Posts Categorized: book review

Early Book Review- Longing For Home by Sarah M. Eden

11 Jun, 2013 by in book review, sarah m eden, Shadow Mountain 2 comments

Longing for Home
by Sarah M. Eden
Paperback
Expected publication: August 6th 2013 
by Shadow Mountain 
ISBN 1609074610
Book Source: BEA
5 stars


Book Summary From Goodreads: Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. But if she wants to return home to Ireland to make amends with her estranged family, she’ll need to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper despite her Irish roots. The town is caught in an ongoing feud between the Irish and the “Reds” the frontiersmen who would rather see all the Irish run out of town and the Irish immigrants who are fighting to make a home for themselves in the New World. When Joseph agrees to keep Katie on as his housekeeper, the feud erupts anew, and Katie becomes the reluctant figurehead for the Irish townsfolk. As the violence escalates throughout the town, Katie must choose between the two men who have been vying for her love though only one might be able to restore hope to her heart.

Review:  Sarah M. Eden is one of my go to authors for clean, historic romance. So, of course, when I saw stack including Longing for Home at the Shadow Mountain booth at BEA I may have squeed a little. This is my first choice from the books I picked up at Book Expo America. Within days of arriving home from NYC, I had already read and wanted to hug it just as Katie MacAuley hugs her violin on the front cover. 

Katie MacCauley is exiled from her childhood home after famine and harsh landlords cause her father to lose their land and a tragic death claims the life of her sister.  She is far from home in Baltimore when word of opportunity anew reaches the East. But going far away can’t keep the ghosts at bay that keep haunting Katie’s memory. Literally crippled both emotionally and physically she begins to heal form the neglect and guilt harbored deep inside. Ultimately, her dream is to make things right by returning to Ireland, but two men vying for her affection have different plans.

Sarah Eden paints a clear picture of Irish life with historic elements of their homeland, Ireland…the soda bread, the music, the neighborhood gatherings or ceili, and the accent. All of these gave me a glance into what life may have been like for the green settlers who were trying to make their way in a “red” frontiersman’s world, as well as the opposition my ancestors likely faced trying to make their way and earn a living here. The separation and prejudice against the Paddys, or “green” Irish side runs strong and heated fueled by” the red road” where Katie finds herself literally living in the middle. Joseph Archer, a widow with two children, is also torn between the town and the Irish. Enter Tavish, the very confident berry vendor , who is determined to tip the scales in his favor and win the heart of Ms. MacCauley.

As a descendant of the Irish who immigrated to the United States, I absolutely loved Longing for Home. Sarah’s writing keeps getting better and better.  I would highly recommend all of her books.

Excerpt: Katie pulled open the back door only to have it pushed closed once more. For a moment she couldn’t account for such an odd thing. Her mind, however, quickly pieced the mystery together. Mr. Archer stood behind her, his arm reaching out past her shoulder, hand flat against the door. She’d been so lost in her thoughts shed’s never even heard him catch up to her.

Katie kept her back to him and folded her arms in front of her. “Have you come to order me about some more?”

“Order you about?” Though Katie knew Mr. Archer had to be standing almost touching her to have reached the door from behind her, the nearness of his voice still startled her. “If I’ve learned anything about you over the last week, it’s that you do not respond well to being told what to do.” p.151

Content: clean, mild violence

About the author:  Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Whitney Award finalists Seeking Persephone (2008, Covenant Communications) and Courting Miss Lancaster(2010, Covenant Communications). Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference, acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat and is one-third of the team at the AppendixPodcast.com. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary Agency.

