Teaser Tuesday (10)

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:


"Shay slammed the library book shut, giving it an abrupt shove. It sailed over the edge of the table, hitting the floor with a dull thud."


p 239 "Nightshade" by Andrea Cremer (ARC)

"Masquerade" Review

"Masquerade"
by Nancy Moser

Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: Aug 1, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Lottie Gleason's parents arranged for her to marry a very rich American to save her from scandal in England. Even though she doesn't have any desire to wed a stranger, she and her maid, Dora, set off on the long journey to America. Instead of traveling as Lottie's maid Dora wears Lottie's dresses and pretends to be a lady. The charade works so well, Lottie comes up with a plan-have Dora marry the rich American heir in her place while Lottie finds her own adventures. Will the girls be able to pull of the masquerade?

This book was very refreshing in how different it was. The alternating viewpoints of Lottie and Dora/Charlotte made for a fast-paced story with lots of secondary characters.

My favorite part of the book was when the girls were on the ship to America. I couldn't help but think of Titanic without the iceberg. Seeing Dora blossom and understanding Lottie's jealousy was intriguing. I felt like the author was telling us that it's not the fancy clothes but the woman inside that counts.

Lottie was spoiled, but it was nice to see her growth throughout the book. Dora made some bad decisions, but both girls learned from their mistakes.

At times, the resolutions to their problems were a bit too perfect and well-timed, but it was all for the sake of the story and the message was positive. I enjoyed the bits of romance and at times really didn't know what would happen to the girls or where they would end up.


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


Bottom Line: This was a unique story that looks at two very different social classes, set in a fascinating era of American history.

"Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method" Review

"Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method"
by Tracy Anderson

Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style
Release Date: Sep 20, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book Summary from goodreads.com:
Did you know muscles get bored, just like people do? And did you also know that there's a 9 out of 10 chance that you're working the wrong muscles when you exercise? With TRACY ANDERSON'S 30-DAY METHOD you don't have to worry--her unique workout will help you drop the weight and shrink your body in just 30 days.

Based on ten years of scientific research and experience getting not just herself, but A-list stars and everyday people, red carpet ready, Anderson has developed a unique 30-day diet and workout routine that reshapes the body and defies genetics to tone the muscles and drop the pounds. While most people incorrectly target their major muscle groups, like the bicep or hamstring, the focus should be on the smaller accessory muscles that can create a long, lean, balanced look--instead of bulked up look. Anderson's program is composed of a groundbreaking three-tiered approach, including a mat workout and cardio routine targeting the all-important accessory muscles, and an exclusive 30-day meal plan, complete with dozens of delicious recipes.

This comprehensive kick-start program is unlike any other workout on the market and it leaves no chance for anything but terrific, fast results!

My Review:

This review is of the book only, I'd love say that I tried the exercises and have already seen results after 30 days, but all I've done so far is read!

The premise of Anderson's plan is really interesting. Basically, she uses a three facet approach, strength training, cardio, and a healthy diet. I think the really unique part of the plan lies in the strength training. She targets the body's smaller, less noticed muscle groups to create a long, lean, strong body, not bulk.

The conditioning exercises are clearly pictured with detailed instructions. I feel really motivated to do the strength training, but I didn't get much out of the cardio or diet sections of the book.

I really liked the tone of Anderson's writing. She's very encouraging and motivational. It seems like she truly wants to help. Her focus is on what you can be, not on how lazy you are now like some exercise books can be. I like her focus on the positive.

The foreword by Gwyneth Paltrow is honest and encouraging. Since most of us know her, it feels good to hear someone familiar recommend Anderson's plan.

Bottom Line: I can't wait to try the exercises, even if I do cheat a bit and only do the strength training. I think this is a positive addition to a fitness lover's collection, even if you only take bits and pieces of her advice.

In My Mailbox (42)

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:

"Another Pan" by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

yay!! I am soooo excited to read this one! I can't wait!!

"Ruined" by Paula Morris

oooh, a ghost story just in time for Halloween!!

contest wins:

"Cinders" by Michelle Davidson Argyle

I won this one from the author, it looks amazing! I love twists on fairy tales!

"A Pearl in the Sand" by Tessa Afshar

won from Janet at Along the Way, and sent from the publisher. this book has such great reviews and I am blown away by this cover!

