A Case For Bridget: Review of Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding

Back in 2011 I explained, however briefly, my own connection/relationship to this quirky character, Bridget Jones in a blog post about the music from the film: "Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday: Bridget Jones Diary."  So how do I put into words how many mixed emotions I had about this third book coming out?  First off, I immediately pre-ordered it in hardback, because I have the previous books in hardback and am compulsive enough in this situation that I had to complete my set.  I then sat back and watched and listened as the world exploded into mass discussions about bits of the leaked story and how unhappy they all were with it.  Listen, I couldn't NOT read this novel if I wanted to, and I would NOT choose to just let this story go.  In the end, I firmly believe we all have to look at what Helen Fielding meant to do with these novels.  She wrote a story about a character named Bridget Jones, and this is quite possibly the culmination of her story.  How could I let it go when I had let her into my life so fully before this?  Yea.  Wasn't going to happen.  Like it or not, I HAD TO KNOW what happened!

***Spoilers Ahead.  If you have not heard anything about what has had the interwebs up in arms about this novel, then my review might not be a good place to start.***

Review:  Life's not perfect.  Is that not one of the reasons that we somehow love and connect to Bridget Jones?  Things always get messy for her, and yet it worked out for her in the end.  We saw ourselves in her, and wanted and hoped for a certain amount of our own stupid imperfections to be overlooked.  For this reason, I walked into book three knowing full well that this was going to be Bridget's story.  Helen Fielding wrote these novels about Bridget to begin with, and that's what I expected and have grown to love.  I care about her and her silly hang ups, and in the end, am willing to see where they take her.  Because of that, this book honestly took me on a strange journey that I didn't see coming.  Maybe I'm a few years older than when I read those earlier happy-go-lucky twenty something tales, but I really loved this book, and shed some pretty heartfelt tears on several occasions in reading this book.  Bridget is still Bridget.  I don't know what readers expected?  We find that Bridget is still clumsy, making silly choices, thinking irrationally, and feeling lonely.  But, she has matured and been through a lot, which is shown to us over the course of the book.  That, I completely appreciated.

Yes.  Mark Darcy is dead.  There, I said it like Dickens said it in The Christmas Carol.  I mean no disrespect, but some of the biggest nay-sayers I've seen to this book have been so hung up over this fact that I want to lay that out as the fact that it is.  Yes, we're in the present day, and Bridget is now 50 with two small children to raise. The story doesn't take up immediately after the fact, and the children were too young to completely remember him, so no the story does not wax on poetic about it.  He's not eliminated from the story or some sort of afterthought, but realistically, what happens to a person/character when life isn't the "Happily Ever After" that they think it will be?  What we do end up getting in the story are appropriate flashbacks and scenes, that show how she has handled the loss and the rearing of her children.  Honestly, I thought it was handled well and on point for this character.  Where would we expect her to be five years after the fact? 

One thing that Fielding 100% nailed was the grieving process after a certain number of years.  Somehow Fielding captured these moments where Bridget would remember something about Mark, no matter how fleeting, and they were just perfect.  She didn't wallow in them, because she didn't have time to, but you could see how completely present they still were in her life.  Perfect.  That is real. 

Bridget does wander, wholeheartedly, back into dating.  It's rather uncomfortable to watch her efforts at times, but when you consider the uncertain Bridget in her 20s and then imagine this woman in her 50s with two children who has lost such an amazing husband, how would I expect her to bounce right back into dating with ease?  Of course, she has that certain air of insecurity that you wish you could shake out of her, that even her kids see in her.  (Is it the same insecurity she saw in her mother?)  Maybe these are things that, in a sense, we really do end up working on our entire lives.  We can insert our own moralities and ideologies onto Bridget, but from her own worldview, family, and friends, she's doing the best she can.

Sincerely, I loved Mad About the Boy and have no problem adding it to the rest of the collection.  Was it the ending I hoped for or envisioned?  No way, but honestly, life has a way of doing that, so I'm okay with it.

Review: The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Released: 10/8

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "An all-new, edge-of-your seat adventure from James Dashner, the author of the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series, The Eye of Minds is the first book in The Mortality Doctrine, a series set in a world of hyperadvanced technology, cyberterrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams . . . and your worst nightmares.

Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it’s addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he’s holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific—the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer’s motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.  And they’ve been watching Michael. They want him on their team.  But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can’t even fathom—and there’s the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever."

Review:  Mind--blown! 

Let's just start there.  I'm not generally a sci-fi reader, but was a bit intrigued by the premise of cyberterrorism--what the heck is that, right?  I like the internet as much as the next technology driven, iphone/pad/mac-toting person, so a book that explores the possibility of people being tormented by "Killsims" and a virtual bully who can literally leave people dead at the end of what was supposed to be a casual cyber game, is a bit mind boggling, and a bit frightening.

In the story, we're introduced to Michael, who is this gamer with some pretty amazing skills to code and hack through firewalls and systems.  The thing is, as you read the story, he seems to really take you through his "gaming" in real time, like a person just walking through it in real time.  At the same time, he can hack away at the coding of these games in such a way that he can change the course of the game and what happens at any given moment--which is what makes Michael so valuable and important in the fight against the cyberterrorism.  

Michael and his friends Bryson and Sarah get roped in by the VNS to fight a supposed powerhouse in the world of cyberterrorism, named Kaine.  To do this, they had to set out on a major journey in the "VirtNet," which mainly took them through a series of journeys and virtual battles to "hack" through code to find their enemy.  The issue really becomes, who or what is Kaine, and what does he/she/it really want to begin with?

To say that I liked the book is true, but not really hitting home.  It's not a kick-back-and-enjoy sort of read, in that it's tense, contains an awful lot of violence,  and really makes you stick with it to figure it out.  There's that moment where you feel like you're comparing it to something you've either read or watched before, but then it does something totally unique that throws it in another direction.  The characters really never stop moving in the story, and they never allow us a chance to take too much time to understand how or why they do what they do.  Half of the time you feel like you literally have a moment to breathe before the character is moved on to the next sequence of events.  That only speeds up the action and adds to the crazy pacing of the novel, which is over much too soon!

On the whole, mind--blown.  I liked it a lot.  In fact, I walked it in to the Popular Literature class I teach and read the first nine pages to my students.  When I finished, they were angry with me for stopping!  Literally, those first nine pages were enough to suck them in.  I have to agree with them!  I definitely recommend this for teen readers, for sure, or anyone who likes strong sci fi/action novels.  It does have a good deal of violence in it, but no more than many dystopian novels that are out currently.  It is a really smart novel, and one that I will be eager to read future installments of down the road!