Find Sarah on Goodreads/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Website


Emerald City Blog Tour and Author Guest Post

26 Mar, 2012 by in book review 1 comment

Fire and Ice is today’s stop on the Emerald City blog tour. We are excited to have author Alicia K Leppert on our site today talking about the locations she used in her book and where they came from…

Emerald City
by Alicia K. Leppert
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: April 10th 2012
by Sweetwater Books ISBN1599558645
Book Source: Publisher
Book Summary from author’s website: Olivia Tate is a broken shell of a girl haunted by the tragic events that fill her past. She has closed herself off from the world, each day grasping at something—anything—to live for. Convinced there will never be a way out, she seeks solace in the depths of her medicine cabinet. When she wakes up days later in the hospital she is introduced to Jude, the quiet stranger responsible for saving her life. She never could have guessed then that her mysterious rescuer would end up saving her life a second time, while simultaneously turning her world upside down. A modern-day romance with a twist, Emerald City has a little bit of something for everyone!
Author Guest Post: ” I had a lot of fun picking locations in my book, and each one came from some memory or personal experience I’ve had in my lifetime. Much of the book takes place in Olivia’s apartment, which actually was something I just dreamed up based on studio apartments I’ve seen on TV and in movies. I’ve always had a thing for lofts and studio apartments in big cities, with brick or concrete walls. Although Olivia’s apartment is nothing as grand as the ones I dream about, it was roughly based on those.
The coffee shop she works in was based on a coffee shop I had breakfast in in Seattle about 12 years ago when I was visiting my sister and her family. They’re probably about a dime a dozen in the Seattle area, but whenever I wrote about Olivia at work, I thought of the coffee shop from that specific visit.
The mansion on the lake that Jude takes Olivia to is actually based on the gorgeous houses down the street from where I grew up, along the Columbia River. These houses are huge and amazing and have all those things you dream about having, like theater rooms and swimming pools and arcades. And since they’re on the river, they always have huge glass windows on the back walls, overlooking the water.
A personal favorite of mine is the location of their first “date,” on the pier. It was largely based on my husband’s and my first real date. We drove to Seattle and had dinner at Red Robin on the pier, then went on the Argosy Cruise around Puget Sound. While we waited for the cruise to start, we hung out on the pier looking out at the sound, and my husband (fiance at the time) carved our names into the wooden railing of the pier. The seafood restaurant Jude and Olivia eat at, however, was based on a restaurant we’ve visited many times at the Oregon Coast in Lincoln City.
That’s about it for the locations that had any kind of significance. All others came from some corner of my memory or imagination. But all were equally fun to create!
Alicia K Leppert’s Bio: I always knew I wanted to be a writer, ever since Career Day in first grade when I walked around carrying a notebook and pencil. Twenty-some odd years later, after a short stint in high school where I dreamed of being an actress, a whirlwind Internet romance including a blind proposal that led to a fairytale wedding and two pretty-near perfect kids, my lifelong dream came to fruition with my first novel, Emerald City. I live with my small brood in my beloved hometown of Pasco, which is located in the only part of Washington state that isn’t green. When I’m not writing, I can be found decorating novelty cakes and taking naps–my other two passions.

Find out more on Goodreads/ author’s website/ Twitter/ Facebook/ The Publisher

 

Emerald City Blog Tour

15 Mar, 2012 by in book review Leave a comment

Fire and Ice is today’s stop on Alicia Leppert’s Emerald City blog tour.

