Waiting on Wednesday (69)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!


This week I chose:

"The Name of the Star"
by Maureen Johnson
Putnam
Release Date: Sep 29, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Oooh, love this time period, it's soooo creepy!! And it's by Maureen Johnson!! What's not to love!?

What are you waiting for this week???

Teaser Tuesday (36)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

My teaser Tuesday pick:




" She settled for scrawling, You must find another fortune to hunt. Please send my belongings to Ashton House. "




p 8 "Nowhere Near Respectable" by Mary Jo Putney

Winner Announced!! "Beneath a Starlet Sky"

Winner Announced!!

 

The winner of "Beneath a Starlet Sky" is:

 

vidisha

Winner was chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winner!! I have emailed the winner for her mailing address. Winner has 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to  everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

In My Mailbox (65)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

I have a ton of books to post this week, but that's because I haven't done an IMM post for 3 weeks!!

for review:

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

This looks sooo interesting! Can't wait to start reading! 

"French Lessons" by Ellen Sussman

I actually like the cover of the ARC better!

"Lady of Seduction" by Laurel McKee

 

 I really liked this author's previous historical romance!

"Populazzi" by Elise Allen

 Sounds like a cute YA novel 

"Pompeii: City on Fire" by T.L. Higley

 This one has excellent reviews!

"The Darkest Heart" by Thea Devine

 Gothic historical romance!

"Reign of Madness" by Lynn Cullen

 I read a YA novel by her and loved it-"Rembrandt's Daughter"

"Before Versailles" by Karleen Koen

by the author of "Through a Glass Darkly"

contest wins:

"Daughters of Rome" by Kate Quinn

won from Marjolein's Book Blog!

"My One and Only"  by Kristan Higgins

won from Tyra's Book Addiction!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week???

Book Blog Follow and Book Blogger Hop May 27

Happy Friday, Everyone!!

It's time for Book Blog Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee.com and The Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy for Books!

My Answer: The number of books really depends, but I always read hard copy print books!!!

  

My Answer: The Notebook, I thought the movie was way better than the book.

If you're visiting for the first time, I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment and say hi!! :)

"Scandalous Women" Review

"Scandalous Women"
by Elizabeth Kerri Mahon

Publisher: Perigree Trade
Release Date: March 1, 2011

Source: sent by author and publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Throughout history women have caused wars, defied the rules, and brought men to their knees. The famous and the infamous, queens, divorcées, actresses, and outlaws have created a ruckus during their lifetimes-turning heads while making waves. Scandalous Women tells the stories of the risk takers who have flouted convention, beaten the odds, and determined the course of world events.
• When Cleopatra (69 BC-30 BC) wasn't bathing in asses' milk, the last pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt and forged an important political alliance with Rome against her enemies-until her dalliance with Marc Antony turned the empire against her.
• Emilie du Châtelet (1706-1748), a mathematician, physicist, author, and paramour of one of the greatest minds in France, Voltaire, shocked society with her unorthodox lifestyle and intellectual prowess-and became a leader in the study of theoretical physics in France at a time when the sciences were ruled by men.
• Long before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862-1928) fought to end discrimination and the terrible crime of lynching and helped found the NAACP, but became known as a difficult woman for her refusal to compromise and was largely lost in the annals of history.
• Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) had a passion for archaeology and languages, and left her privileged world behind to become one of the foremost chroniclers of British imperialism in the Middle East, and one of the architects of the modern nation of Iraq.

My Review:

This book proves that truth is stranger than fiction! I loved reading about women's side of history, and not just the boxed-in views of women that history books teach us. These women are real, flaws and all.

There is a broad range of historical eras represented here. Some of the women are ones that I've gobbled up stories about for years, like Cleopatra. Some women I thought I knew, like  Joan of Arc, but she's turned out to be even more fascinating and inspiring than I thought. Others, I knew nothing about until reading his book, but I'm glad I know them now.

The book doesn't just focus on the positive side of scandalous women's stories either. Some stories are sad, and some are even cringe-worthy, and you'll be glad the scandals didn't happen to you. But these stories can be inspiring too,  just by knowing that we aren't alone in our struggles and that we too can overcome obstacles like these women did.

I liked the conversational style of writing, but some of the comparisons and slang may be outdated in a few years. There is so much information packed into this book, I may have enjoyed it more if I had just read small bits at a time. Each woman's story is only a few pages long, and complete in itself, so maybe I should have spread out reading them to be able to enjoy each story more.