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an Amazon Vine ARC of the novel.

Blog Tour: Sea Queen's Daughter by Ellis Drake

Today I'm excited to have a great up new author on my blog, Ellis Drake.  In the last year I've had the chance to read four other novellas by Ellis and really enjoyed the range of mysteries and stories that she's written.  In her newest, The Sea Queen's Daughter, she takes on a great adaptation of the fairytale of The Little Mermaid.

Here's a short summary of the tale:  On a barge anchored in the middle of the Adriatic, Marco Lorendan meets a mysterious and beautiful woman. His fascination for her is sealed when she saves him from drowning and then disappears into the sea. Is she dead, or simply lost? Marco is determined to find out.

Living beneath the waters of the lagoon, Serena can change into whatever form she chooses, but cannot change her fate: to die in an ancient ritual that goes back to the founding of Venice. Serena wants to live in the human world with Marco, but will she save herself if it means the destruction of Venice?




Here is my Q&A with Ellis today here at One Literature Nut:

I know that Venice is famous for its glass work.  Since you had Serena craft her mask into this masterful glass piece, first, did you do that on purpose?  Also, being the artist that you are, were you picturing anything in particular with it?

In the opening scene, I wanted everything about Serena to be strange and magical, so naturally the mask she wore had to be of a unique, fanciful material. Glass was an obvious choice because of its associations with Venice and because glass masks didn't exist—they would be too heavy to wear all the time. Most masks were made of paper and were very light, because you literally could not go out in public without a mask during Carnevale, which by the 18th century went on for six months out of the year. So the more common masks like the bauta had to be comfortable, relatively cheap, and disposable. Of course, Serena's supernatural so she doesn't have a problem with wearing an impractical glass mask.

As for what the mask looked like, I vaguely modeled it off an Ancient Mesopotamian statue that some scholars believe represents the Sumerian moon goddess, Inanna.

Is the legend behind this story an actual legend? I'm just curious where it came from.

The legend about the founding of Venice and the reason behind the Doge's annual Marriage of the Sea is something I made up so I could include the Ascension Day ceremony in the story. In actuality, the Marriage of the Sea started as a celebration of a military victory—or so they say.

Are you planning to set another story in Venice?

You never know! I'd love to write about Giacomo Casanova, one of the most fascinating people in history. Venice has such a rich culture and complex history that the possibilities for stories set there are endless.

Thank you so much to Ellis for dropping in today!  Please check out The Sea Queen's Daughter and drop by her site at http://ellisdrake.blogspot.com/ to learn about her other novellas and writing. 

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

I know I've been a bit silent around here on my blog (all work related), but I have read some mighty AMAZING books lately that I can't wait to share.  Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson came out on September 10th and was one of those books that I have been passing around to friends and neighbors, and just about anyone who I can get to listen!

Today I'm excited to be the next stop on a Blog Tour for Julianne's newest book Blackmoore, and I really can't say enough about it, so let's get to it.

About Blackmoore:  "Kate Worthington knows she can never have her heart’s desire and so believes she will never marry. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore on the cliffs above the seashore, where she must face the truth and the man that has kept her heart captive.

Set in northern England, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn to follow her heart. With hints of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, Blackmoore is a page-turning tale of romance, intrigue and devotion."

Review:  Here is a book that is so good that it makes writing the review almost too hard to write. Do I need to pull out an old fashioned ink and quill to do this time period novel its due credit?    In some ways, there is nothing short of a good old fashion I loved it that will work.  Julianne Donaldson has written a heart-rending romance that cannot be called sweet, and yet it is sweet; it cannot be called tragic, and yet it can be tragic; it cannot be called gut-wrenching, and yet it is gut-wrenching; and it surely cannot be called tear-jerking can it, and yet I definitely spilled many a tear reading this tear-jerking romance.  It was that good.

What can I say about this glorious novel?  Written with an Austen-esque/Bronte feel to it, Donaldson has captured all that is dark, brooding, and lovely about a Regency and Romantic period novel--and some that you didn't know that you missed.  Kate Worthington, as our main heroine, has sworn off marriage and has looked to India as the next frontier for adventure.  But as any reader knows, young ladies are expected to marry, and marry young and well.  Thankfully her dear friend Henry Delafield, the next in line to own Blackmoore, has grown up with Kate and knows her heart and her deepest desires.  Surely this "adventure" to India is misguided?  Although he is returning to Blackmoore to get engaged to his own fine young lady, he has invited Kate back to visit Blackmoore with him and his sister, hoping to uncover what might be behind her plans.

The novel, from beginning to end, is nothing short of a complete joy to read.  There are moments you think you know what is going to happen, and moments you know so until things change.  Regardless, I found myself shedding tears and loving these characters so thoroughly that I kept flipping pages back to the beginning to remind myself of things they had said in previous conversations.  On the whole, this novel was a pure delight to read and one that I felt sad to conclude.  It was one of those books that I almost wish I could unread, just so I could have the experience of reading again!

Giveaway Details!  Now, if YOU would like a chance to win one copy of this great read from the publisher, here's what you need to do.  First, go to facebook and "Like" Julianne Donaldson's facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/DonaldsonJulianne  Second, just leave me a friendly hello below w/ your name and email address so I can contact you if you win!  The giveaway will run through 9/25.  I will email the lucky winner personally.  (Sorry, this giveaway is U.S. & Canada only.)

Author Details:  Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Thank you so much to Shadow Mountain and Julianne Donaldson for the opportunity to review Blackmoore.  To check out other reviews, giveaways, and stops on the tour, visit the Blackmoore Blog Tour site at Shadow Mountain's site.

Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Let's just say that I can't believe I let a day sit between me and writing a review of this great read.  I actually tore through this one back during the school year, but my lapse in review writing made me forget to stop back in to write about it.  Since the next book is about to come out, I wanted to hurry and get a review written so I could then share this one!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines."

Review:  Just One Day is one of those reads that you think you know what is going to happen, and then you feel a total bait and switch coming, and then you go, "Oh shoot, what in the heck just happened and when is that other book coming out?!?"  

Allyson is that American high school tourist who has had a great trip, but wants to make a real memory.  What does she do?  She sneaks off with this cute Dutch actor to Paris.  