Emerald City
by Alicia K. Leppert
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: April 10th 2012
by Sweetwater Books ISBN1599558645
Book Source: Publisher
3.5 stars 
Book Summary from author’s website: Olivia Tate is a broken shell of a girl haunted by the tragic events that fill her past. She has closed herself off from the world, each day grasping at something—anything—to live for. Convinced there will never be a way out, she seeks solace in the depths of her medicine cabinet. When she wakes up days later in the hospital she is introduced to Jude, the quiet stranger responsible for saving her life. She never could have guessed then that her mysterious rescuer would end up saving her life a second time, while simultaneously turning her world upside down. A modern-day romance with a twist, Emerald City has a little bit of something for everyone!
Heather’s review: Emerald City is one young woman’s journey from the harrowing feeling of hopelessness to beginning to heal. 20 year old Olivia has suffered far more than most 20 year olds and feels alone in the world, her mother having committed suicide and her father abandoning the family after living a lie. One particularly hard night Olivia reaches her breaking point and in an effort to end the pain ends up in a hospital bed with no knowledge of how she could have possibly been saved. Her front door was locked, she has no real friends or neighbors in her apartment building that would check up on her, yet a mysterious man name Jude is said to have found and rescued her.  Soon Jude has taken Olivia under his wing and shows her what it means to be cared for and looked after. Feelings are growing on both sides and there are so many unanswered questions about Jude.
As a reader I found myself wondering who and what Jude is through out most of the book until we get his back story over 20 chapters in. I really enjoyed learning more and wish we would have been filled in a bit sooner. From there this romance with a twist of Urban fantasy takes off. It’s a darker read until then as Olivia is treading through the absolute hopelessness of clinical depression and suicidal ideation. I like that she addresses her issues through seeing a psychiatrist and going on medication when she so clearly needs it. But I think this is an older read for 17- adults because of the sad tone and traumatic life events Olivia faces. I am curious if there will be more books to come! If you are a fan of the Heavenly series by Jennifer Laurens this has similar character elements. I love love the cover and the chapter headings which highlight Seattle where the book was set, and I am pleased the author shows how one person can change the life course of another.
Content: no swearing or sex, some violence, suicidal and traumatic life events, some kissing and sleep overs.
Heather
Author Bio: I always knew I wanted to be a writer, ever since Career Day in first grade when I walked around carrying a notebook and pencil. Twenty-some odd years later, after a short stint in high school where I dreamed of being an actress, a whirlwind Internet romance including a blind proposal that led to a fairytale wedding and two pretty-near perfect kids, my lifelong dream came to fruition with my first novel, Emerald City. I live with my small brood in my beloved hometown of Pasco, which is located in the only part of Washington state that isn’t green. When I’m not writing, I can be found decorating novelty cakes and taking naps–my other two passions.

Find out more on Goodreads/ author’s website/ Twitter/ Facebook/ The Publisher

 

Book Review- My Boyfriend Merlin

10 Feb, 2012 by in book review, my boyfriend merlin, paranormal, priya ardis, urban fantasy Leave a comment

My Boyfriend Merlin
by Priya Ardis
Kindle Edition, 305 pages
published: November 21, 2011
by Ink Lion Books
A SIN: B006C58CMA
Book source: Author
3 stars

Book Summary: If you can’t trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?
In this modern retelling of the Sword and the Stone, 17-year-old student president Arriane, aka Ryan, DuLac just found out her badass biker boyfriend, Matt, is a little older than he was letting on. By a few eons.

In fact, he is really Merlin–the Merlin, King Arthur’s Merlin, the greatest wizard who ever lived. But Ryan’s not impressed. Tired of being a relationship loser, she’d rather kick his legendary behind.

Sure, the world has been crazy ever since the sword and the stone fell out of the sky like a meteor. And Ryan’s a bit freaked about the scary shadow-dragon trying to burn her alive. And now, Matt–er, Merlin–needs her and her brother to leave home because they are Candidates to pull the sword.

But despite gruesome gargoyles, a new world of magic, and the guy driving her crazy, Ryan knows that family is everything. Will Merlin sacrifice hers to save the world? Will she be able to stop him?


Review: Ryan is just a normal 17 year old girl. She’s the student president in her high school. She lives with her friends Grey and Alexa and their mother Sylvia, because her mom died.  One day during a boring lecture in her history class, the unthinkable happens. Another teacher interrupts the lecture with an announcement that “History is happening now!” The whole class goes into another classroom to find out just what is going on. A large rock has shown up, out of nowhere in Trafalgar Square, with King Arthur’s sword sticking out of it. This rock caused a “Total Tremor,” basically an earthquake that starts in the square and moves around the whole world. This is where things start to get pretty crazy for Ryan. She’s being taken home by her ex-boyfriend Matt on his bike, when out of nowhere a dragon attacks. Grey and Alexa are following and in the craziness Ryan is badly wounded and Alexa is killed. When Matt is able to heal her, Ryan knows that somethings up with him, and she learns that he is a powerful magician, Merlin to be exact. But does he care for her? Or does he just want to use her to get the sword? I enjoyed the story line of this book. I thought the characters were awesome, and there was tons of action all through the book to keep you hooked. I liked Ryan especially, she starts out as kind of a person that can be easily pushed around and by the end of the book she’s a strong, courageous young woman who knows what she wants out of life. 