Bottom Line: This book is an eye-opening look at 'herstory' and has a spot on my keeper shelf!

Winners Announced! "Ripe for Pleasure" and "The Guardian"

Winners Announced!!

The winners of "Ripe for Pleasure" by Isobel Carr are:

 

 

Jena Lang

Barbara E

noseinanovel

 

The winners of "The Guardian" by Margaret Mallory are:

 

Winnie

Barbara E

fdigsby

 

Winners were chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winners!! I have emailed the winners for their mailing address. Winners have 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to  everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

Waiting on Wednesday (68)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Cleopatra Confesses"
by Carolyn Meyer
Simon & Schuster
Release Date: June 7, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

It is the first century B.C. Cleopatra, the third of the pharaoh's six children, is the one that her father has chosen to be the next queen of Egypt. But when King Ptolemy is forced into exile, Cleopatra is left alone to fend for herself in a palace rife with intrigue and murder. Smart, courageous, ambitious and sensuously beautiful, she possesses the charm to cause two of history's most famous leaders to fall in love with her. But as her cruel sisters plot to steal the throne, Cleopatra realizes there is only one person on whom she can rely--herself.

I love reading about Cleopatra! And Carolyn Meyer's historical books are so good, this one is sure to be amazing!

What are you waiting for this week??? 

Review and Giveaway: "The A Circuit"

"The A Circuit"
by Catherine Hapka and Georgina Bloomberg

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 24, 2011

Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

The A Circuit is the top of the top when it comes to horse shows. It's a world with its own rules and superprivileged lifestyles. Teens travel the circuit all year, showing horses that cost as much as some homes.
Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all elite competitors on the circuit, but they come from totally different backgrounds. Tommi is a billionaire heiress trying to prove she has real talent (not just deep bank accounts). Kate puts the working in working student—every win has been paid for with hours of cleaning stalls. She's used to the grueling schedule, but Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy, is about to become a major distraction. And then there's Zara. She's the wild child of a famous rockstar, but she's ready to take riding seriously. Can a party girl really change her ways?
Readers who enjoy peeking into the elite world of Gossip Girl or The A-List will feel right at home in this new series with its friendships, drama, and privilege set against the backdrop of competitive horseback riding.

My Review:

I can't resist a good horse book and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The story had a bit of a slow start for me because there was a lot of insider show horse info and lingo. But after I adjusted to the setting, I was caught up in the world of show horses.

The three main characters were complex and likable. Zara, the wild child, takes some getting used to, but Kate was totally believable in her perfectionism. I think I liked Tommi the best, a snobby heiress on the outside, but with a heart of gold if you care enough to look underneath the facade.

I can see how this book would be a great stepping stone for girls who love to read about horses. It's very odd that there are so many books about horses for middle grade readers, but practically none for older teens. I think it's a great niche to fill. However, it's a really big jump from the innocence of the middle grade books to a book with such themes as sex, drugs, and drinking. So parents be warned of that before giving this one as a gift.

There practically has to be a sequel, because there are a lot of stories left unfinished.  Zara still has a lot of growing to do before she's completely likable and one of the romances was left a bit open ended.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 love it!
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: This is a fun story for older teens where the stable is its own little world with lots of drama, and of course, lots of horses! I'm looking forward to the rest of the series if there is one.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Bloomsbury has generously provided a brand new finished copy of "The A Circuit" for readers of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy

Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:

• US and Canada only
• Must be a follower to enter
• Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Books will be mailed out by the publisher
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Tues June 7

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

Review and Giveaway: "Beneath a Starlet Sky"

"Beneath a Starlet Sky"
by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthana Khalighi Hopper

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: April 26, 2011

Source: sent by publicist

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
 

Summary from goodreads.com:

 The New York Times bestselling authors of Celebutantes return with a dazzling new novel set among the star-studded crowds of the Cannes Film Festival, where everyone’s hoping to discover, sign, screw or become the Next Big Thing.  And a three-picture deal would be nice.   
Lola Santisi—CEO of a struggling fashion line, reformed Actorholic and daughter of Hollywood Royalty—is now not only bicoastal, she’s Bi-Lolar: That is the condition which causes her to swing like a pendulum between the opposing poles of the fashion world in New York and the real world with her Doctor Boyfriend in Los Angeles. She hardly knows which shoe fits her anymore: the Louboutin stiletto or the Croc. As Lola tries to launch Julian Tennant’s new dress line, it looks like they’re about to get their next big break: his wedding dresses have been chosen to feature in the top film at the Cannes Film Festival. And suddenly Lola is staging a full-blown couture show on a yacht – in the middle of the Med.  Think those super models had trouble walking down the catwalks at Fashion Week?  With an unexpected finale twist, this time it’s Lola who’s tumbling off the runway.
Having recently endured a disastrous break-up with Lola’s brother Christopher, Kate Woods, Lola’s BFF and CAA’s rising star agent, is newly single, and focused 24-7 on her clients. The only thing worse than thinking it was a good idea for Kate to date Lola’s brother, is thinking it was a good idea for Kate to put one of her most loose-cannon clients, Nic Knight, in Lola’s father’s movie. Among Kate’s other mega star clients is Saffron Sykes whose appearance on the cover of Vain magazine in Julian Tennant could be the difference between Julian Tennant, Inc. weathering the economy or going bust.
As Lola fights to survive the Cannes Film Festival, will she get swept into the French Riviera’s riptide of glamour and superficiality? Are real love and couture mutually exclusive?  Or can Lola have it all – the good doctor and her Louboutins. With her father and brother vying for the same prize, her mother starring in her new reality show, and one heartbroken girlfriend about to declare motherhood, it’s all on Lola to come up with the answers.  And it’s going to take more than one of her mother’s prosperity chants to save the day.

My Review:

If you're addicted to Access Hollywood and/or US Magazine, you're going to love this book. It's a great, easy beach read.

One thing I liked about the book was that there was so much drama, but it was all pretty PG-13 drama. There were no moments of thinking, "Ew, gross, she did what???" like you see in some Hollywood gossip style books.

Lola was a cute character, there wasn't whole lot of depth to her, but she was cute. I loved that she had a sweetie for a boyfriend, so that bumped up my opinion of her. Their relationship reminded me a tiny bit of Rebecca and Luke in the "Shopaholic" books.

The couple that really interested me was Lola's best friend, Kate, and Lola's brother, Chris. Talk about drama waiting to happen!

There's quite a bit of name-dropping in the book which was a little tiresome. Of course, I realize I've already dropped 3 or 4 names myself in this review, so maybe it just goes with the Hollywood territory. However, I enjoyed the more subtle pop culture references like the faux "Project Runway" tv show, and the "Wristwatch Wives" aka "Real Housewives." I thought the parodies were much funnier and more effective than dropping Viggo's name here and there.
 

Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: Overall, this is a cute, fun read, great if you need a really fluffy read to relax and unwind with.



GIVEAWAY RULES:

The publicist for "Beneath a Starlet Sky" has generously provided a copy of this book for readers of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy

Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:

• US and Canada only
• Must be a follower to enter
• Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Books will be mailed out by the publicist
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Fri May 27

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck! 

Waiting on Wednesday (67)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Audition"
by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Viking Juvenile
Release Date: Oct 13, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Once you've been chosen,
what step can you take...?

Seventeen-year-old Sara's dream of becoming a star ballerina is challenged when she falls for Remington, an older choreographer. Instead of success onstage, she becomes Rem's muse, which is a future she never considered--and one that threatens to break her heart.

You gotta love a YA romance, and I love the ballet angle. 

What are you waiting for this week??? 

"A Heart Most Worthy" Review

"A Heart Most Worthy"
by Siri Mitchell

Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: March 1, 2011

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
 

Summary from goodreads.com:

The elegance of Madame Forza's gown shop is a far cry from the downtrodden North End of Boston. Yet each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on finery for the elite in society. The three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times. Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer's son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza's most important client. Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?

My Review: 
 

It's difficult to write a review when you just want to write "This book is so awesome!" But it's so much more than that, so I'll try to explain why.

I loved that the book is about everyday life and situations in 1918, it's not about politics, exact dates, and other thing we've already learned in history books. It's about women's lives at home, at work, in love, and with friends. This is what I love to read about!

There are a lot of characters in this book, the three women who work in Madame Fortier's dress shop, and two older women, Madame herself and her customer, Mrs. Quinn. All of the women are very different and lead very different lives, but they all come together at the dress shop.