WAIT.  The high school teacher in me literally started screaming, "What in the world are you thinking?!?" I started panicking right away and couldn't relax.  Literally.  Is this Willem some creeper who is going to steal her money and run off, leaving her in Paris to "learn how cool and independent she is there in Paris?  Is Willem going to be kind and take her around Paris to show her a nice time and deliver her safely back to London?  What was going to happen?!?  I panicked!  That, on it's own, kept me on my toes.

Listen.  It's London.  It's Paris.  How wrong can you really go with those locations?  Once you relax (or I relaxed into the story), I thought it was an amazing tale, but things go in a remarkably different direction than you initially imagine.  The story is surprising, and shocking, and stunning all at the same time.  I think that I read the last 3/4 of the book in one sitting and even choked a little tear near the end.  The trip to Europe actually only takes up the first 1/3 of the book, and then the last portion is dealing with what happens.  

For anyone that has reviewed this book, there is a huge reveal in the book that is spoiled if you say too much.  Needless to say, Allyson and Willem do part ways after Paris and you want to know what happens.  That is the crux of this book, and that is what propels the next book coming up.  There is a lot more to the story, but it is such an emotional read that you are stunned by the range that it reaches.  All I can say is GO read it.  This has been one of my favorite reads thus far this year.  I like to be surprised in good ways, and this one kept me on my toes.

Disclaimer:  There is one adult scene in Paris that some teens might be sensitive to.  I do think that the rest of the book handles it in a very adult way and does not brush it under the table.  I wanted to FYI it though for sensitive readers.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

The next book, Just One Year, which will be Willem's story, comes out October 15th.  Let's just say that I can hardly wait!

Another Quick Triple Review: Love, Tears, or Paranormal Edition

Last time I took forever to write that triple review, so I'm going to try to give a quick "sum it up" snippet review so I can get back in the swing of things here.  Here we go!

I Remember You is another Harriet Evans novel, which for me should be enough said.  I don't know what it is about Harriet Evans, but that lady knows how to weave a good yarn!  In some ways, I feel guilty including her lengthy beauties in a triple review post because they are so darn good.  There is a complex story woven here that you have to invest time to get into, but it is worth it.  Tess Tennant moves to her home town to teach.  There she meets back up with friends and loves from years before.  It's during a school trip to Rome, however, that Tess's story takes a dramatic and heart-wrenching turn.

Honestly, this novel takes a lot of time to get through.  You think you know what is going to happen and then parts of the story unfold and reveal themselves to you.  I kind of like that unpredictable nature to them, although once that one piece falls in to place, you know the rest of it.  I still really love a good Harriet Evans novel and felt this one did not disappoint.  If anyone will make me cry, Evans will.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry  falls into the NA (New Adult) genre and seems to fall into the wounded soul category again.  I'm only speaking from my own experience here, but the only NA books I have read all seem to have characters that are wounded and come together romantically speaking and heal their issues through their love.  I'm not completely sold on it.  Noah is the guy who went from jock to freak outsider who gets gossiped about.  We find out that he's just trying to  hold it together and get his brothers back now in the temporary custody of another family.  Echo had her own secrets she was coming terms with and together they helped one another deal with them.

I think I got caught up in the hype, especially coming off the buzz that came with books like Easy as well.  Maybe it's the idea of characters that had experienced so much and had worked through so much pain and grown up together that made me think it was going to be a great read, but it just didn't come together for me.  I also think that I might be looking at it as a high school teacher who worries about its marketing and perception by the students who might pick it up.  I do think there is a particular audience who might be ready for this novel, but I'm not sure I fit into it.

Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill is the second in the Chicagoland series.  I kind of like this series, but I'm still not sure why.  Sometimes I get bored, but that's just because I feel like it takes an entire book for something to happen.  For instance, it takes an entire book for her to become a vampire (that's book one), and entire book for their to be a problem and you to figure out that someone has a grudge against her because of her rich family (that's book two).  Okay, so I oversimplify, but you get the gist.  I do like the character development in these books and I care about what is going to happen to them, so that is what tends to keep me reading.  In the end, isn't that what makes a good book?  I'm entertained, and I like the characters.  Also, in a strange way, it feels new to me, which I would think is extremely hard for a writer of vampire fiction!  Kudos to Chloe Neill for that.

Well, I succeeded in getting another triple review written.  Let's see if I can writing a few other reviews.  I've actually been reading a lot this summer.  I'm exercising like crazy, eating super healthy, and sleeping like a mad woman (if mad women sleep like crazy).  You get what I'm saying, right?  Anyway, I'm doing all of that trying-to-be-healthy-and-feel-better sort of stuff so I'll be a better and more healthy me by this fall.  On the whole, I'm just repairing myself so I'll stop having killer migraines and so I'll be happier!  Anyway, I'd like to be caught up with reviews before I head back to work, so I might be back with another triple review!  I hope you're having a great summer, whatever you're reading and whatever you're doing.

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This last year I caught all the buzz about Gillian Flynn's latest novel, Gone Girl.  I'm not much of a "thriller" reader, but I was intrigued by the review I read, so I gave it a try.  Admittedly, I got sucked into the story, because this really is a highly emotional story of possible murder and intrigue.  However, a good read doesn't mean I liked it, and it's that part of my own response that almost prevented me from posting my thoughts.  People online really came down on me pretty hard for DARING to admit that I didn't end up liking the book.  Somehow that made me less of a reader from the hard core fans of the novel.  Listen, I still think the book is really well written, but have every right to say that this was just "not my cup of tea."  Why don't I brave the criticism and share my reasons, in the hope that I don't give the story away...

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Marriage can be a real killer.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?" 

Review:  The basic premise for the novel is the disappearance of the wife, Amy Dunne.  As is the case in most crimes, the police look close to home for the answers in her disappearance.  Was her marriage happy?  Did she and her husband have a fight?  Does the spouse show signs of distress or displeasure in their marriage or partner?  The questions abound in a case like this.  Flynn then takes the story line and bounces from chapter to chapter, between the present and the past.   We see how Amy felt and the development and then slow decline of her marriage to Nick.  Like and innocent lamb, we're led to believe and trust in the plot points we've been given, until WE are the slaughtered victim in the reading! 