Content: Moderate swearing, sexual references

About the author: Storygirl, Priya Ardis, loves books of all kinds—but especially the gooey ones that make your nose leak and let your latte go cold. Her young adult novel, My Boyfriend Merlin, came from a childhood of playing too much She-Ra and watching too much Spock. She started her first book at sixteen, writing in long notebooks on train rides in India. While reading My Boyfriend Merlin, she recommends pajamas first and a pumpkin spice anything for taste. 

As a hopeless romantic, she’s also a longtime member of RWA. 

Find out more about Priya Ardis on Blog/ Facebook / Twitter/ Goodreads

Divider

Book Review- Northanger Alibi

29 Dec, 2011 by in book review, northanger alibi, walnut springs press 4 comments

by Jenni James
Paperback, 254 pages
Expected publication: February 2012
by Walnut Springs/Inkberry Press
ISBN 139780983829317
Series: The Jane Austen Diaries

Book Source: publisher
4 stars

This modern Gothic remake of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, and nod to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Series, will leave you in stitches–literally.

Seattle Washington, and the Russo family, are no match for Claire Hart and her savvy knowledge of all things vampire related. Thanks to her obsession with the Twilight series–if there is anyone who would know a vampire when she saw one, it’s Claire. And she’s positive totally hot Tony Russo is a vampire, she just has to prove it! Follow Claire’s hilarious journey on her first summer adventure away from home, where she learns everything isn’t what it seems, and in some instances, reality is way better than anything she’d ever find in a book.

I am adoring the Jane Austen Diaries series as a fun, clean choice for tweens and teens. Book two of the set, Northanger Alibi follows the crazy antics of Clarie Hart, a die hard Twilight fan who is itching to get a glimpse of Washington State. She and her sister Cassidy win the perfect opportunity as friends of the family invite them both to stay with them for the summer in their small town near the center of all things Forks. Both girls have led a pretty sheltered life, so Claire gleans her excitement reading and re-reading Stephenie Meyers series. At 16 she has never been kissed. But that is all about to change!

Once the girls hit Washington they meet the Russo family, rich and perfect with twin brother and sister Claire’s age. Tony likes to ceaselessly tease Claire. At first she is utterly unimpressed. But he also has an air of mysteriousness- doesn’t eat, seems to be able to read her mind…Claire begins to wonder, is he a vampire? All the while her older sister is about to find out what all this crazy nonsense and inability to separate real life from fiction is all about as she picks up the books for the first time and can’t put them down.

Twi hards and those who love them will either be laughing out loud and relating to Claire’s obsessiveness or rolling their eyes at the references to the uber popular books. It adds a fun parallel Austen element, but may also be a turn off for those who are sick of hearing about the paranormal werewolves and vampires. Those who know where there is an Edward (Tony) there must also be a Jacob- or Jaden in this case.
Claire meeting Jaden is my favorite part of the whole book. I’ll just say it involves an Old Navy clothing store, a slushee and will make you laugh! Jenni is genius at writing the first flutters and awkward moments of a teenage crush and her kissing scenes are to die for. She navigates the sometimes quirky, drama laden moments that can happen with a love triangle, but wraps things up with a heart warming conclusion.

I would recommend Northanger Alibi to all readers, and think it will especially appeal to middle grade and younger teens. If you haven’t read the first in the series, Pride and Popularity I would go pick it up, since it was one of my favorite reads of this year. This, book two is a stand alone so you won’t be lost without book one. Thanks once again to Walnut Springs press for introducing me to such a fun series!

Author Bio: I’m married to a totally hot, redheaded Air Force Recruiter, named Mark. Together we have 10 kiddos (7 ours, 3 fostered). We have just moved back to the States after living 9 awesome years in the Azores Islands of Portugal and England! Our kids love the USA!