The romances in this story are absolutely swoon-worthy! The little moments are just so romantic. And all three of the the ladies' love stories are completely different from each others'.

This tale doesn't read like Christian fiction. These ladies make all kinds of mistakes and are able to learn from them instead of being preached at. The message is still there, but it's much more realistic.



Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line: It's an eye opening look at city life at the time and glimpse at a piece of history we don't often see. Lovely characters with engrossing stories make this book a keeper!

Teaser Tuesday (35)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

My teaser Tuesday pick:



" 'This is where Lola's love of fashion began,' my mother says, laying a protective manicured hand on the photo Papa took the night I was born. 'She was born on Oscar Night, you know.' "




p 51 "Beneath a Starlet Sky" by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper

Giveaway and Review: "Ripe for Pleasure"

"Ripe for Pleasure"
 by Isobel Carr

Publisher: Forever
Release Date: May 1, 2011

Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
 

Summary from goodreads.com:

Second in line, first in love
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure,
finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all. 

My Review:

This book was like a breath of fresh air for me. The characters really and truly seemed to care about each other and respect each other. I felt like we really got to see the character's inner thoughts and feelings more than normal in historical romance.

I loved reading about characters that were different from the norm in historical romances. Viola was a strong-hearted, worldly courtesan, not the innocent heiress we generally see. Leo wasn't going to inherit a title and effortlessly sweep the heroine away. He was a second son and had to make his own way in the world. I love seeing historical romance through the different viewpoints of these two characters. Their love wasn't bound by society's rules. They made their won rules for their love story and the result feels so natural.

Leo was positively dashing with his one blue eye and his wicked green eye. He was so intense in all of this feelings, whether it was anger at his cousin, love for Viola, or jealousy over her former flames. I admit, Leo started the book with a pretty big mistake towards Viola. But the action was such a whirlwind at the beginning, it was hard to tell what was really his doing in his cousin's plot. As soon as he met Viola, you could really see his remorse for his part in the plan. By then he was into the intrigue so deep that he had to keep up the lies to protect her from his increasingly dangerous cousin. Besides, he feels his regret just as strongly as his other emotions. Whenever a hero is no holds barred begging for a heroine's attentions and announcing his feelings to anyone he knows, it's easy to forgive.

Pen, the scraggly adopted dog, is a great addition to the story. She brings out both Viola and Leo's real selves. Leo's sister, Beau, is a great secondary character as well. She's spunky but sometimes doesn't think before she leaps. As for Leo's fellow second sons, it was a little tough to keep them all distiguished from each other, but I'm sure we're going to see more of his friends in the rest of the series.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5 (Pen gets a 5!)
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: I'm really looking forward to the rest of "The League of Second Sons" series for more out of the ordinary historical romance. Viola and Leo's love story was both all-consuming, and yet felt so real at the same time. I can't wait to read more from this author.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Hachette books has generously provided three copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy

Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:

• US and Canada only
• No PO Boxes please
• Must be a follower to enter
• Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Books will be mailed out by Hachette
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Wed May 25

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!  

Giveaway and Review: "The Guardian"

"The Guardian"
 by Margaret Mallory

Publisher: Forever
Release Date: May 1, 2011

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
 

Summary from goodreads.com:

Four young Highlanders - Connor, Ian, Alex and Duncan - hurry home from France after hearing news of the disastrous Battle of Flodden against Henry VIII's forces. With his father among the dead, Connor must take his place as chieftain. Before he can lead his clan through the perilous times ahead, however, he must first dislodge the usurper who has taken his family's castle and claimed leadership of the clan. Connor's cousins and best friend, Ian, Alex and Duncan, will stand shoulder to shoulder with him in every fight. They are willing to give their lives for their clan and their new chieftain. But taking wives to serve the clan's interests is a different matter altogether...

My Review:

I was really looking forward to this book because I loved the author's previous book, "Knight of Passion" (review here). Most of the reason why I loved that book so much was because I loved the hero, Jamie, and the romance. Here, I was disappointed in both of those aspects that I was really looking forward to.

There were many great characters in this book, but the hero, Ian, wasn't one of them. Sileas had what I like to call "Twilight" syndrome, where she is surrounded by great guys who respect her and care about her but she 'loves' the one guy who treats her disrespectfully.