Things take a dramatic shift part way through the novel.  You learn things about both Amy and Nick that make your head spin.  As with all crime stories, is Nick completely at fault?  Was there any outside involvement in her disappearance?  Was Amy innocent in the story?  All of these questions seem to go from a few predicted ideas to sometimes the opposite of what you expected.  In that way, this story is masterfully crafted to send your head spinning!  The story never feels predictable, and the characters are anything but cookie cutter.  For that, I give Gillian Flynn high kudos, because I never knew what to expect or where we were going next.

Although the story is exciting and well-written, I found myself absolutely hating these characters.  I know.  I get it--willing suspension of belief.  Listen, I don't need to see myself in every story that I read or expect characters to act of behave how I would, but these two were just not likable!  I wanted to get why they did what they did, where the passion and anger came from, but I couldn't.  I felt a little set up to hate Nick, and I definitely did.  For me, there was no turning back there.  In Amy's case, she just felt so completely unreliable as a character, that I started to not care about anything she did or if she was alive or dead.  In short, these two crazies meant very little to me and I couldn't escape my own judgment of them; I hated them both, and I hated the way they treated one another (and others).  So, by the end of the novel, my exclamations of, "What the...," were so often and frequent, that when it ended, I felt relief!

In some ways, I'm speechless where this novel is concerned.  Great thriller and unpredictable read, but one that made me realize that you don't have to like them all.  I definitely get the buzz and why people love it.  This was not a predictable novel, and it is shocking and fascinating on so many levels; however, just from my own perspective, I really hated these two and their crazy choices.  Plenty of you will disagree with me whole-heartedly, and I get that.  Can we just agree to disagree?  I get why you like it, and I agree that the story is good.  I didn't like it, because I didn't like the characters.  Enough said.  If you haven't read it, you'll have to be the judge!  And I promise that I won't judge your reaction to it!

Review: The Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans

Let me take a step away from the mafia madness of my review last week to post something that was romantic, real, and emotionally raw.  Once I hit about the half way mark of The Love of Her Life, I couldn't put it down.  This was the book that really started my reading binge lately, and what a reading binge this was!  I have thought about the emotional ups and downs of this book now for over and week and still can't get it out of my head.  This is one of those books that for me, I realize I'll never get back that "first time" reading experience.  What a gem to find at a crazy moment in the year.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "In London, Kate Miller had an enviable life: an exciting job at a fashion magazine, an engagement and a wedding to plan. Then it all fell apart -- spectacularly, painfully, and forever. That was three years ago...and she fled to New York City to live with her mother and stepfather.

Now Kate is a true New Yorker, in love with the pace and rhythm of Manhattan. But deep down, she knows her life is in a holding pattern, that there is something -- someone -- more to love. But when her father becomes ill, Kate realizes it's time to return and face the friends and the memories she left behind. What really happened before Kate left London? Can she pick up the pieces and allow herself to love life again?"

Review:   This book was the biggest emotional roller coaster!  I felt so incredibly jerked around by every emotion possible.  For much of the first 1/3 of the book, we're given a view of Kate's life in bits and pieces, starting with her time in New York City.  Nothing makes sense and there are only hints of drama to come.  Frustratingly, all we get are little glimpses and foreshadowing of events, characters, and relationships to come.  Let me be honest, I was a bit bored through that first 1/3 of the book.  It was slow and kept giving me information about people and situations that didn't make sense.  Why did she act uncomfortable around her supposed best friend?  Why did this guy act so mean to her?  Why did she run off from London?  What is her problem; she's acting like a drama queen and I can't figure out why!  Trust me.  It all gets answered eventually.

Near the end of the first half of the book, there is a huge twist in events that makes every previous action or conversation make sense.  All of the back and forth in time suddenly becomes crystal clear, and I had to go back and reread certain scenes in the book because they suddenly made sense!  From that point on, I could NOT put this book down.

This was one of those books that had me uttering things aloud, gasping at scenes, and choking with emotion.  I even started to cry during several scenes, mainly out of the complex range of emotions I was feeling for and with the characters.  This is not a casual read, nor is it a simple, romantic story.  Please trust me when I say that it's complicated.  Once again, Harriet Evans captured real life and love in a complex way that felt true to life and the characters she was writing.  I really loved this novel and can't recommend it enough.  If you're ready for strong emotions and a storyline that have you guessing, then please read this book!  Enough said.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the novel.

Review: Going Home by Harriet Evans

I really enjoy Harriet Evans' novels, and this one didn't disappoint.  I'm embarrassed though to say that I started it around Christmas and didn't finish it until June.  Yes, here is one of those novels that just seemed to take me forever to read thanks to life!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "They say love feels like going home . . . But what if your home is no longer there? Leaving her tiny flat in London -- and a whole host of headaches behind -- Lizzy Walter is making the familiar journey back home to spend Christmas with her chaotic but big-hearted family. In an ever-changing world, her parents' country home, Keeper House, is the one constant. But behind the mistletoe and mince pies, family secrets and rivalries lurk. And when David, the love of her life -- or so she thought -- makes an unexpected reappearance, this one ranks as a Christmas she would definitely rather forget.
 
As winter slowly turns to spring, all the things that Lizzy has taken for granted begin to shift. Keeper House is in jeopardy and might have to be sold for reasons Lizzy doesn't understand. Her family seems fractured like never before. And, with a new man in her life, she may finally have to kiss her dream of a reunion with David good-bye. By the time the Walters gather at Keeper House for a summer wedding, the stakes have never been higher -- for Lizzy, for her family, and for love."

Review:  Harriet Evans writes great novels with a lot of characters and story going on.  This novel was no exception.  Let me cut to the chase though in saying that once things switched from a lovely English countryside Christmas to the toils of going back to work and her family's drama, it became a novel filled with tension.  I wanted to  enjoy my reading and relax, but found myself tense over the main character, Lizzy's, stubborn streak.  Things that needed to be talked about with her ex-"love of her life" and with her parents always got side stepped.  In fact, in the novel, the other characters commented on her inability to face the music and talk about things that were going on.  People wanted to involve her, but she strangely kept choosing to avoid everything.  I suppose she was protecting herself?  Obviously, this was how Evans meant to create the character and her story; I just found it put off any hope of resolution and kept the story dragging along a bit.  If we as readers don't know what's happening, then in some ways it doesn't matter to us.  

Thankfully, we find out that her family might lose their lovely family home and why.  Everything starts to unfold and Lizzy begins to be more honest with herself.  I appreciated that and finally really started to enjoy the novel after that point.  For me, the first 150 and the last 100 pages were the best and had me enjoying that escape reading experience that I love.