When I’m not writing up a storm, I enjoy reading, acting, portrait painting, directing plays, cooking, planning elaborate parties and chasing my kids around the house. Oh, and before you ask–I haven’t been to college, YET! But I’ve always been able to write one mean essay when I needed to. *wink*

Learn more about Jenni James on her website/ blog/ Goodreads / Twitter/ YouTube

Book Review- A Beautiful Dark

16 Nov, 2011 by in book review, paranormal YA fiction 2 comments

by Jocelyn Davies
Hardcover, 390 pages
Published September 27th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN0061990655
Book Source: BEA
4 stars

On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites;like fire and ice; Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

This was one of the smoothest reading YA books I’ve picked up this year. I really enjoyed Jocelyn Davies style and the setting of a ski town in Colorado was perfect for this time of year. Skye is 17 years old and living with her “aunt” a friend of her mother’s since both of her parents were killed when she was young. She has faint memories of lullabies and a rescue but not much else to ground her to her past. A Beautiful Dark opens on her birthday as her three best friends throw a surprise party for her at the local coffee shop where Ian, one of them works. The action heats up fast when two mysterious teenage boys show up and start a fight. One of them is dark but inviting- Skye, the other holds the peace of calm ans serenity but is standoffish- Devin. When both boys show up to Skye’s school and start vying for her attention, Skye finds herself more confused and torn than ever before. Will this straight -A ski champion be able to handle the pressure when not only these two, but also her best friend Ian turns on the heat in the competition for her affection?

With paranormal elements and a new take on angel lore, A Beautiful Dark kept me flipping pages. I was a little disappointed that there was so much emphasis on teenage drinking, the opening scene with a flask and an unchaperoned arty with a keg. There was also a heavy hit of swearing about 3/4 of the way through that caught me off guard. What I found wonderful was the cast of secondary characters. My favorite scene of the book actually involved Skye’s best friends Cassie and Dan. As for Ian…he is amazing. I found myself pulling for him and was sad when he dropped into the periphery as Skye begins to get to know Asher and Devin. It’s kind of fun to have a book with a love square, and it would have added some action to see a little more conflict in between each of the contenders. I am sad when the good angel comes off as aloof or distant because of “rules” or extenuating circumstances- Devin reminded me a bit of Gabe in Original Sin by Lisa DesRochers. I wanted to know more about him and see he and Skye spend more time together without the interference of evil angel chick.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this first in theseries and will read book two, A Fractured Light, when it hits the shelves. But the ending…what?! GAH! It’s a cliffhanger.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway- Virtuosity

31 Oct, 2011 by in book review, Simon Pulse, virtuosity, YA contemporary 14 comments

Virtuosity
by Jessica Martinez
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published October 18th 2011
by Simon Pulse
ISBN 1442420529
4 stars

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen’s whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn’t just hot…what if Jeremy is better?
Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can’t end well, but she just can’t stay away. Nobody else understands her–and riles her up–like he does. Still, she can’t trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what’s expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall….

I picked up Virtuosity at the Simon and Schuster blogger event at BEA and it was one of the books I was most excited about reading. The cover threw me off a bit once I got into it because it really doesn’t match the mood or main character of the story. Carmen Bianchi is a 17 year old child prodigy who’s already won a Grammy and is now working toward the most important competition of her career-the Guarneri. If she wins it means a new violin, and touring some of the most prestigious music halls of the world as a soloist. But Carmen has felt her passion and skill slipping away in the grip of performance anxiety and psychological addiction to the drug Inderal. As her mom and violin coach Yuri pour on the pressure, Carmen’s performance continues to deteriorate. She wants to know what she’s up against and finds Jeremy King, who in every way seems to be just like her only he’s British and he looks like he’s a young little boy with curly blond hair and dimples. That is online. When she “bumps”into him in person she’s surprised by what she finds and mortified that he catches her spying. So begins the perfect banter and chemistry between Carmen and Jeremy who both want and need so badly to win.

Virtuosity was a refreshing change of pace for contemporary YA with music as the focal point. I’m not a big fan of prologues that give away future plot points so I kind of wish it would have been left out. I loved that it was clean with only a couple swear words in the entire book and minus sexual content. The characters and the places they visit jumped right off the page for me. I genuinely loved the support Jeremy and Carmen show for each other given that they have every reason to mistrust and even dislike one another. I am a little concerned about the portrayal of an anti anxiety drug as evil because there are many teens who may genuinely battle with anxiety and have to turn to medication for relief. Other than that the only other wish I had is that the ending was more fully fleshed out and not so rushed. I would recommend Virtuosity to readers over 14 as a good clean look into the life of a teen professional musician who is fighting against pressure from a parent. It’s a tale of forbidden love and self-discovery that I genuinely enjoyed!