Sileas spends more time with Ian's brother, Niall, who I absolutely love, than she does with Ian. Niall is so sweet and caring, even accompanying her on a dangerous trek. But she's not into him. She also is very happy when she's around Alex, Ian's cousin. Alex treats her well when Ian doesn't and picks up the slack for his cousin, trying to smooth things over. Also, Sileas is always laughing and happy around Alex but not around Ian. I would love to read the books where these two upstanding young men are the center of the story.

I really liked Sileas' relationship with Ian's family. They really were her family too, and there was a lot of love there. I don't think Ian would have had much of a chance with Sileas if it weren't for her bond with his family.


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 3/5 (not really a fan of this one, where's the romance!?)
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: I felt like all Sileas and Ian had was the physical bond, and it just wasn't enough for me. I would have loved to see the heroine with either Niall or Alex, who both clearly respected her and cared about her.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Hachette books has generously provided three copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy

Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:

• US and Canada only
• No PO Boxes please
• Must be a follower to enter
• Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
• Leave a comment with your email address
• Books will be mailed out by Hachette
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Wed May 25

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

Free Ebook for Kindle and Nook!

There's a new ebook available now for Kindle and Nook, it looks so good! Love the era and how exciting that it's about women getting the vote!

Grab it now while it's free!

"A Vote of Confidence" by Robin Lee Hatcher

Kindle

Nook

Enjoy!!

Waiting on Wednesday (66)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Fortune's Son"
by Emery Lee
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: Nov. 1, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:


FORTUNE IS FICKLE...EVEN UNTO HER OWN.

Philip Drake is a titled but impoverished adventurer. Lady Susannah Messingham is a woman with a past looking to safeguard her future. When they meet by chance over a hazard table, their destinies change as unpredictably as a roll of the dice.

Emery Lee spins a web of drama, passion, and deceit deep in the world of high stakes gaming. This fascinating and original look at an unchartered aspect of 18th century life explores a gentleman ensnared by gambling and the wayward lady who redeems him.

I am loooving this cover! I can't believe this is the sequel to The Highest Stakes, they definitely went in a different direction with the cover! Hopefully this is as romantic as the cover suggests!

What are you waiting for this week???

Teaser Tuesday (34)

 Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

My teaser Tuesday pick:




" Ian knew he should stop staring at her, but he couldn't help himself. And why should he when the lass was staring right back at him?"





p 37 ARC of "The Guardian" by Margaret Mallory

In My Mailbox (64)

 In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

for review:

 "The Map of Time" by Felix J. Palma

also came with a copy of HG Wells' "The Time Machine"

"A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly

 I loooooove this cover!!! Unfortunately this grainy pic is all I can find, but in person, it's gorgeous!

"South of Superior" by Ellen Airgood

 

contest wins:

  "Ten Miles Past Normal"

won from Tara at The Bodacious Pen

What did you receive in your mailbox this week???

Free Ebooks from Sourcebooks!!

Sourcebooks is offering a lot of free ebooks this weekend! Stock up now while they're free!! 

All of the books are available in many digital formats, I've listed the Kindle and Nook links, links to other formats can be found here.

 

"Songs for a Teenage Nomad" by Kim Culbertson

Kindle

Nook

 

"One Lucky Cowboy" by Carolyn Brown

Kindle

Nook

"SEALed With a Kiss" by Mary Margaret Daughtridge

Kindle

Nook

"Secret in Salem" by Sheri Anderson

Kindle

Nook

Have a great reading weekend!!

Book Blog Follow and Book Blogger Hop May 6

Happy Friday, Everyone!!

It's time for Book Blog Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee.com and The Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy for Books!







  

If you're visiting for the first time, I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment and say hi!! :)

"What Would Mr. Darcy Do?" Mini-Review

"What Would Mr. Darcy Do?"
by Abigail Reynolds

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release Date: April 30, 2011

Source: contest win

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

But what if Darcy hadn't immediately left the inn? What if Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy had chosen to speak their feelings rather than to assume the worst about the other? Jane Austen's beloved characters are given the opportunity to reach out one last time before they part. While their path forward is still filled with misadventures and misunderstandings it is rich with humor, romance, and sensuality as they learn about each other and the meaning of love. But there's still a scandal threatening to engulf the Bennet family, and Elizabeth can't be sure that Darcy's love for her could withstand such a blow. Determined to give Darcy up rather than drag his name through the mud, Elizabeth will have to choose for herself between what she believes is right, and what she wants more than anything...