On the whole, I liked Going Home.  Admittedly, I'm a bigger fan of A Hopeless Romantic, but can now see some of the techniques that Evans might be using to draw out the storyline a bit.  I still find myself relating to her main female characters (stubborn streak and all) and hoping that they will get their final bit of happiness.  If you like British "Chick Lit" then you should try Harriet Evans.  I will continue to read her novels because they are interesting stories with a setting and themes I enjoy and just can't seem to get enough of in the long run!

*FTC Disclosure:  Review is based on a personal copy of the novel.

Review: The Pioneer Woman--Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

When I was an undergrad, my roommates and I had a long conversation (one of many) about what we liked in a man.  I could say, pretty emphatically, that I was attracted to the Marlboro Man--minus the smokes.  Seriously.  Maybe it's the whole growing up in Idaho, around farmers and ranchers, that has me super attracted to a hyper-masculine, Wrangler-wearing man?  Or, it might be that darn scene from Man from Snowy River.  You know the scene I'm talking about!  Remember when he saves the girl and rides through this breathtaking panorama of mountains with her on the back of his horse, ending the scene with a kiss on said horse.  Be still my beating heart! (By the way, if you haven't seen this movie before, go NOW and find it.  You will thank me.)

Whatever my attraction to Mr. Marlboro Man, I got teased about it endlessly.  Because of that, my best friend from college told me I HAD to read Ree Drummond's autobiography about how she met her husband.  So, while on vacation in Costa Rica last October, she hauled a copy of the book down there and gave it to me as a late birthday present.  It took me until February to then get to it, and I'm still kicking myself that I waited so long!  Now it's be still my beating heart, but because of a super romantic story.

Synopsis:  Ree Drummond is the queen of food blogging--in a big way.  Her blog, "The Pioneer Woman," is a real show of her strengths:  food, family, and photography.  Having drawn million of readers with her stories of the hunky Marlboro Man (her husband Ladd) and their ranch, raising four kids and a thousands of animals, it all sounds so quaint.  In Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, we learn about how that story came to be by hearing her story of how she and her husband met and started their family. 

Review:  I can't say that I was a frequent visitor to the Pioneer Woman's blog before reading her book, but I had visited it a couple of times and felt a type of camaraderie with her.  Growing up in "meat and potato" land in southeast Idaho, her recipes from her ranch in Oklahoma certainly resonated with me.  Her food is hearty, "down home," and very geared toward the comfort foods that many of us grew up eating.  Little did I know, however, that she really grew up in the city and had lived in Los Angeles for a number of years--not necessarily in the same vein, food wise, as an isolated Oklahoma ranch.

Ree's story about how she met her "Marlboro Man" (as she calls him) in a smoky bar in Oklahoma is super intense and super sweet.  Ree only meant to meet up with a group of old friends for a drink, on a short stop-over at home before moving on to Chicago to head to grad school.  Little did she know that she would meet the man of her dreams in that bar and start up a whirlwind romance that would change her entire life.

I absolutely loved and adored this book!  Although it's autobiographical, it reads like a super-romantic, super-clean romance.  Ree is very good at capturing the ups and downs in her emotions, including everything from the giddy elation to absolute fear.  In a lot of ways, their story is most amazing because of the depths of honesty between the two.  I fell in love with her husband too when she showed how forthcoming he was about his feelings and thoughts.  He didn't come across as a man who was overbearing or aloof.  In fact, he sounded patient, smart, and head over heels in love with Ree.  What woman wouldn't want that?

Whether you're familiar with Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, or not, you really should check out her book.  She has an honesty in her writing that is both captivating and funny, and that really captures who we imagine her to be.  From what I hear, she is writing another book to follow her first, and I assure you that I will be quick to grab a copy!

By the way, I'm now a much bigger fan and adore her Food Network show, "The Pioneer Woman."  It airs here on Saturday mornings, but check local listings for the day and time.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the book.

Review: A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel

Synopsis:  From Goodreads "Bethenny Frankel's no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is personality won over countless fans, and made her a nationally bestselling author and the star of her own hit Bravo show Bethenny Getting Married? Now Bethenny opens up and shares the obstacles she overcame and the great success she has enjoyed while discovering how to approach life from “A Place of Yes.” Bethenny’s path was not always clear as she overcame a difficult childhood, failed relationships, entrepreneurial efforts that never quite got off the ground, and lifelong money struggles. To deal with these challenges, Bethenny developed ten rules for pursuing her goals with authenticity and drive." 

Review:  Having been a fan of Bethenny Frankel's for awhile now, I really wanted to check out her "ten rules" for tackling life.  For anyone who has watched her reality shows, you know that Bethenny is pretty much an open book about her past and present.  She has shared her career, relationships, and family with her audience.  Now, she digs in to share what she has come to realize and records it in her semi-autobiographical book, A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want. 

Many of the rules Bethenny shares in her book deal with personal honesty and hard work.  You do have to somehow be brave enough to say yes to things in your life that are scary or difficult; however, I wonder if some "self help" suggestions really just fit the person who realized them.  I really appreciated learning about what drove her to become the person that she is, but I don't know that they always fit every person.  There was one rule about not doing work that is unsatisfying, and attempting things that scare you and help you achieve your best self.  I'd love to say that I could drop my job and find that "blissful" fit, but I think there is a fine line between doing what you do best, by which you feel fulfilled, and doing what you do best but not necessary liking work for all its stresses.  My parents always reminded me that work is called work for a reason.  I don't know how realistic it is to toss over ones "real life" for the hopes of a better one.  I will admit that it takes great courage when you do realize you need to find a better path.

All right, so let me cut to the chase.  I thought Bethenny's book gave some good information about how she achieved greater success and joy in her life.  While not all the "rules" she listed might fit every person--in my opinion--I appreciated the journey she took us on and was rather interested in what she learned.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the book.

Double Review: Two NetGalley Novellas

Quite awhile ago, I joined Netgalley, but then lost sight of what it was all about and let it go.  Sadly, I think that I found it too tricky with my Kindle to figure out how or if I could download books and what my responsibilities really were.  Now that I have my iPad, I have no problems accessing just about any ebook out there, so that issue has been resolved.  As for responsibility, so to say, I think I have that figured out as well and started off slow with a couple of novellas that I thought I'd try out while I was on vacation.  Really what can be better than a short novella to give you that escape factor in a short amount of time, so for me, this was a nice way to start out.