To enter to win an ARC of Virtuosity courtesy of Fire and Ice and SimonTeen click here and fill out the form.

Book Review-The Language of Flowers

25 Oct, 2011 by in book review 2 comments

The Language of Flowers

by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published August 23rd, 2011
by Ballantine Books
ISBN 034552554X
Source: BEA

Rating: 5 Stars

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like 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, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what’s been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. “The Language of Flowers” is a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love

I usually read to help me drift off to sleep at night. Most nights I will read read a page or two before fatigue takes over and I slip off to dream land. Last night was different; last night I read The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I started the book earlier in the day, reading a chapter here and there throughout the day, but not making much progress amid the craziness that is the life of a mom of five. When I headed off to bed, intending to follow my regular ritual of reading a page or two before drifting off, I had no idea that I would lose a night of sleep and not regret it.

The Language of Flowers is a book that will both break your heart and fill you with hope. Victoria’s circumstances often feel devoid of hope, and yet she over comes her struggles one at a time. We watch her make terrible mistakes, yet learn and grow from them. We see her grow from an angry girl into a woman trying to help others understand their emotions and communicate their hopes and dreams for the future through the Victorian language of flower.

If you chose just one book to read the remainder of this year, may I suggest that you chose The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh? I have not been so moved by a book since I read the much acclaimed The Help.

Content: Some swearing, mild sexual content.

Book Review- Carrier of The Mark

06 Oct, 2011 by in book review, ya paranormal 4 comments

Carrier of the Mark
Carrier Trilogy #1
by Leigh Fallon
Paperback, 352 pages
Published October 4th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0062027875
Book Source: BEA
4.5 stars

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she’s surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

With as many books as a I read and review, I usually pick up another book right after finishing one and often the book I’ve just finished is forgotten and swept away in the midst of a whole new plot line. What I love is when an author leaves an impression that is lasting. Carrier of the Mark was still with me today and left a fog of longing. I’m glad this is a series!

The first quarter of the book was pure heaven, everything I love about reading YA. A dreamy setting- Ireland, sparks between the two main characters that are unresolved and just the right amount of action to keep the pages flipping. Megan and her father have led a bit of a nomadic lifestyle since losing Megan’s mother in a tragic car crash and she has learned to keep her guard up. But a new job lands them in Kinsdale at a private high school. Things turn a little Twilighty as Megan is instantly drawn to the standoffish DeRis family who have rumors of magic and curses surrounding them. Adam DeRis is constantly staring and Megan can’t ignore the zing of electricity that passes between them whenever they are near each other. As the tension heats up Megan starts seeing and hearing things that she can’t explain.

Here’s the point in the book where I get a little lost. As the lore and mythology surrounding Adam and Megan begins to unfold there is a whole lot of information to take in and I found it confusing and overwhelming. The concept of a sidh/ monk and the genetic selection of a carrier was totally over my head. But soon after the info download it was smooth sailing for me until the end. I was left wanting more.
With a determined passionate man and a magical world built on Druids and Celtic myth you will fall in love with Carrier of the Mark. I hope we see more character development in the future books and I can’t wait to see what Leigh has up her sleeve! The cover for Carrier is mystical. The page embellishments at the beginning of each chapter top off the design beautifully. Thank you Harper Teen for the perfect rainy day read.

You might also like: Shades of Atlantis by Carole Oates, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, Spellbound by Carolyn Schultz.

Content: moderate swearing, mild violence, steamy kissing scenes, sleeping over in each others beds, no sex. Recommended for 16 and older.