"Lessons from a Dead Girl" by Jo Knowles


"Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott

both won from Alicia at Look at My Books in her banned books contest!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week??

"Cleopatra Rules" Review

"Cleopatra Rules!"
by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Release Date: Oct 1, 2010

Source: sent by author

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Book Summary from BoydsMillsPress.com:

Good. Evil. Dangerous. Glamorous. Will the real Cleopatra please stand up? Almost everything we know about the last queen of Egypt came from her enemies—the Romans. Now it’s time to meet the “real” Cleopatra, a ruler more complex, brilliant, and powerful than we ever knew. Cleopatra didn’t just rock the boat when she became queen at seventeen. She rocked the world with brilliant alliances that kept her in power and in control. When Mark Antony tried to put Egypt under his thumb, she negotiated for—and won—more territory than any Egyptian ruler had snagged in generations. Cleopatra didn’t just play by the rules. She made them up as she went along. She bowed to no one, including Octavian—the future Caesar Augustus—who never missed an opportunity to pump out anti-Cleopatra propaganda. The queen of Egypt has fascinated the world for thousands of years. It’s time to find out why. So, on your knees, commoner! The world’s most brilliant and outrageous queen—Cleopatra VII, the last Pharaoh of Egypt—is about to make her entrance. Includes maps, endnotes, timeline, glossary, sources, and index.

My Review:

This was such a beautiful book! I was really impressed. The layout and photos of this non-fiction book for young readers were very nicely put together. The cover is absolutely stunning and the image is on the book too, not just the dust jacket.

I have always admired Cleopatra and I knew some of the facts, but Shecter opened my eyes about some things. I knew Cleopatra was misunderstood by most and her image of the sexy seductress wasn't all there was to her. But I always thought it was Hollywood who chopped up her image. But no, it was her own enemies in her own time who did all of that.

Also, I knew Cleopatra was very well read (one of the reasons I love her) but I did not know that Marc Antony once stole a very valuable scroll (book) for her as a wedding present! Here's a guy who knows what his lady likes!

The author's voice was so easy to read and really brought the history alive for today's younger reader. Her writing flowed and she compared things that happened to Cleopatra with events that were more family to today's reader. For instance, all of the bad 'press' Cleopatra had in her day was similar to Perez cutting down a celeb on his blog today.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed reading Cleopatra's story again and the author really presents her in a fair and accurate light. I love the way the book is written for today's young readers. And I was glad to learn new information.

Winners Announced!! September Romance Classics Giveaway!

Winners Announced!!

The three winners of the September Romance Classics giveaway are:


Patsy
Rebecca
DK's Book Reviews

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

"Dark Road to Darjeeling" Review

"Dark Road to Darjeeling"
by Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Mira
Release Date: Oct 1, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Book Summary from Goodreads.com:

With an exotic setting in the foothills of the Himalayas and the introduction of an arch-villain, Dark Road to Darjeeling promises to be the most exciting Lady Julia novel yet.

For Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane, the honeymoon has ended...but the adventure is just beginning.

After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia’s eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly-widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband’s family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband’s death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.


My Review:

This book reminded me of one of my Nintendo DS games, Professor Layton and the Curious Village. There was a mystery to solve, and Julia continuously met new characters who would give her another small clue to the puzzle. Each time she met someone else, she would get that much closer to solving the mystery.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery more so than historicals. For some reason, I thought this would be more of a romance, but it was definitely more mystery novel. Julia's husband, Brisbane, seemed a bit too stuffy for me. She even called him by his last name! But perhaps if I had read the other books in the series and knew how they met, etc, I would have liked his character.

Another comparison I kept thinking of while reading, was Lucy and Ricky from "I Love Lucy." It seemed like Julia was trying desperately to join in Brisbane's adventures, just like Lucy tried so hard to be in Ricky's show. Zany adventures ensue, only this time dangerous, and Brisbane always refuses to let her join him as a detective. The author gave reasons for him not wanting her to be a detective-he's had more training, he wants to keep her safe, but it sometimes came off as chauvinistic.

I know a lot of readers were hoping for some tea in this one because of the title, and-yes-there is a tea garden in Darjeeling! Yay!

Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 2/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line:Even though I was disappointed that there wasn't more romance, this would be a great read for mystery fans, the historical aspect adds a lot of adventure!