The Wedding Dress

The Wedding Dress
Rachel Hauck
Thomas Nelson, 2012

The first thing that caught my attention in the BookSneeze newsletter was the cover. That dress - it's gorgeous, especially when you hold the book in your hands and can really look at the lacework. I'd wear it in a heartbeat. The premise was intriguing too: four women, one wedding dress, and a mysterious connection. What I got was a beautiful story about love - the sacrifices and struggles we willingly endure in the name of Love, the power of Love, and that journey to discovery we all must travel.

When Charlotte suddenly found herself the new owner of a beat-up old trunk at an estate auction, she never expected to find a wedding dress inside. She's not even entirely sure how she ended up buying it, but feels an undeniable draw to the trunk. The dress inside is not just any dress - it is The Dress. And Charlotte knows wedding dresses (she's the owner of a chic bridal boutique). The dress, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding its acquisition, tempt Charlotte into tracing the dress's history - slowly and steadily following the threads of history, little clues, to a most unexpected source. The research is a welcome distraction, as Charlotte's own engagement dissolves, and she struggles to make sense of love - while also battling an intense longing to find her father, some sense of family identity.

But this dress has four stories to tell, and while Charlotte is slowing weaving together the clues, Rachel Hauck lets us see into the past. Beginning with headstrong, passionate Emily in 1912, the dress has a way of bringing out the best and truest in people's heart, particularly the best and truest of its brides. Emily, Grace and Hillary all have unique stories of their own: romance, discovery, growth, heartache, wrenching decisions. The dress finds them as they need it, touching their hearts, leaving a mark, and then showing them who needs it next.

I loved the intricacy of the story, the complex layering that added a touch of intrigue, a taste of the fantastic even, without overwhelming the main story - Charlotte's story. There's an attention to detail, and a sense of careful craftsmanship that fits neatly with the idea of a handmade designer wedding gown. It's a thoughtful read, without being heavy or weighty - just right for a summer evening.

Book provided by publisher for review.

Armchair BEA: It's a Wrap!

All the fun of Armchair BEA has concluded - the discussions, the giveaways, the twitter parties...It's been an informative session, and there are so many participants! I still have posts to read (so I guess the fun can continue, eh?). This event is also a great reminder of why I got involved in blogging: the people! Talking about books is great, but you need to have someone to talk to - and the blogging community is awesome.

Here's to another year of blogging fun! And, from me, you can expect a blogoversary giveaway coming soon...

Armchair BEA: The Future of Book Blogging

It's the final day of Armchair BEA, and the discussion topic/post prompt is questions and tips for book blogging...I'm still relatively new to this, although I can scarcely believe I've been blogging for two years! Eep! I am constantly learning, and making adjustments as I go, so here are some of my thoughts about blogging. (I s'pose we can call them "tips," though I think of them as observations more than anything.

Blogging should be fun. We're not being paid for this (or, most of us aren't. I'm certainly not!), and it's pretty much a labor of love - an extension of our love for books, reading, the power of story. So it should be fun, something we enjoy. If blogging ever starts to feel like "work," I'll know it's time to step back and evaluate things.

Related to that, I've gone back-and-forth about how often to post, what to post, etc. For me, blogging a couple reviews a week is good - I feel like it keeps the blog current, it's easy to do most of the time (I'm a lifelong bookworm!), and it's not too stress-inducing. Sometimes I do reviews/posts on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, sometimes Tuesday-Thursday. Sometimes weekends, sometimes not. I'm planning to start a Saturday Storytime "series" to spotlight picture books in a better manner, so they don't get lost among the other reviews. When I have blog tours or special posts, I change things up accordingly. For me, having a flexible schedule is good - it keeps it fun, and I don't feel like such a slave to the calendar.

I do want to work on adding more non-review posts...Guest posts, interviews...Posts where I just talk about stuff. I also want to make an effort to include more DVD/movie reviews. I think they could slip in nicely, and help "fluff" things a bit, keep it interesting.

One last observation, regarding review books versus personal reading: Mix it up. Keep it balanced. And if all else fails, err on the side of more personal reading. This is connected to the first point, about keeping blogging fun - you desperately need to keep reading fun. If all you read are books you have to read, for review, it's going to take a toll on you sooner or later. Even if you like the books, you're still having to read them. You need to make time to read things you pick. Random books that catch your interest, or old favorites you love to revisit. The stories that call to you: read them.

There you have it: my two-cents (or maybe more like thirty-four) about blogging. As for questions for you, my fellow book-loving bloggers -- I do have a couple, of the "just curious"-variety:

• What do you think is the one feature that any self-respecting book blog should have?
• What do you find to be the best way to attract reader attention?
• What meme do you think the most beneficial to be a part of? The most fun?

This has been a great Armchair BEA year, and I know there are a lot of posts still to read - so many words, and so little time! Thanks to all who've stopped by, and I hope to see you again.

Armchair BEA: Beyond the Blog

Day 4 of Armchair BEA already! Eek! Okay, time to talk about writing outside of the blogworld, and something fun from real life...

I'm definitely a writer. For a time, my major was Writing - and then the English curriculum was changed, and I switched back to a Literature concentration (with a sprinkling of writing courses). I was a staff-writer for the campus newspaper for a semester, before being promoted to A&E Editor my Junior and Senior years. I've got notebooks and Word.doc files galore with snippets and starts. (I'm actually even working on my first novel right now!). In a perfect world, I'd somehow be able to make a living writing - either at a paper (I'd love to do color commentary for sports!) or magazine, or by publishing books. Until then, I just enjoy the writing itself ... Blogging, newsy-quirky letters and emails to friends ... I'm a contributor to IndieJane, and have also turned my love of writing to work as a beta reader and story editor for several of the IndieJaneites.

As a fun tidbit of my life outside of books (and yes, I do have one!) ... I have a 13lb rabbit. Her name is 'BabyCat', and my brother and a buddy found her in the park one January evening. From our best estimate, she was about 3 weeks old at the time - and so very, very tiny. I brought her home, gave her food, water and love, and she started growing...and didn't stop for 18 months! Never in my life would I have thought she'd get so big, ha... But she's my bunnygirl, and a very good snuggler. Although, she does seem to think books are for eating rather than reading...

BabyCat, Easter photo shoot 2012

Armchair BEA: Networking...In Real Life?!

Okay, honestly? I've been trying and trying to think of a real life experience related to books and blogging for today's Armchair BEA topic -- and I'm failing miserably. I don't have a local indie bookstore to chat with and/or support (which is super sad, because I love hearing people talk about their awesome indie stores. Makes me want to hurry up and make the daydream of owning my own bookstore happen NOW). BUT, then I had a thought of how I can spin this idea of networking and connections ...

... It was pre-organized blogging, but when I was in college, I had a couple super amazing opportunities to meet authors on a very personal level. I received a scholarship two years in a row that not only helped fund my literary education, but gave me the privilege of meeting Dorothea Benton Frank and Cassandra King. Not just casually meeting them, but actually talking to them - eating lunch with them! - and, of course, getting signed books. In that same year-and-change, I also got to meet Susan Vreeland, in an even smaller, more intimate setting. I sat beside her at another luncheon, following an information discussion session, and when she signed my copy of The Forest Lover, she inscribed it with a personalization of the final line. (Yeah, total fangirl moment, in a very dignified manner of course).