Both novellas that I chose were short romance reads, which it seems dominates this format.  Am I right?  Both were actually pretty different from one another, but both were easy to get into quickly and to finish in a short amount of time.

When Harriet Came Home by Coleen Kwan is essentially about Harriet Brown's return to her small hometown in Australia.  As a grown woman who overcame her shy, nerdy-girl teen years, Harriet just couldn't overcome the anxiety she felt around her high school crush Adam.  That wasn't all that had her stumped though, as she was also responsible for exposing that same crush's mayor father for his infidelities and corruption.  In essence, she blew apart Adam's life and now had to face all of that in returning to help her own ailing father.

This was a classic romance tale where said girl changes for the better and catches the eye of yesteryear's hottie.  There is a nice amount of tension, with a fast moving story, sometimes believable and sometimes not.  Either way, it was a fairly clean read with plenty of romantic tension to keep you turning pages.  Adam seemed like a character I couldn't quite figure out, but I liked that he was so into Harriet, regardless of their past.  In a lot of ways, he is that man that women hope exists, in that he's sexy and aloof, but completely able to commit and be vulnerable at the same time.  (Could we call that a true oxymoron in male terms?)

Three Days, Two Nights by M.J. Frederick was way more graphic where the first novella was subtle.  What I found to be shy or tense in the first novella was completely different in the second.  In this novella, Nathan is trying to reconnect with his ex-wife Tess.  With a long, complicated back story in the military that led Nathan to put his wife on the back burner as he dealt with difficulties of his career, Tess had moved on to become a powerful career woman in her own right.  Nathan found an opportunity to conveniently step in to pilot her jet to a work retreat, wherein he hoped to renew his love for Tess and to make up for past hurts.  Like the perfect storm that it was, the plane hit bad weather and ended up stranded in paradise.  During that time, if Nathan couldn't win Tess back, then he had much more to worry about than a plane that had gone down and food shortage.

First off, I have to say that this was a pretty steamy, graphic read.  The characters are guarded and unsettled enough to create an instant tension and chemistry that it doesn't take more than a chapter or two to get where the story is going.  Tess is pretty wounded though, so in this short amount of space, Nathan had to prove that he had not only changed, but that he wanted her back.  The mode of getting those points across were pretty physical, so I'm thinking that the healing was more of a sexual kind than an actual working through of the core issues.  The tension in the story was well established, and what little we knew about the back story between these two was frame worked, but I will admit to wishing we had more emotional details worked out between the two characters in this short amount of time and space.

Both novellas were an interesting dive into using Netgalley and super vacation friendly with their length in page numbers.  To their credit, I think that Netgalley's site is extremely easy to use and has a great variety of books to choose from.  For me, this was just a start and I hope to read a lot more from them in the future.

Review: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Is there anything better than a cute little read that makes you smile and want to share?  That's exactly how I felt about Elizabeth Eulburg's Prom and Prejudice.  It was cute, it was short, and it was a fun P&P take off.  What could be better?

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise."

Review:  As far as remakes of Jane Austen's famous Pride and Prejudice go, this one is pretty cute.  With our famous "Lizzie" and Darcy now as teens studying in a famous prep school, the result of this romance is not marriage, but prom.  If you know the story behind the original story, then the personalities of the characters make perfect sense, even if the resulting reasons to be proud might be different.  Darcy, in this remake, is so sweet and mature that he almost seems unreal for a teen boy, yet that makes him even more endearing.  Let's be honest, we're reading his as a character, and not necessarily as a real to life teen, right?

I really loved this short, clean read.  Lizzie and Darcy both have valid reasons to not like the other, and I think that their conflicts are age appropriate and help forward the story.  The resolutions along the way are nicely put together, with new ways of showing why Darcy was so stand-offish with Lizzie and how he really is a good, well-mannered guy.  Is getting Lizzie and Darcy to prom the real "resolution" to this story?  I can't really say that's it, but the overriding story is very cute and fun to compare to the original.  I'll be recommending this one to many students I teach, and my adult friends that enjoy a cute remake of Pride and Prejudice.

*FTC Disclosure:  Review is based on a book provided by the Amazon Vine program.

Review: Bloody Valentine by Melissa De La Cruz

This week has been Spring Break, which was a much needed escape from work.  I had all sorts of goals to read and get ahead on blog posts and reviews, but I should have known I would be sitting here on Thursday wishing I had just one more week!  Since I don't have one more week, I better get a move on and write the reviews I have waiting, right?  One of the reviews I've had is for Melissa De La Cruz's small short story selection from the Blue Blood series. 

Synopsis:  This installment in the Blue Blood series is a short compilation of three short stories from characters we've been reading about.  The first story is told from Oliver's perspective, Schuyler's close friend who has been put through the wringer in the series.  The second is from Allegra's point of view, showing the earlier years in Schuyler's mother's life, including the choices she had to make that got her where she is in our series.  The final story is told about Schuyler and Jack, bringing there story together in a little more detail.

Although this is a short story collection, I would not recommend this before reading at least the first four or five books in the series.  Some of the characters and situations would feel odd and unfamiliar without more of the story already in place.

Review:  Altogether, this was a nice, easy collection of stories.  Oliver's initial story in the book set a fairly depressing tone, especially since I always felt for him.  His story seems to try to make you feel that Oliver will somehow be "okay," but I felt overwhelming sadness for this character and all he's been through as Schuyler's much-used friend (talk about an understatement).

The other two stories in the collection were nice additions to the back story that we've wanted.  I've especially wanted to know more about Schuyler's mother, and this collection gave us a small glimpse into her story. 

On the whole, this is a well-written compilation.  If you have read the series (and I would definitely recommend you read the other books beforehand), these stories are a nice addition to what we know about the characters.  Besides, the cover is so pretty, how could you resist picking it up to get a little more to the back story?!?

Review: The Lost Saint by Bree DeSpain

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung."

Review:  The Dark Divine series has been a surprising read, one that I wasn't expecting to get me so engaged in the unfolding story of Grace Divine, her family, and her boyfriend Daniel.  Having felt a bit burned out by paranormal stories recently, I wasn't sure that a book about a werewolf clan and curse would be up my alley, but I was wrong.  In The Dark Divine, the story left off with a bit of a cliffhanger.  The action was intense in the first book, so I was eager to dive into the second to find out what happened to Grace.  Once again, the action in the second book was also pretty intense in certain scenes, and Grace's anger at being cursed was more than evident throughout the story.  My feeling is that Despain really knows how to write action scenes that keep you flipping pages, because I'm not one to like drawn out action, but both books have had me eager to read more.