My Mini-Review:

This was a super sweet retelling of "Pride and Prejudice", picking up after Elizabeth's refusal of Darcy. As if readers needed to fall even more in love with Mr. Darcy, I think this book could easily make that happen! Without losing any attributes from the original, we get to see an even softer, sweeter side of Darcy. Readers get to see his true head-over-heels romantic feelings towards Elizabeth.

"Pride and Prejudice" lovers are sure to love this glimpse into Mr. Darcy's romantic musings on his love for Elizabeth. Elizabeth is her same stubborn, strong self, and Georgina, Darcy's sister, is absolutely adorable in this version.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5 
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 3/5
Writing:4/5

 
Bottom Line: A short, sweet, and very romantic look back at two of Austen's most beloved characters.

Winners Announced!!

Winners Announced!!

The winners of "Never a Gentleman" by Eileen Dreyer are:

D.L.

Alexa

Linda Henderson

The winners of the Georgette Heyer Grab Bag giveaway are:

 Joy Tamsin David

Noseinanovel

Winners were chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winners!! I have emailed the winners for their mailing address. Winners have 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to  everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

Waiting on Wednesday (65)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"The Princess Curse"
by Merrie Haskell
Harper Collins
Release Date: Sep 6, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling—and downright silly—curse. Ridiculous though the curse may be, whoever breaks it will win a handsome reward.

Sharp-witted Reveka, an herbalist’s apprentice, has little use for princesses, with their snooty attitudes and impractical clothing. She does, however, have use for the reward money that could buy her a position as a master herbalist.

But curses don’t like to be broken, and Reveka’s efforts lead her to deeper mysteries. As she struggles to understand the curse, she meets a shadowy stranger (as charming as he is unsettling) and discovers a blighted land in desperate need of healing. Soon the irreverent apprentice is faced with a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?

This one looks so fun and magical! And I love the cover!

What are you waiting for this week????

Teaser Tuesday (33)

 Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!   

My teaser Tuesday pick:



" She imagined herself in the sleek and elegant clothes of a shop owner. Part owner.Wondered if she shouldn't start altering some of her clothes to that end now. "




p 121 "A Heart Most Worthy" by Siri Mitchell

"Knitting Knee-Highs" Review

"Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary"
by Barb Brown

Publisher: Krause
Release Date: Feb 24, 2011

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

In this book, author Barb Brown takes sock knitting to new heights by teaching you the ins and outs of knitting knee highs, a popular sock, but one that needs more explanation than most books and magazines give it. Here, in the first book on the topic, you will learn how to size these socks as you knit them, with 20 great patterns to pick from. Each of the 20 knee-high patterns comes with a variation that features that design in a different color and style of sock, perfect for knitters who want to mix up their sock drawer.

My Review:


Anyone who has stopped by over at my vintage blog knows that I like to knit, so I was excited to receive this book for review. "Knitting Knee-Highs" is an amazing book for intermediate to advanced knitters. There's a great diversity in the patterns, some are very bold color work patterns, while others are subtle and textured in neutral colors.


I absolutely love how the author encourages the reader to try new things. She doesn't just say, "Oh you could make these socks shorter," she gives you clear instructions on how to adapt any of her knee high patterns to socks or legwarmers. I'm impressed with the number of patterns in the book. There are 20 patterns but each one has at least one variation. With all of these options, you're bound to find something you love.


I'm fascinated by her suggestion to use positive and negative to flip flop the colors and make coordinating but not matching socks. I really can't wait to try this, the examples that she has shown are gorgeous. The patterns do look challenging, they probably aren't for a beginning knitter, but I think with patience, an intermediate knitter like me would be up for the challenge.


I loved the descriptions at the beginning of each pattern where the author tells about her inspiration for the pattern and techniques. The photos are clear and detailed and she shows you how using different color combinations can dramatically change the look.


Bottom Line: I can't wait to try out a pair of non-matching knee highs next fall, until then I may try one of her adorable anklets with a scalloped fold over cuff.

Winner Announced!! "Athena the Wise"

Winner Announced!!

 

The winner of the "Athena the Wise" book and swag bag is 

Linda Henderson

Winner was chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winner!! I have emailed the winner for her mailing address. Winner has 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to  everyone who entered!! Congrats!!