romances.
Warnings: None
I would let my 14 year old read this. However, I wouldn't recommend it to her at this point. They are in fact grown up stories (not Young Adult).
Summary from Goodreads:
A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.
The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.
Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.
Read December 2012
Library Book
4.5 Stars
My review:
Several weeks ago, Shannon Hale did a blog post about her favorite reads in 2012. She asked for comments about which books were our favorite reads. As I looked over people's comments, I saw the name of this book, The Language of Flowers. I checked Goodreads for the rating from other readers as well as a summary. It looked interesting, but not a top choice for me to read, I wasn't running to the library to get a copy. I didn't think another thing about it until a few days ago when I was at the library (my number 1 stop for books). On the first display they have their "Here and Now" books (basically I think they are books that are popular, but frankly I'm not sure). The librarian was adding some books to it. My eyes were immediately drawn to The Language of Flowers which she had just put on the shelf. I picked it up, not even remembering exactly what it was about.
This book was an emotional roller coaster for me. I usually choose books to read that help me escape reality. If you look at my list of books, there are a lot of historical romance and re-telling of fairy tales. That is because they are not what life is like now and can take me to another place. This book did not take me to another place, it was very real.
The main character, Victoria, is a child who was abandoned when only a few weeks old. She grows up in the Foster Care system. Some homes are better than others, but mostly it is an extremely difficult childhood. I have a tender place in my heart for children in foster care. I have wanted to foster a child so many times and each time my husband and I discuss it, it just isn't right for us. I want every child to have a home. I want every child to have parents that love them and cherish them. To read about this girl who is so abused and lonely and abandoned over and over again just breaks my heart. I immediately wanted to foster again and wrap my arms around every lonely child I see. Unfortunately, Victoria has lots of emotional scars from this environment. She lashes out, makes poor choices, and hurts those around her that are trying to help.
I see 2 main points to this story that really struct me.
1. We have a choice. We always have a choice to go one direction or another. We all make mistakes. Some of them REALLY BIG. And, we will have to face the consequences, good or bad, that come with that choice that we made.
2. We can be forgiven. When we make a really bad choice, there is almost always a way to come back and make it better in some way. It may be really tough and heart wrenching and people may not like us, but we can be forgiven. (I have personal religious beliefs on this, but I won't go into those in relation to this book. If you are interested, then let me know).
At times as I was reading this book, I was so upset that Victoria kept making choices that were pulling her further away from those who loved her. Why was she doing this? But, I did not have the same growing up that she did. Once I let go of what I would do and let her be her, I was able to see her journey a bit better. And, luckily, the author gave her the opportunity to make her choices, but also gave Victoria friends who loved her and taught her about forgiveness. There is a wonderful message of forgiveness in this story and being able to start fresh. I appreciate this.
Warnings: Abandonment, abuse, premarital sex, birthing scene, post birth physical and emotional turmoil
I would not let my 14 year old read this story.
Lady Crenshaw's Christmas by Heidi Ashworth
Summary by Goodreads:
Ginny and her beloved Anthony, Lord Crenshaw, are finally married and have spent the bulk of their first blissful six months of marriage in the country. However, Ginny must now hostess a Christmas ball at Dunsmere, the estate of the dowager Duchess of Marcross. How is a mere vicar's daughter to carry off such an event with no experience and little exposure to the ways of the ton? And how is she to meet the expectations of her Grandaunt Regina, earn the good graces of Anthony's uncle the Duke of Marcross, endure the spite of the duke's new wife, manage the hysterical escapades of Lucinda, Lady Avery, and find the perfect gift for her husband, all while expecting a babe? All these questions and more are answered in Lady Crenshaw's Christmas, a short story follow-up to two full length novels, Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind and Miss Delacourt Has Her Day available via Montlake Romance.
Read December 2012
E-book
4 Stars
My Review:
This was a cute short story about the Crenshaws. It was a little too sweet, but fun nonetheless. It is a nice little snippet of the Crenshaw's life after the 2 previous books (listed in the summary above).
Warnings: None
I would let my 14 year old read this.