Obviously, there is a love story involved in both books; one that is developed mostly throughout book one.  In book two, as with many YA romances, a conflict is introduced in the second that pulls the couple apart.  Let me be honest in saying that putting a couple together, only to have the guy then turn moody because he's being protective but comes off going cold on the girl makes me want to scream.  When the love interest is pulled apart because one or the other acts like they no longer care just makes me want to smack one of them for not communicating!  Yes, it created a good deal of tension, and cast Grace out on her own to figure out how to deal with her curse, but it made me want to shake them at times.  I get that sometimes teens like these "I love you. No, I hate you" twists, and it did give the story a good bit of added tension that had you hanging on to figure out why they were being so stupid to one another!

Overall, I really have liked this series and thought it was really well written.  There is a lot of action, believable dialogue, and engaging characters.  I was pretty into the story and thought it really stood out from many of the paranormal books I've read recently.  

One funny side note to my review--I had my students in my Popular Fiction class read the first book in reading circles.  First off, I overheard them trying to figure out if the girl on the cover was wearing any underwear (they decided she must be), but secondly, the boys in the reading group said it wasn't just a "chick book."  I thought that was a pretty good two thumbs up for a bunch of teen boys to say they liked it and would recommend it to any reader!

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy of the novel from the publisher.

Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

What do you do when a book starts off  light-hearted and fun, yet ends dark and dramatic?  What if you weren't expecting it to happen?  In some ways, that is how I felt about Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction."

Review:  I'm not sure what I expected exactly, but the turn in the novel from light and flirty to dark and dramatic threw me.  Although the vampire theme warranted some danger, I didn't expect the vampire/fiance to go from determined suitor to the evil, unconcerned vampire he eventually became.  If this were a mood swing, then it was some mood swing, brought on by what exactly?  Was Jessica's determination not to become a vampire just a bit much?  I'm not giving anything away here in saying this, as a teen romance usually always has a conflict that leads you to want the two characters together even more.  In this case, I wasn't sure why the character's emotions changed so suddenly, when they had so thoroughly convinced me they originally felt just the opposite?

While my biggest concern with the novel was the dramatic shift from light to dark, I will say that this might be my own issue as an adult reader.  As a high school teacher always on the look out for books to recommend to my students, I know that teen readers would not be as critical of the drama in the book and probably enjoy the tension that was spelled out in the second half of the novel.  For me, it was disconcerting.  I liked the fun tone of Jessica finding out she was promised to a vampire prince and wish that the story would have continued in that vein (yes...pun), and allowed a more "campy" play on the vampire theme.  The light part of the book I enjoyed and found fun to read; the darker side threw me a little and made me wish for a different conclusion.  I'm going to share this one with my students, however, since they are still on the look out for more teen vampire stories!

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

I'm ashamed to say that I've had The Dark Divine by Bree Despain for almost a year!  It wasn't until I realized that book two was coming out, and the fact that some of my students chose to read this for literature circles in my Popular Fiction class (and loved it), that I decided I had to get to it.  Originally, the boys in my Pop. Fiction class were leery of the "girlie" cover, but soon were sucked into the story and told all of the guys in the class that it was a good read for anyone.  I really wanted to see what they were talking about and just jumped in!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.  Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.  As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul."

Review:  The Dark Divine originally felt familiar, like something I had read before.  In a lot of ways, this did seem like a common paranormal teen read, but the complication in the story between Grace, Daniel, and Grace's brother Jude builds and builds and builds in such a way that you have to keep reading.  Why did Daniel disappear in the first place?  Why does Jude hate him so much?  How does he happen to appear to help Grace when she needs help?   Readers somehow get that Daniel is the bad boy that Grace should avoid, but we also see that there is a lot we don't know.  Daniel is definitely mysterious, but has this vulnerability to him that pushes the reader to find out why.  

There is a definite paranormal twist to the novel, and a big, bad monster on the loose that has you looking at many of the characters in the novel with a skeptical eye.  Thankfully, each plot point moves closer and closer to the conclusion, which is quite a page turner.  In fact, the climax of the story felt like an action movie that I could see inside my head with drama, romance, and a fight sequence that had me nervous.  Honestly, the story was well thought out, engaging, and actually felt new, regardless of the number of paranormal teen reads out right now.

One of the best recommendations I think I can give for the novel would actually have to be from my own students.  Some of the boys were reluctant to read what they perceived might be a "girlie" book, based on the cover; however, they quickly came back saying how much they liked it.  The action in the story wasn't erased by any over-sentimentality and romance on the part of the female protagonist, and so they liked it.  I can see why.  The Dark Divine is mysterious, emotional, and has me wanting to read the next book in the series so I can hurry and catch up with these characters!  For me, this was one of the better young adult novels I've read this past year. 

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the novel.

Review: A Darcy Christmas by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, & Carolyn Eberhart

In the midst of paper grading and Christmas preparations, I have thankfully had a copy of A Darcy Christmas to escape into!  A couple of weeks ago I read the first story in the compilation, "Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol" by Carolyn Eberhart.  It was so darling, that I decided to stop and do a single review of that first story in the book.  Since then, I've used my reading as a quick escape and recently finished it. 

Synopsis:  In a three-part, Jane Austen themed Darcy collection, we follow one of the most famous romantic couples of all time through the Christmas season.  The first story in the book is a spin off of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.  (As mentioned, I reviewed "Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol" back in November.)  This was followed my Amanda Grange's, "Christmas Present."  In this short story, we follow Elizabeth and Darcy to the Bingley's new home, where they have just welcomed a baby.  Elizabeth is also expecting her first child, as all of the Bennet's (and even a Collins) join together for the holidays. 

Completing the collection is Sharon Lathan's, "A Darcy Christmas."  In this concluding selection, Elizabeth and Darcy take us through a series of Christmases together over the years.  Jumping across the years, this famous couple share their lives and growing family as they celebrate many happy holidays across a lifetime.

Review:  Admittedly, I genuinely enjoy reading Austen-themed remakes and retellings.  I've previously read novels by both Grange and Lathan, so I was familiar with their style of storytelling, but quickly fell in love with Everhart's cute retelling of A Christmas Carol.  Grange's tale had a lot of language that was common to other Austen novels, so the story and characters felt warm and familiar, and showed just where the Darcys and Bingleys might be in their futures.  Lathan's story, like her novels, was romantic and charming as it showed the loving relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth with their growing family.