Book Review -The Little Women Letters

17 Sep, 2011 by in book review 1 comment

The Little Women Letters
by Gabrielle Donnelly
Published June 7th, 2011
by Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781451617184
Page Count: 368
Book Source: Publisher
4.5 stars

Vibrant, fresh, and intelligent, The Little Women Letters explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March. As uplifting and essential as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Gabrielle Donnelly’s novel will speak to anyone who’s ever fought with a sister, fallen in love with a fabulous pair of shoes, or wondered what on earth life had in store for her.
With her older sister, Emma, planning a wedding and her younger sister, Sophie, preparing to launch a career on the London stage, Lulu can’t help but feel like the failure of the Atwater family. Lulu loves her sisters dearly and wants nothing but the best for them, but she finds herself stuck in a rut, working dead-end jobs with no romantic prospects in sight. When her mother asks her to find a cache of old family recipes in the attic of her childhood home, Lulu stumbles across a collection of letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. In her letters, Jo writes in detail about every aspect of her life: her older sister, Meg’s, new home and family; her younger sister Amy’s many admirers; Beth’s illness and the family’s shared grief over losing her too soon; and the butterflies she feels when she meets a handsome young German. As Lulu delves deeper into the lives and secrets of the March sisters, she finds solace and guidance, but can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu find a place for herself in a world so different from the one Jo knew? Vibrant, fresh, and intelligent, The Little Women Letters explores the imagined lives of Jo March’s descendants—three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March.

As uplifting and essential as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Gabrielle Donnelly’s novel will speak to anyone who’s ever fought with a sister, fallen in love with a fabulous pair of shoes, or wondered what on earth life had in store for her.

Some things, of course, remain unchanged: the stories and jokes that form a family’s history, the laughter over tea in the afternoon, the desire to do the right thing in spite of obstacles. And above all, of course, the fierce, undying, and often infuriating bond of sisterhood that links the Atwater women every bit as firmly as it did the March sisters all those years ago. Both a loving tribute to Little Women and a wonderful contemporary family story, The Little Women Letters is a heartwarming, funny, and wise novel for today.

I have to confess something…I am a big fan of the original Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. When I was pregnant with my oldest child (my first and only daughter, to be followed by four boys) I really wanted to name her Jo because of Little Women. I thought Josephine was a bit heavy for a young girl, so chose the name Joelle instead, intending to call her Jo.Well, she turned out to be very feminine and Jo just doesn’t fit, but the fact that she was named for THE Jo illustrates what a huge fan I am of the original book.

When this book arrived with three others, I chose to read it first. The concept drew me in and I had to get started right away. But, I have to admit that it started off a little bit slow. I struggled to connect, at first, with the characters. But I continued on, determined to finish, and something amazing happened. Bit by bit, I came to love each character. Emma’s sensible nature, Lulu’s desire never to settle until she found what she loved, and Sophie’s enthusiasm for life drew me in. Fee, the Marmee figure, was a fun, independent mother who taught her girls to be strong, loving women. The women (all descendants of Jo March who knew very little of her life) resemble the three surviving sisters in Little Women, yet they have their own quirks and their stories don’t always follow the path you think.

I love the mix of modern day with letters from the past. We see more of the original March sisters through letters written by Jo to her sisters or Marmee. Lulu slowly learns the story of the March sisters through these letters (in this book, Little Women does not exist) and embraces her heritage.

My love for this book didn’t develop like a traditional romance. It took time. You know the kind I mean, right? Where you meet someone and he seems like and alright guy, but just not for you. The next time you see him to you notice his expressive eyes and friendly smile, but no sparks. A few days later you run into each other at the store and when he shakes your hand you get that butterfly feeling in your stomach and it takes you by surprise. Next thing you know you are sitting together at dinner discussing the future.

Do you need to have read Little Women to enjoy this book? Probably. You need to understand the characters of Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy and Marmee to see their connection with the Atwater women. That isn’t to say that someone who hasn’t read Little Women would dislike this book, but your enjoyment would not be the same. You won’t be mentally drawing parallels and contrasting the events that occurred in the original with the story in The Little Women Letters.

My Rating: 4.5 stars (yes, I know, I said it was slow to start but when I finished I sighed and though…”wow that was a great book)

Content: Clean, possibly mild cursing, but nothing I noticed

I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. No further compensation was received. Cover Image and synopsis from Goodreads.