As if those personal interactions were not awesome enough, my campus also hosted an annual literary festival celebrating student writing and hosting literary guests. We're talking Sarah Dessen (freshman year, and yes, that was a definite fangirl moment!) and Jennifer Niven, among others. (And we're not even touching the amazing opportunities to meet writers of a more scholarly bent that my History major offered. But believe me, I've met some brilliant minds, who've written more books than any human should, ha!).

I wasn't formally blogging during my undergrad days, but I will always remember these encounters -- getting to meet authors I'd read for years, or were just discovering. Speaking with them as a fellow writer, as a lover of story. Seeing that even with amazing and beautiful books for sale, these women were women - they could laugh and drink sweet tea with the best of us.

Looking back, and looking at my interactions with authors now -- it's still that sense of humanity I love best. When favorite authors tweet me back about football or hot actors or frozen yogurt, it makes it real. It makes this virtual community feel more intimate, more like those lunches and chat sessions.

So ... that's my story. I was blessed with truly amazing opportunities as a student, and I do not take that for granted. I love seeing new books published, knowing I've met the author -- up close and personal. And it's my hope to, one day, be on the opposite side of the equation: to be the author making a personal contact with a college student full of dreams and a love of story.

Armchair BEA: Best of 2012

Today is the day a lot of Armchair BEA participants are hosting giveaways, so you'll want to swing by the main site and see what's what. I'm opting to wait and save my giveaway goodness for a blogoversary-thing next week ((I decided to delay it until post-Armchair BEA)), so I am posting about the "Best of 2012" ...

...Obviously 2012 is a long way from over, we're just past the half-way mark! But I've already read 40+ books, so I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite reads (links to my reviews):

• Awake (Jessica Grey): As a fairy tale fangirl, I love this modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty. There are twists and turns galore, and I hear there's a trilogy in the works...
• Bourne (Lisa T Bergren): If you have not read the River of Time series, you need to stop right now and go. find. them! Seriously, these books are amazing - and Bourne took my breath away. I'm counting down the days until I get my hands on the next novella installment Tributary.
• Prophet  (RJ Larson): Wow...Take the atmosphere and feel of the Old Testament, place it in a different world with just a twist of fantasy, and you've got one amazing read. For me, this was a beautiful, breath-taking read.
• Written in the Ashes (K. Hollan VanZandt): Historical fiction about the Library at Alexandria. What more could you ask for?
• The Scorpio Races (Maggie Stiefvator): Mystical, mysterious horses that come out of the sea - wild and untamed. A quiet boy who speaks their language. The tomboy who learns to read his heart. Part romance, part wild adventure story, this one captured my imagination and invaded my dreams.

What about you? What are your favorite reads of 2012 (so far)?

Armchair BEA: Introductions First!

While hundreds of bloggers, authors, publishers, and all-around-awesome people are flooding the streets of New York this week for BEA (so. jealous!), I am participating in Armchair BEA for the second year. It's not quite the same as battling crowds and hoping beyond hope to snag That Particular ARC, but I had an amazing time last year, and have high hopes for this year. Today, we getting things started with introductions, via self-interviews! The lovely leaders of Armchair BEA have come up with 10 great questions, and asked us blogger types to pick 5 to answer. So ... Here goes!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

My name's Rebecca, but you may see me appearing on the interwebz as RivkaBelle. I've been blogging for two years (as of Saturday, June 2nd!), and absolutely love it. I started this blog ages ago, as a place to stick poems or thoughts on books/movies/etc. I also used to record snippets of the conversations we'd have in the cafeteria, ha. Once I discovered the vast world of book blogs a few years ago, I decided to try my hand at evolving this "wordy place" into an actual book blog. So far, it's been a fun and - I think - successful experiment. I've learned so much, and absolutely love getting to chat with publishers and authors about books and life.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I really, really, really love frozen yogurt. And I normally end up getting 16oz at a time when I hit up my local froyo bar. (But hey, it's really good and it's healthy!)

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

This is a fun question! Hmm...Okay, I think it's probably this one...because it's so near and dear to my heart. But I also have a special place in my heart for this one, which is also worth checking out. (Yes, I realize I just gave you two posts -- so I fudged it a little, but they're both good!)

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

Oh man...Such an awesome question, and so hard to pick just one! I could answer this so many ways...But let's go with...Lady Galadriel. When I first read Fellowship of the Ring, I was - well, I guess enchanted - by Lady Galadriel. She fascinated me, captured my imagination, and I wanted to know so much more. She still is a figure of great interest, and I think it'd be lovely to have a cosy spot of tea with her.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

I think this is a yes-AND-no answer...I think I'm probably just more aware of my reading habits now: I read a ton of historical fiction and YA. But I've also discovered there are a lot more options available - like the world of Austenesque reading (which I label "Austenia" here), and all the amazing fairy tale variations. I've also begun reading a lot more indie books - things I would never have known existed before discovering the blogging community. Maybe it's less a change in my reading tastes, and more a fine-tuning of my palette?

This has been fun! I can't wait to see what the other Armchair BEA participants have answered!

Blog Tour: Guest Post with Lisa Burstein

Hello, hello! I hope everyone is fine and dandy on this holiday weekend. What a great weekend - to celebrate and honor the sacrifices that have given us freedom, the very right to blog and read! I for one am eternally grateful to the men and women of this nation's military who have given it all. I am humbled by their dedication, and proud to call America home.

Today, I am delighted to play host for Lisa Burstein, whose novel Pretty Amy I reviewed recently. Lisa has written an interesting piece on the books that helped inspire Pretty Amy - and as a Literature major with a penchant for "story," I find this super cool. But I'll let you read it for yourself...

Pretty Amy started as my thesis for my Masters of Fine Arts in Fiction, so well, I had to read some books along with it to inspire and inform my writing. These could be chosen based on subject and also writing style. Below are the some of books that helped inspire Pretty Amy and a few of them are still some of my all time favorites. 

Cruddy by Lynda Barry: Roberta Rohbeson begins her book in 1971, in what starts out as a drug-fueled teenage rant that gradually fades into the story of two cross-country trips she made with her father five years earlier -- a story she has kept to herself since she was found wandering the desert covered with blood. 

Youth in Revolt by C.D Payne: The hilarious, take-no-prisoners novel about a cynical, sex-obsessed teenager's pining love for an intelligent girl. 

Lolita by Vladamir Nabokov: Nabokov's most famous and controversial novel, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze. 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: Chronicles the nervous breakdown of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, successful, but slowly going under, and maybe for the last time. 

Portnoy's Complaint by Phillip Roth: Roth's masterpiece takes place on the couch of a psychoanalyst, an appropriate jumping-off place for an insanely comical novel about the Jewish American experience. 

The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll: The original classic story about growing up with drugs and sex and about learning to survive on the streets of New York. 

Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel: A harrowing story of breakdowns, suicide attempts, drug therapy, and an eventual journey back to living, this poignant and often hilarious book gives voice to the high incidence of depression among America's youth.

 You can see there is a the words hilarious, comical. cynical up there, but also books that deal with deep, tough issues. That is Pretty Amy and I hope I did these authors proud.

If you want to learn more about Lisa, and Pretty Amy, check out the links below:
twitter: http://twitter.com/#%21/LisaBurstein
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Burstein/127805670672217
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13375237-pretty-amy

blog: http://www.lisabursteinauthor.wordpress.com
website: http://www.lisaburstein.com

Faerie Tale Theatre: Sleeping Beauty (DVD)

Sleeping Beauty
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre, 1983
Starring: Christopher Reeve & Bernadette Peters

Okay, I first heard about this television series from the 80s from Jessica - you may remember she listed it as one of her Top 10 Fairy Tale Adaptations. When I saw that my library had added the volume containing the Sleeping Beauty episode - starring Clark Kent, er, Christopher Reeve - I snapped it up. I had no idea what to expect, but I laughed out loud through the whole episode. (Minus, perhaps, the moments when I was trying to fully digest the amazingness of Clark Kent as The Prince. I'm telling you, this is grounds for many discussions...)

We all know the basic premise of Sleeping Beauty - it's a classic tale, and Disney did a beautiful job of it back in the day. But you've never seen anything like this version - there's no doubt it was a product of the 80s. It's got all the weird colors/costumes, corny comedy, and just all around "weird 80s vibe" going for it. (I'm allowed to say that, I was born in the 80s). It's quirky. It's different. It's a little weird, and definitely irreverent at times. I loved Reeve's Prince - he's endearingly naive, and oh-so-enthusiastic. (Plus, let's be honest: It's Clark Kent in Medieval-ish costume. What's not to love?) The fairies are...different. And my favorite part of the whole show? The end scene, when the King and Queen are waking up - the Prince's greeting to them. I laughed so hard, my cat got scared and left the room. Definitely a fun viewing experience, and I'm now on the look-out for several other episodes - like Beauty and the Beast!

DVD provided by my local library.

Mini Reviews

Hiya! I'm back with another set of mini reviews...

Hope Rekindled
Tracie Peterson
Bethany House, 2011

While I liked the first two books in the "Striking a Match" trilogy (read my review of Book 2: Hearts Aglow), the final installment didn't keep my interest. In fact, I bailed on it. I felt like the storyline was going in too many circles, without moving forward enough. After going through so much with Deborah and the Vandermark family, I can't help but feel let down after such an ending. But maybe that's just me...

Book provided by my local library.

The Selection
Kiera Cass
HarperTeen, 2012

I really was not sure what to expect going into this reading, other than the cover is gorgeous. I've heard taglines like "The Hunger Games meets the Bachelor", but since I've neither read nor seen either, it didn't help me out any. What I got was a story with more depth than I expected. America is one of 35 girls selected "randomly" to compete for the hand (and heart) of Prince Maxon. It's the world's weirdest beauty pageant, if you will. But it's more than that - America, as a member of one of the lower castes, helps Maxon see what's really going on in the country he's to take over. They form an unexpected friendship, and in turn, Maxon shows America that not everything she assumed about him was correct either.

There's a lot going on in The Selection, and a lot of history and mysteries are only hinted at. It definitely sets readers up for the next novel in the series, and I for one will be picking it up to see what happens. America started out a little whiny and delusional (heh), but she started growing on me as she started engaging her brain. Prince Maxon I love. And Aspen...don't get me started. (Not a fan. However, I discovered that William Moseley is set to play Aspen in an upcoming television series based on The Selection, and if anyone could make me more sympathetic/reevaluate my decision, he could. Just sayin'.) Safe to say this was a pleasant surprise.

Book provided by my local library.

Blog Tour: Written in the Ashes

I am very happy to be a review stop on the Virtual Author Book Tours tour for Written in the Ashes. After you read my review, click on the button to the right and see the whole tour schedule (guest posts, interviews, giveaways, oh my!).

Written in the Ashes
K. Hollan Van Zandt
Balboa Press, 2011

Reading Written in the Ashes, I realized something: I thoroughly enjoy reading ancient historical fiction. It's a broad era that I have not studied in-depth, and as fiction, there is so much room for imagining and exploring the "what ifs" that could have been.

Hannah is a Jewish shepherdess, roaming the wilds of Sinai with her father, until her world is shattered by slave traders one night. Sold to a prestigious - and merciful - family in Alexandria, Hannah struggles to regain interest and enthusiasm for life, bearing scars on her body and her heart. As time begins to heal her wounds, Hannah finds her new life to be one of surprises. From private tutoring in the Library of Alexandria, to finding a strangely patched-together new 'family' in her master's house, Hannah slowly settles into her life. But these are uneasy times, and nothing is permanent. Nothing is safe - not even life. Relations between the Bishop in Alexandria, Cyril, and the "traditional" population are tense and volatile. The Library itself is threatened, and anyone deemed in cahoots with "the pagan enemy" is placed on a watch list, or "questioned" as a preemptive measure. This is Hannah's new reality, and she finds herself playing a surprising role in the bloody 'negotiations.'

The story is engrossing. It's rough and brutal - very blunt, a little gory. It's not a light read, and if you're particularly sensitive some scenes could be disturbingly harsh. I loved the characters - Hannah stole my heart from the very beginning, still out on the plains of Sinai, and as I met new characters, I forged new alliances, even as she did. It's a detailed story, rich in ideas and images. The Library at Alexandria has long captured my imagination, as a librarian and as a story-loving history geek, and to read about its struggle for survival, to get a glimpse into how things could have been - it's beautiful, even as it's heart-wrenching. I feel as though I've learned much about Alexandria, the crossroads of culture and religion, the struggle to orient in a changing world. Written in the Ashes is a sweeping story to enjoy, but also one to think about. To pause and consider, to look at this particular presentation of the "ancient world" - and see how it reflects humanity.

eBook provided by author for review.

Cover Reveal: Wander Dust 2!

Oh man, you guys! I am so excited about today's post! Remember, back in the fall, when I was a stop on the Wander Dust blog tour? If you missed it, check out my Q&A session with Michelle Warren here, and my review of Wander Dust here. Hopefully they've sparked your interest. If you need a little more convincing, check out the official book trailer:

If you haven't read Wander Dust yet, now's a great time to see what you've been missing. Michelle is running a special until the end of the month:

All of that is fun, right? But here's what I'm really excited about! Michelle has just released the cover and title of Book 2! YES! Sera's story is going to continue, and I am so ready. The teasers are coming soon, but until then, take a look at this cover, would you?

I swoon a little. It's beautiful, and a little mysterious. And I definitely want to know what's going to happen next!

To connect with  Michelle and get all the latest updates, check out:
The official website: http://wanderdusttrilogy.com/
The facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Warren-YA-Author-of-Wander-Dust/124362290972713
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MMichelleWarren

Pretty Amy

Pretty Amy
Lisa Burstein
Entangled, 2012

Isn't that cover amazing? Love the dress, and the juxtaposition of the obvious party/prom scene with rough cement-block walls. What's even more amazing is that the cover so aptly captures the essence of Pretty Amy.

Amy is a girl struggling to find herself, without knowing she's even fighting. Or rather, she knows she's fighting, she just doesn't know why or against what. High school started out rough, as her relationship with best friend (and neighbor) Joe gets strange, but when she finds Lila and Cassie, Amy starts to feel like she belongs somewhere. The three make it to their senior prom without major incident, and then their luck runs out: after being stood-up, the girls steal a huge bag of pot from Lila's date Brian's house, and things go downhill fast. High and reckless, they attempt to sneak into prom, then are arrested driving around town. That moment is both the end and the beginning.

As Amy begins the long process of trying to stay out of jail, she finds herself in battle after battle - with her parents (especially her mother), with her new therapist, with her coworker-slash-supervisor, with Joe, and most of all, with herself. Amy struggles to find the answers, the perfect solution to happiness - and oblivion. She's on a fast-track to self-destruction, even as she claims to be wanting better for her life. Once she hits the inevitable brick wall, she starts to see clearer - realizing she was the one making the choices all along, realizing she is the one who needs to come to terms with her actions and reactions. The fight's not over, but it suddenly gets a whole lot easier.

Pretty Amy is tough and gritty. There are some serious situations that arise, and Amy's reactions are not always what they could be - let alone should be. She's flawed, deeply, but she's human. She's real. I bet there are a lot of Amys out there in the world right now, fighting the same battles, trying to find the same answers. Though I wanted to shake her into waking up and looking at her world, I also found myself rooting for her - the journey is important, and Amy just made hers a little longer, learned a little more. As a reader, I took that journey too.

eBook provided by publicist for review.

Prophet

Prophet
RJ Larson
Bethany House, 2012

Oh man. This book was amazing. Like, really, really amazing. I stayed up until 3am reading, and wanted to finish it but my eyes gave out. When I did finish it, I didn't want the adventure to end. It's a beautiful story, with living breathing characters, and it swept me away entirely. The happy part: it's book one in a series, and if you visit Larson's site, you get a teaser and cover for the second book Judge. I'm already swooning. Back to the review...

Prophet is fantasy, but it's also what I consider "Biblical fiction". It reads like an Old Testament story, but with a light brush of fantasy, and set in another world. It's beautiful, it's sweeping, it's not overwhelmingly fantasy - nor overwhelmingly preachy. Ela, our prophet, is a spunky and very human young lady. She knows the Voice of her Creator - Infinite - and though she doesn't always understand, and even questions Him at times, she is faithful to her calling. Her choice. Along the path of her mission, she meets Kien Lan Tec, and things get complicated. As the two become unlikely friends, Ela struggles with her perceived duties as Prophet and her human heart. Other characters flesh out the story, each bringing their own flavor and touch. And the horses - I'm such a sucker for a good horse, and the destroyers provide comic relief while also assisting the story.

I'm trying to find the best words to describe Prophet, but really - I think it's something you have to read and experience yourself. Know that the story is well-plotted and well-paced. There are twists and turns you don't expect, but they work. The characters live and breathe, and you want to root for them. They're human, they're flawed, but they're trying. As I said before, the fantasy element is presented with a light hand - it strengthens Ela's story rather than distracting from it. And the relationship Ela has with Infinite - their conversations - oh, they made something in my heart tweak. Larson has done a beautiful job of showing the love that God - Infinite - has for His people, how very involved He is with even the smallest details of human life. Watching Kien and others slowly come to understand what Ela is saying is so much like watching humanity struggle to see - to know - why an all-powerful being would care about little ol' me. It's beautiful, simply breath-taking. Now, I really need to get my hands on Judge and find out what happens next.

ARC provided by publisher for review.

The One That I Want

The One That I Want
Jennifer Echols
Simon Pulse, 2012

Okay, I may have been late to discovering her, but I am totally a Jennifer Echols fangirl now. As in, I'm going to try and systematically catch up on titles I've missed, as well as keep tabs on all forthcoming offerings. That kind of fangirl. ((Plus, when she sends out a book for review, she signs it. I mean, seriously? How awesome is that!))

The One That I Want is one of Echols's romantic comedies, and I positively devoured it. Gemma is a fun character, and I loved watching her try to navigate the perils of high school drama, while also coming to terms with herself as a worth-while individual. (Such an important lesson for all of us to learn!) Gemma and Addison have been best friends for years, though not always happily. It's a strange friendship, but it "works" - mostly. And when Addison convinces Gemma to try out for majorette with her, and they both make the team, things seem to be getting good: Gemma has the incentive and inspiration to lose weight, and finally starts to feel good about herself. She even catches the eye of a hott football star at a summer majorette/football camp. Or does she? As soon as Gemma seems to be making positive strides, Addison swoops in for the kill and steals the hott (and wickedly smart) Max away from her, leaving Gemma with the handsome brooding quarterback. (Did I mention the boys are starters for the girls' school's rival team?) What follows is a complicated mix-up built on misunderstanding, misplaced trust, and just plain high school drama. In the best sense possible, of course. But the truth always comes out, and everything falls into its proper place, eventually.

The characters are fun, there's football talk (I admit, I'm a sucker for football, especially high school football), and the story is one that kept my attention and wouldn't let me go until I finished. It'd make a cute movie, I think. Definitely a fun "welcome to summer" read.

Book provided by author for review.

Blue Sky Days

Blue Sky Days
Marie Landry
2012

Emma had her life planned out in meticulous fashion. She spent her entire high school career working hard and earning stellar grades, grades intended to land a spot in college that would lead to a successful career. But she decided to take a year off, to earn her way through college, and discovered she had lost herself along the way. Realizing she should do something about it, Emma decided to spend the summer in Riverview, with her aunt Daisy. That decision changed her life, forever.

It's hard to be nineteen, and even harder to discover yourself after years of striving to meet someone else's idea of perfection. But with the help of free-spirited Daisy, Emma starts to learn that life is about more than perfect grades and isolating yourself from the world. When she meets Nicholas, Emma realizes that so many of her ideas and perceptions of life were so wrong - but that changing them is so very easy. Nicholas introduces her to his friends - Vince and Maggie - and the three give Emma her first taste of what it means to be young and free. And loved. As summer winds down, Emma is faced with another decision: stay in Riverview, or go back to her old life. She stays, and digs her roots deeply into the foundation of love and support she's found. And she needs every bit of that loving support a short time later, when Nicholas is diagnosed with leukemia. The next months are a struggle, but Emma, Nicholas, and their "family" of Daisy and Sam (Nicholas's dad), Vince and Maggie, rely on each other and the fierce power of love to get through the valley and back into the sun.

Blue Sky Days is a beautiful story, but was a difficult read at times. The first half is fun, and I loved watching Emma grow. I remember being nineteen, and how hard it is to see who you really are in the world, trying to find your place. Emma and all the characters are drawn neatly, fleshed out with a life and spark that made me wish they were true. Once the fight for Nicholas's life began, it got harder for me to read - leukemia, and cancer in general, has ravaged so many near and dear to my heart. Landry does a wonderful job making it real, not glossing over the hell of it all, but emphasizing the importance of family - of togetherness - of Love. (And, thankfully, she doesn't totally break my reader's heart either!). A well-written, moving story about growing into yourself, and finding out first-hand the amazing power of love.

eBook provided by author for review.

Cinder

Cinder
Marissa Meyer
Feiwel & Friends, 2012

We all know I'm a fairy tale nut, and when I saw this one showing up in the blogosphere a few months ago, I was intrigued. Not hunt-it-down-and-devour-it-curious, but intrigued enough that when my library purchased a copy, I put it on hold.

Marissa Meyer's first installment in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder, is the classic story of Cinderella with a sci-fi, dystopian twist...I must say, it's unlike anything I've read before. And quite honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I didn't hate it, but neither did I fall in love. Obviously, going into it, I knew that Cinder (a cyborg) was the Cinderella-figure, and that Prince Kai was supposed to fall in love with her, just like Prince Charming did "back in the day." The whole cyborg-thing was a little weird, in that my basic understanding of robots and etc. didn't identify cyborgs as being able to feel. But apparently, in the world of Cinder, cyborgs are humans who've been injured, or "damaged," somehow and have steel/robotic parts installed. (Sort of like high-tech prostheses, with a slightly creepy twist).

So basically, we have a Cinderella story set in a world with droids and cyborgs, and other crazy advanced technologies, that still has a major weakness: the inability to cure or even treat The Plague ravaging the country. Not to mention some crazy tension between Earth and the Lunars (a colony of people living on the moon. And I thought the cyborg bit was weird; these people are creepy-devious!). It's a complex little environment, and obviously deals with a lot more issues than "just Cinderella" - but Meyer does a good job of integrating Cinder's story into the bigger picture. Even though I figured out the twist of the story very, very early on in the book, it was an interesting read. I'm nowhere near fangirl-status, but I will pick up the next installment of this four-part series (random: I love the titles for the rest of the series!), and see what happens next.

Book provided by my local library.

New Books!

It's May Day! Which means I should be running around collecting flowers and bringing in the May...Instead I'm sharing the books that found their way to my shelves (and Kindle) in April. But hey, that's fun too! The Amazon bargain lists beckoned, and I answered this month...which you will see in just a moment. I also purchased the entire series of Lark Rise to Candleford on DVD. I am hooked, people! It's amazing. I plan to read the inspiring novels once I finish watching season four. Now, on to the books...

Bought:

Won:

For Review:

NetGalley:

Swapped:

Not too shabby. My ebook collection is growing by leaps and bounds - and I've discovered it's entirely too easy to stay up late reading books on the Kindle: there's no good way to gauge "just one more page!" Keep your eyes open for a Pretty Amy blog tour in May...and you never know what else I have up my sleeve.

Happy May, everyone!

Blog Tour: The Kiss Off & Top 10 Man Bands

Hello, hello! It's been a quiet posting week, and I apologize, but I'm making up for it today! I am happy to be hosting not only a review of Sarah Billington's upcoming novel The Kiss Off, but Sarah also graciously agreed to do a Top 10 post and picked the super fun topic "Man bands." And so, without further ado, I'll let you get to know Sarah a little better a`la her taste in music, and then I hope you stick around to read my review. (And, if you leave a comment, there's a blog tour-wide contest going on for book prizes.)

Top 10 Man Bands
I love Man Bands. That’s probably why I wrote about one as they rocket themselves to international superstardom in my May 15 release, young adult comedy novel, The Kiss Off.

Do you know what I mean when I say Man Bands? How do YOU differentiate between bands with dudes that dance, and bands that rock out, playing their own instruments thank-you-very-much?

Me? I say Boy band (epic dancers) and Man bands (rock Gods)

But then you get Man bands that play pop, which some people consider to be BOY band material, and then you get boy bands that play rock…wait…no…do you? I can’t actually think of any.

Without any further rambling – here is Sarah Billington’s Top 10 Man Bands!

(If you don’t feel like reading down, then click below and watch the awesome.)

10 Green Day

Back when Billy Joe had blue hair and I was listening to music on tape (I swear to God I’m not an old lady) I first heard a very different Green Day to what they are now, in the song When I Come Around.

9 Offspring

I play their greatest hits album all the time, but my fave Offspring song is totally You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid.

8 Shinedown

I’m not really into screamo music, but I do love their songs Second Chance and If You Only Knew. I listen to them heaps and am totally NOT sick of them. I don't know how.

7 Son of Dork

Busted 2.0 with more band members and more fun music. Each song is like a YA story. Pretty sure there’s going to be a Westend musical about their one and only album, too. Did that happen? Totally watching out for THAT.

6 Everclear

A favourite from back when I was in year 7 and bought the CD with an MA+ rating (15 and over) which they TOTALLY shouldn’t have sold me. I’ll never NOT love these guys.

5 Busted

Listening to these guys is like watching your brother play the perfect prank on someone. If you have a brother.

4 Hot Chelle Ray

Totally fun band I love right now.

Here we go…the holy trinity of Man Bands for me. My Top 3 Man Bands also happen to be the inspiration behind the band Academy of Lies, in The Kiss Off.

Am I waffling again? WITHOUT FURTHER ADO!

Sarah Billington’s Top 3 Man Bands

3 Simple Plan

Still curse the day when years ago I bought SUPER AWESOME tickets to their show and got so sick that day I thought I was going to die.

2 All Time Low

Until making the playlist above, I’d never seen one of their music videos. But I could tell they would be good fun, from their music. I could just tell.

1 McFly

Britain’s favourite (am I being controversial by saying that?) record-breaking band. To me, these guys are the ultimate larrikins.

With millions of exceptions (this isn’t a definitive list, after all) I pretty much love bands with a sense of humour in their lyrics, and some power pop or rocking tracks.

How about you? Who are your faves that I should scurry throughout the interwebs to listen to THIS VERY MINUTE?

Thanks for having me, Rebecca! This was super-fun.

I, for one, really enjoyed this Top 10 list! Thanks, Sarah! And I love the way you differentiate boy band and man band...

Now that you've gotten to know a little about Sarah's musical side, would you like to know about The Kiss Off and its man band? Thought you might...

The Kiss Off

Sarah Billington

2012

Poppy Douglas is just another high school girl with a guitar and YouTube channel, recording a song every now and then as inspiration strikes. And one night, at a party, watching her newly-minted ex make out with his new girlfriend, inspiration strikes like lightning. The result: The Kiss Off, a song that quickly becomes a YouTube favorite. When a chance encounter on the bus, followed by repeat encounters around town, suddenly Poppy is making connections with the boys of hometown band Academy of Lies. They remix The Kiss Off, and its popularity skyrockets even more. As her song takes over the radio, her new "boyfriend" and buddies start moving in swanky circles, and more attention is turned her way, Poppy starts to realize there's more to show-biz than meets the eye. And when the public eye is on you, nothing - and I do mean nothing - goes unnoticed.

The Kiss Off is a fun read that deals with some pretty serious issues that are timely and relevant. Some of them are not necessarily "general" in nature (paparazzi and hordes of screaming fans are not the typical high schooler's problem), but others are very real. Like sexting, and privacy - online and in person - and what happens when people you love and trust do things that hurt you. Not to mention trying to figure out the whole messy world of high school romance. Poppy and her friends learn some lessons the hard way, and also have some amazing adventures. While I wasn't able to relate to Poppy's situation, I was able to root for her as a character - wanting her to open her eyes and see things, cheering when she seemed to see the light and cringing when she slipped up. Again. It's a real novel, with real teenage characters who could actually be walking the streets of my town. When a fun read makes you think about stuff, I think that's a good thing - and The Kiss Off definitely meets that description.

eBook provided by author for review.

The Girl Who Could Silence The Wind

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind
Meg Medina
Candlewick, 2012

This is one of those stories that can't be nailed down to a single time, or even a single place. It's got a trace of wildness, and a simple beauty. Just a hint of magic, and a heaping scoop of spunk; years of secrets, and a thousand dreams.

Sonia Ocampo has been cursed with a blessing. The day she was born, the raging winds of a horrible storm ended, and from that point on, everyone believed she was blessed with a special connection to Heaven. The villagers of Tres Montes would come, bearing milagros (prayer charms), begging for her intercession on their behalf. For sixteen years, things seemed to "work," but then something goes horribly wrong. Desperate for an escape, Sonia leaves for the Capitol - to work in a rich widow's house, with three other Tres Montes girls, hoping to lose her blessing along the way. Even in the beautiful Capitol, life is not easy for Sonia, nor is she safe from the burden of her "gift." Her brother, Rafael, is also trying to make things better - but his plans and dreams go horribly awry. At last, Sonia realizes she must face the truth. All of it. And only by bringing the truth out into the open can her family, and the community of Tres Montes, find the healing and new beginnings they so desperately need.

This story has some very poignant, even sad, moments. But it also has a rare beauty. Sonia and her friend Pancho have a truly beautiful relationship, and I loved watching them grow. It's sweet, it's pure, it's real. There's a multicultural flavor to The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind, but not so much that it becomes part of a separate people (if that makes sense). As I said, there is no time or place - this could be any number of small towns with a quiet routine and slow, almost forgotten, economy. (Obviously it's historical fiction, but there's no set time period - that I could tell, anyway). While the story concluded beautifully, I can't help but wish there were more.

ARC provided by publisher for review.

Chance Encounters

Chance Encounters
J. Sterling
2012

Not only is Chance Encounters an Indie read, but today is its birthday! I think this may be the first time I've been able to review a book on its launch day, a very fun milestone.

Caroline Weber had the dream life. You know the kind: successful college graduate with an internship she loves, and the world's greatest boyfriend, Clay, who is in agreement about their five-year-and-then-forever plan. But sometimes, things are too good to be true. Or maybe just too good to let you see the deeper truth. After a chance encounter with the devastatingly handsome Jackson, Caroline can't fight the magnetism between the two. Meeting Jackson sparked something deep inside her heart, way down in her soul. She doesn't know what to call it, doesn't even want to label it, and struggles to balance the intensity of her attraction to Jackson with the knowledge that she has all a girl could ask for in Clay. When Clay proposes, Caroline finds herself at the center of a minefield, and all of her choices start to catch up with her. She finally admits some truths to herself, and with the help of her best friend Bailey, tries to keep her head up and her heart in some sort of repair. She's the lucky girl - she has the picture perfect life. The details are not important. And then she gets a phonecall, and everything becomes crystal clear. Life is messy, and so are relationships. But that's what makes them worth fighting for.

Chance Encounters is a quick read. Caroline is a likable character, even as she struggles so fiercely in the midst of this "love triangle." Rather than just blindly following passion, Caroline really does try to figure out how to do things right -- it just takes her a while to figure out what "right" is. While I've never been in her situation, I was able to understand her. And Bailey is awesome! As are Tommy and Alex (you'll have to read it yourself to find out who and why). I'd definitely recommend this as a quick read for when you want something fun but not fluffy.

eBook provided by author for review.

Mini Reviews

A little something different today: a set of mini reviews. These are books I've read, but don't necessarily feel like doing a full review for. Basically, I'm just giving you an extra taste of my eclectic reading habits.

I've Got Your Number
Sophie Kinsella
Random House, 2012

I'm a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella, and always look forward to a new release. This one did not disappoint, and I read it in a day. Poppy is a character you can root for, and her interactions with Sam are priceless. I loved the addition of getting to read the actual texts and emails - they really help flesh out the story and their individual personalities. After a moment of "NO WAY!", things came around, and I consider this quintessential Kinsella. And a great weekend read. Also, there are footnotes throughout the novel, which I find to be particularly fun and quirky.

Mary Engelbreit's Fairy Tales: Twelve Timeless Treasures
HarperCollins, 2010

You know I have a thing for fairy tales, but did you know I've also been a fan of Mary Engelbreit's art for years? I am. A huge fan. So when I saw this at my library, I scooped it up. Featuring twelve fairy tales, including my favorite 'Beauty and the Beast' (along with 'Cinderella,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Thumbelina,' and 'Snow White and Rose Red'). Some of the stories have been tweaked a little to de-emphasize the whole Prince-love-everything's perfect effect, but they're still fairy tales. And the illustrations? Oh my...I want some of them framed!

Giveaway Winner!

Friday the 13th is one reader's lucky day! On this second giveaway announcement of the week (these are kind of fun, y'all...I wish I could afford to do one every week!), I'll be announcing the winner of an ARC of Julianne Donaldson's debut novel Edenbrooke! The clean romance...the thrilling adventure...the smoldering hero!


There were 6 entry comments left, and I tossed the numbers into the handy-dandy number generator at Random.org, and it spit out this result:

Comment #4 belonged to Emily! Congratulations, Emily! I've emailed you, and you have 48 hours to reply before I have to return to Mr. Random and find a new winner.

If you didn't win, keep your head up and your eyes open. You never know when another giveaway may pop up, whether here or elsewhere. And I hope you do manage to find and read Edenbrooke!

Triple Threats

Triple Threats
Airin Emery
Lechner Syndications, 2011

Triple Threats is actually the fourth book in The Dance series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Though it is obvious that characters know each other within a series context, the story itself is not connected to anything preexisting. In fact, it's sort of a distinct "episode," with its own focus, narrative and cast.

After a chance summer workshop in musical theatre, Lori has fallen in love. Not only do you get to sing and wear cool costumes, but the dance numbers are freer and more flexible, even more fun, than what she performs in ballet. Promising her mother that she'll stick with ballet, Lori manages to score voice lessons - and an audition at a local college theatre's production of Guys and Dolls. When she lands a part, Lori is over the moon happy. She enjoys practice -  learning the songs and dance routines - and makes two friends: Dane (gorgeous child star, wanting to make it as an adult) and Courtney (super talented, but fighting for a chance to make her dreams come true). Together, the trio enjoy every minute of their first real musical theatre performance, and look forward to new adventures in the future.

Triple Threats is a quick read, both in terms of time-span of the story and in how fast it can be read. The characters are interesting, and the story was unique - I have not read another book about ballet dancers transitioning to musical theatre before, and actually, I'm not sure I've read about musical theatre. One thing that really bugged me though is the tense of the novel. It's some form of present tense, and reading it is like reading a play script - I felt like I should have been directing people to go to position X, smile just so and then say their line. It was a bit frustrating, but maybe that's just me.

eBook provided by publisher for review.

BBE Scavenger Hunt Winner!

I hope everyone had a great long weekend, and got to spend plenty of fun, quality time with friends and family. Because I timed the BBE Scavenger Hunt giveaway to end right at the beginning of the holiday weekend (bad planning on my part, haha), I decided to wait until today to pick my winner ...

... Are you curious to find out who's going to be the lucky winner of a mystery prize pack?

Wait no longer, dear readers, because the entries were jumbled and Rafflecopter picked lucky #11 as the winning entry!

Christina, of A Reader of Fictions, you are lucky #11!

Christina left a comment saying the book(s) that have drawn her in and not let go have been:
Recently Starters, Croak, Spellcaster, Scarlet...the list goes on.

I haven't read any of those yet (but Scarlet is totally on my To Read Soon list), but thank Christina - and everyone else - for sharing their arresting reads.

Check your email Christina!

And for everyone else - don't despair, there's another giveaway going on right now! It ends Friday morning, so enter quick (shortcut: click the Edenbrooke cover image under "Giveaway" in the upper lefthand corner of the blog).

The Big Scrum

The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football
John J. Miller
HarperCollins, 2011

Being the football nut I am, there was no way I could pass this one up. I haven't read much football history, and had no idea Teddy Roosevelt had anything to do with football - let alone saving it. Boy, did I learn a lot! John Miller did a wonderful job of blending fact and narrative - even though I was reading a lot of history and biography, it read like a story. Or possibly a collection of stories, since Roosevelt is not the only person spotlighted.

The Big Scrum is a look at the beginning of football in America: the very beginnings of "'pick-up games" and the evolution into a bloody battle-esque game that raised eyebrows even as it attracted a growing fan-base. To understand football, you have to understand everything surrounding it's "birth" and evolution, and Miller introduces the ideologies and mindsets that helped football prosper. Movements such as "Muscular Christianity" and the growing realization that a healthy, active nation will become a powerful nation. I loved getting a glimpse of the way "athletics" infiltrated society - even appearing in popular literature. I also loved watching the development of a distinctly American game - football - out of the English traditions of soccer and rugby.

In addition to the cultural and intellectual history presented, Miller also looks at the lives of key players in the development of American athletics, as well as football itself. While the primary focus is on Roosevelt: his life, his impact on society and nation, as well as his personal involvement with physical exertion and contests, particularly his love of football, other figures who are mentioned are examined more closely, to offer insight into their various positions on the issue. It adds a roundness, a completeness to the argument that my inner-historian appreciates. (My inner-historian also geeked out at Miller's use of a variety of sources, including a lot of primary sources that really added depth and merit to the study). And of course, I loved the story too, the way football grew, was attacked and almost did not survive, and then through masterful negotiations and much passion, it rose from the mud as that glorious past time I live for every fall.

A wonderful nonfiction offering that reads as a pleasure book, with a ton of historical information presented in a manner that intrigues and excites rather than overwhelms. (Why didn't anybody tell me you could do history like this?) It's football history, yes, but a reader with an interest in Teddy Roosevelt or America in the Gilded and Progressive eras will also appreciate The Big Scrum.

Book provided by my local library.

Blog Tour: Hearts That Survive

The 100th anniversary of the Titanic's tragic sinking is very close, and this is the second Titanic novel I've read this year. Today I'm reviewing Hearts that Survive for a Pump Up Your Book! blog tour. If you'd like to check out the other stops on the tour, click the banner above. But wait until you read my review first, okay?

Hearts that Survive
Yvonne Lehman
Abingdon, 2012

Lydia Beaumont had it all: wealth, status, the company of a handsome and successful gentleman, the not-so-secret-love of an up-and-coming and kind young man, and a suite on the greatest of all ships' maiden voyage. With both gentlemen. And a secret that would change her life forever. This secret prompts Lydia and John Ancell - the young visionary behind Ancell (Toy) Trains - to plan a quick wedding aboard the Titanic. It's a perfect plan: a wealthy railroad heiress, wearing a brand new wedding dress from a renowned fashion designer, on the maiden voyage of the Ship of Dreams. And it is a perfect, beautiful wedding - the night of April 14th. But things take a shocking turn in the night hours following the reception, and history of a very different kind is made. Lydia escapes, as does her new friend Catherine, and Craven Dowd - the manager of her father's business, and her 'second suitor.' John stays on the Titanic.

What follows is a story that is poignant and very human. As they struggle to orient themselves in their new reality, Lydia and her friends must come to terms with who they are and what life means. And love - the thread that connects all the mismatched pieces of life is love. Always love. Even in the face of such wrenching tragedy, life goes on. Lydia marries Craven and finds herself in a fulfilling and, eventually, happy life. Catherine and her maid Bess travel north, to Nova Scotia, finding a place to call home, hearts to love, and the peace that passes all understanding. The survivors keep living, and have children who have children. And all the stories, from the ship and beyond, slowly come circling back together in a way that creates a beautiful story - and also reflects the intricate weave of life. When all the secrets are revealed at last, and lives are rattled on their foundations, the Love present in those foundations is strong enough to let life continue.

I don't want to give out too many details, while some of the secrets are revealed right away, others are a little more layered. Maybe less secrets and more tiny details that click into place. Hearts that Survive is an excellent exercise in creating a story that involves many separate stories gathered in one neat arc. With so many separate stories, there are a lot of perspective/point of view changes -- though most of them occur at chapter breaks, and it's normally easy to pick up and bounce between to the two main stories of Lydia and Catherine. Having read Promise Me This, earlier this year, I was better prepared for the emotional impact of reading a story where you know hundreds of people are going to die. And Lehman works in some beautiful historical details, with special attention to clothing and jewels, which my girlie-girl heart loved. All in all, despite the sad beginning, Hearts that Survive is a story of Hope, and of Love.

Book provided by publisher for review.

Blog Tour: Edenbrooke + Guest Post & Giveaway!

I've got a lot of fun stuff for you today, as I happily host today's stop for the Edenbrooke blog tour! What kind of fun stuff? How about a guest post, the definition of a new genre, a review and a giveaway! Let's start with a quick introduction, followed by a short guest post from the lovely Julianne Donaldson.

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. Edenbrooke is her first novel.

I asked Julianne what it was like to write a dashing hero (and yes, the hero of Edenbrooke is quite dashing!), and here's what she had to say:

What is it like to write a dashing male character? Well, in my opinion, it's the most enjoyable part of writing. I have always loved a good romantic hero, but the problem with other books is that there's a limit to how much you can get of that hero. But writing my own hero, Philip, gave me an endless access to him. I could dream up anything I wanted. I could make him as witty, or sexy, or charming as I wanted. I could put him together with my heroine in a hundred different scenarios and discover what he would say or do. It was so much fun, I almost couldn't finish my book because I couldn't stop writing it. Now I’m having just as much fun writing about the dashing hero in my next novel. Writing really is the best job to be had.

Edenbrooke is a proper romance. If you're like me, you're probably wondering what makes a romance "proper" versus "improper" - well, I've got an answer for your question.

A Proper Romance is Shadow Mountain Publishing’s brand of clean, smart, engaging, romantic stories that will never embarrass the reader.

 I for one, love this proper romance concept - there's a lot more to a good love story than tumbling into bed (or the closet or behind the bushes or wherever else authors stick people) at every turn. And many times, all those "encounters" don't actually add anything to the story. So if an author can write a powerful, moving, flustering love story without resorting to a blush-inducing scene, then I give them cookies! (Virtual, of course, otherwise that'd get expensive. And probably awkward).

Have I got you intrigued yet? Want to know more about the story of Edenbrooke, with it's proper romance and dashing hero? Keep reading - after my review, you'll find the details on how you could win an ARC of Edenbrooke for your very own reading pleasure!

Edenbrooke
Julianne Donaldson
Shadow Mountain, 2012

Marianne Daventry is not a proper, elegant young lady. She'd rather be at home in the country than in London for The Season. She does not sing. She loves the outdoors and riding horses. And she has a penchant for twirling - a habit that often has less-than-fortunate results. So when her grandmother decides to transfer her entire estate to Marianne rather than The Nefarious Nephew, it comes with one condition: Marianne must learn to behave as a proper, elegant, very wealthy young lady. An extended visit at Edenbrooke with her twin sister Cecily, and the Wyndham family seems to be the perfect opportunity for Marianne to learn graceful manners. And escape the confines of Bath. What Marianne does not expect however is to encounter a highwayman, then meet - and insult - an infuriating (and devastatingly handsome) young man named Philip at a roadside inn. This is only the beginning of her adventures in this quest for manners, and what follows is a story that will keep you reading til the end.

Philip is no random gentleman at the inn, he's actually a son of the Wyndhams. A discovery that quite undoes Marianne when she finally arrives at Edenbrooke. She quickly comforts herself with the idea that he's the younger son, and therefor not the Lord that Cecily plans to marry. (The poor Lord does not know this, by the way, it's an idea that Cecily has hatched in her own mind). As Marianne and Philip become friends, Marianne finds herself slowly coming to terms with her past hurts, and beginning to grow and flourish in the healthy, happy environment of Edenbrooke. Things change however when Cecily appears on the scene, and swiftly takes control of Philip's attention and time. Marianne is devastated, but her loyalty to her sister has always been strong - even has it slowly destroys her spirit.

After misadventures, misunderstandings, failed proposals and scandalous behavior (on the part of Cecily!), Marianne's story comes to a dramatic conclusion with the reappearance of the highwayman and his dastardly designs on her fortune (and person). In perfect storybook fashion however, Philip arrives on the scene just in time, with Marianne's father in tow, and suddenly Marianne's faced with a very different reality. One that might not be as devastating as she thought. And when Cecily makes a most unprecedented move -- well, let's just say that Marianne has become an elegant young lady, worthy of her grandmother's fortune.

The story is amazing. Very sweet, very amusing. I loved Marianne as a character, and enjoyed watching her grow as well as her interpretations of Cecily and Louisa's behavior. And Philip. Oh, Philip. He smolders. Seriously! He smolders. Do I need to tell you how awesome that is? Their relationship is beautifully presented (without any blush-inducing "encounters," and develops naturally. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel, and look forward to more from Julianne Donaldson.

ARC provided by publisher for review.

Would you like to win a copy of Edenbrooke for your own reading pleasure? I've got one ARC available for a lucky reader in the US. To enter, just leave a comment on this post - and include your email address, so I can contact you if you win!  Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to reply; if winner does not respond, I will pick another winner.

Giveaway will end at 9:00am EST, Friday April 13th.

Blog Tour: Clockwise

Today I'm happy to announce I'm a stop on the Clockwise blog tour, hosted by the lovely Missy. After you read my review, feel free to swing by and see what else is happening along the blog trail (just click the banner above). Also, at the end of the post are three easy steps to get a free copy of Clockwiser - the sequel to Clockwise!

Clockwise
Elle Strauss
2011

Casey Donovan has a problem. Not just any problem, but a big problem. She trips a lot, and normally with little warning or explanation as to why. And she's been tripping for years. Doesn't seem like a big deal, right? Well, when you realize that Casey and her best friend Lucinda use "trip" as code for "goes back in time over a hundred years," then it becomes a bigger issue. And if anyone is making skin-to-skin contact with her when she trips, Casey takes them along with her. This, my readers, is when things get interesting. Really interesting. Because the totally hot and entirely unattainable Nate asks Casey to dance - and she trips. During the dance. Taking Nate with her. Back in time to 1861 Cambridge, MA. What happens next is one crazy ride, hopping in and out of time, and with more than one close call.

I really enjoyed Clockwise - Casey is a character I could root for, even if she couldn't see her own coolness. After Nate's initial shock (and hello, who wouldn't be shocked?), he sort of adjusts to the whole concept of "tripping," and even seems to set up return trips for himself. Nate and Casey both grow a lot as characters, and as friends, aided in large part by their time together in 1861 & 1862. Slowly, Casey begins to come to terms with her talent/ability, and even discovers a few other travelers! At the same time, pieces of her own life story are starting to fall into place, and she eventually discovers a possible answer for why she travels.

Casey and Nate's misadventures made for laughs, quiet smiles, and the occasional mental cheer session as they sifted through their differences and issues and learned to trust themselves and each other. They're likable characters and I look forward to seeing what happens next in Clockwiser.

Speaking of Clockwiser, if you'd like to receive a free ebook, go like Elle's facebook page AND leave a comment on this post (with your email address, please!). See? Nice and easy.

Book provided by author for review.

New Books!

It's that time again: a recap of my monthly book acquisitions! Some of these are ebooks, some are "real" books. Some will be appearing on this blog as part of blog tours (yay!). And there's even at least one that will be part of a giveaway. Yup, another giveaway!

((Speaking of giveaways, have you checked out the totally awesome BBE Scavenger Hunt giveaway yet?))

Now then, the books of March...

Won:

For Review:

Net Galley:

EarlyBird Read from RandomHouse:

I'm really excited about March's books, and can't wait to share them with you! A couple will be appearing this week even, so make sure you stay tuned!