As an Austen fan, I loved the sweet holiday flair brought to the characters of Pride and Prejudice.  The three separate stories were unique and fun to read, each with a style that helped it stand out from the others.  Honestly, I had a wonderful time escaping into the possible lives of the Darcys and would definitely recommend this compilation to Austen fans.  In short, A Darcy Christmas brings Jane Austen charm to the holidays in a delightful way.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy of the novel provided by Sourcebooks.

This beautiful collection counts as my first in "The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2010".  The challenge is being hosted by The True Book Addict & The Christmas Spirit Blog.  It started on Friday, November 26th and runs until January 6th.  You can read as little as one book on up.  For more information or to sign up, visit their site today!

A Darcy Christmas: "Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol" by Carolyn Eberhart

The day I came home from surgery, I had a wonderful, early Christmas package waiting for me that contained A Darcy Christmas.  This book is a compilation of three Christmas stories by different Austen writers.  I love the escape that comes with all things Austen and this book has a wonderful, feel good Christmas backdrop for its stories.

Although there are three stories in the book, I wanted to share a little bit about the first story in the novel, "Mr. Darcy's Christmas Story" by Carolyn Eberhart.  It doesn't seem that Eberhart has published anything prior to her story included in the novel (according to the bio in the book or online), so I was interested to get a taste of her writing.

Synopsis:  It's not Ebenezer Scrooge.  It's Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy fresh off his refusal of marriage by Ms. Elizabeth Bennett, marriage of Lydia and Wickham, and marriage of his good friend Bingley to Elizabeth's other sister Jane.  Unlike the original novel, Darcy never did return after Bingley's proposal to Jane, to do likewise with Elizabeth. Instead, he sulked and returned home to be sullen and depressed.  Heading into Christmas, Darcy experiences the classic "A Christmas Carol" story, replete with his ghost of Christmas past, present, and future.  Each ghost shows him the result of his pride and fear, showing him how he's hurt and worried those around him, and how life will turn out if he doesn't swallow his pride (backed by a big dose of fear).  When the three ghosts leave him behind to take charge of his own life, he presses forward with the understanding of how life could be if he made no action today.


Review:  As similar to the original Dickens tale as it can be, this mashup delivers a beautiful twist to the famous Christmas tale that is so familiar.  Rather than Ebenezer, we see Darcy haunted by his past, present, and future, each haunted by what pride and fear can do to a person's life.  Although this is a smart retelling of "A Christmas Carol," I found myself bewitched by the themes of personal growth that remained in tact.  Yes it was about Darcy conquering his own personal demons to propose to Elizabeth again, thus bringing about happiness for both of them, but that familiar message of seizing the day and creating your own happiness by looking outside of yourself still shined through.

I really loved the thoughtful writing, with its beautiful voice and connection to the original tale.  In this case, I don't think that this smart retelling would offend the purists who hate their classics marred with modern romantic sensibilities.  Yes, it was about Darcy getting Elizabeth, but it was more about his own journey to overcoming his fears so he could find eventual happiness.  That theme and the weaving in of the real Ebenezer were smart and fun to read.

If you can get your hands on this book, I have to give "Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol" a high recommendation.  It was an easy, fast read, and one that had me more philosophical about life and the Christmas season ahead of us than anything.  To top it off, it had that fun Austen twist to it that made it really fun to watch unfold.  Honestly, I now hope to hear more from Eberhart down the road!

*FTC Disclosure:  Review is based on an Advanced Review Copy provided by Sourcebooks.  No monies were exchanged in this review process.

Review: Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham

Life sure does move right along.  Here we are facing the first of September and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it all.  As I've mentioned, I'm teaching a Popular Fiction class this year and so far so good.  The students just started The Hunger Games and are creating their own web sites, where I will have them create digital portfolios (which is kind of a fancy way of saying that they'll be writing and responding online).  Most of the students really got into creating their own sites, so I'll be interested to see what they create.  They should be fun to see!

On a more personal note, I've had a hard time this week of pulling my routine together.  I realize that every year I start off the first month or so of school collapsing as soon as I get home.  My classes are great this year, but I'm definitely wiped out when I get home.  There just isn't enough caffeine in Diet Coke to get me through a busy day.  I love you Diet Coke, but you don't give me as much pep as I'd like!  Last night I was beyond tired and just wanted to shut the world out and read, which was perfect, because I was able to finish Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City.  It was light, breezy, instant get away for me.  In short, it was exactly what I needed to unwind at the end of the day.

Synopsis:  Picking up from where Holly was in Holly's Inbox, we find her still working as a receptionist for a London bank and in a relationship with a former school flame, Toby.  Still told in the epistolary form as the first book, we're privy to emails and even a few text messages between Holly and her coworkers, friends, family, and main squeeze.  Although everything seems all right on the surface, work has put Holly in the hot seat, as well as push Toby to working long hours away from Holly.  Eventually, things begin to crumble and Holly has to determine what is most important in her life so she can protect her future.

Review:  In much the same style as Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary, Holly is a bit of a character who always seems to be getting herself into some trouble.  Her letters to her best friend Jason, felt fun and whimsical, and topped my list for emails I most wanted to read.  Jason was sweet and caring, but a real crack up most of the time, mocking Holly for her insecurities and egging her on to push her relationship with Toby a bit farther.  This relationship aside, I couldn't help but wonder if people really do send as many short, even one-liner emails, as these characters do?  I can't imagine spending my day shooting short emails back and forth to people, but maybe that saves their sanity at a desk job?

The story was funny to read, and although it was predictable with its conflict and resolution, I still found myself eager to see how it came together.  As I mentioned in my previous review of Holly's Inbox, there is a risk in sticking strictly to the written communications without any commentary by the author.  It was easy to sense where things were going, but the author did still manage to throw in a few surprising twists.  I think I enjoyed this second installment a bit more than the first, possibly because the tension in the story came up a little earlier and had me flipping pages for the resolution.  Holly could be a bit of an acquired taste for some readers; she is quirky, anxious, and a bit insecure, which strangely annoyed me and made her more likable.  Although not perfect, it is a fun read that breaks out of the norm and helped me escape for an evening!

*FTC Disclosure:  A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks.