Category: books

• Authors in the Flesh: Jennifer Niven, Trisha Leaver, Sharon Biggs Waller, & more!

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on May 6, 2015

  In the last week of April, I met five spectacular authors. Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places), Sharon Biggs Waller (A Mad, Wicked Folly), Trisha Leaver (The Secrets We Keep), Shannon Lee Alexander (Love and Other Unknown Variables), and Lisa Aldin (One of the Guys) came to the bookstore for signings.

  

  I told Niven I was so excited to meet her that I wanted to apologize if I fangirl-screamed. When she walked through the store doors, we grabbed arms, squealed, and hugged. Her book chat with readers went really well, and the signing was packed. She signed books, chatted with each person for several minutes, took selfies with everyone, had readers sign her copy of her book, and even offered advice or networked with readers deeply moved by the book or bloggers looking to make more contacts. Bless her heart, she was still signing books and talking to readers after the store had closed. If Niven is going to your area, you must meet her. She’s a beautiful person, inside and out!

  

  Shannon, Sharon, Trisha, and Lisa — sorry for the blur!

  Later that week, the store had a Teen Author Panel, with all but one author from Indiana. I was most excited to meet Waller, as she and I have been chatting about books, BBC TV, history, and all things Anglophile since A Mad, Wicked Folly came out. I tapped her on the shoulder, and mid-conversation she turned around and gave me a hug. “You’re real!” Leaver was incredibly helpful to me, as well, dispensing advice and suggestions regarding editors she knows at various imprints. Alexander and Aldin are regular customers at the bookstore, so it was really neat to see them acting as authors, mini-celebrities, and watching them enjoy the discussion. My favorite question of the night was, “If you could be any character from any book, who would you be and why?” (asked by Mary Claire @ Real Rad Reads) and Alexander and Waller had their immediate responses: “Cath, cause Levi” (Alexander), and “Claire, cause Jamie” (Waller). Haha!

  

  Have you read any of these books or met any of these authors? Share your story!

  Posted in Authors in the Flesh, books | 0 Comments | Tagged authors, books, genre: contemporary, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, personal, signings

• Book Review: “Saint Anything” by Sarah Dessen (ARC)

  Posted at 6:05 am by Laura, on May 4, 2015

  Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

  Publisher: Viking
  Publishing Date: May 5
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780451474704
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  Peyton, Sydney’s charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion’s share of their parents’ attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton’s increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

  Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

  Sydney always looked up to her older brother — his charisma, his big personality, the way he seemed to walk into a room and everyone would notice — until he got into trouble one too many times, harmed a life, and landed himself in prison. But even there, his existence still overshadows hers. The Chathams, a remarkable, full-of-life family with their own pizza business, see Sydney for exactly who she is and take her under their wing. But one tiny slip-up on one night lands Sydney back at home under her mother’s tight reigns, and it takes all her strength to stand up and demand to be seen.

  This book reminded me so much of my favorite Dessen book, The Truth About Forever. There’s the controlling mother who loves her children but doesn’t notice them (and boy, Sydney’s mother really drove me up a wall), the daughter who stumbles upon a warm and chaotic family with a small business and a big heart, the boy with a knack for fixing broken things and creating something from nothing, and the big near-blow out between mother and daughter. With that in mind, though, this book is not as lighthearted as The Truth About Forever. It’s far more complicated. Part of it, I think, has to do with the fall semester setting (everything always seems so much more tough when school’s involved) and the big character that doesn’t make a physical appearance — Peyton, Sydney’s brother, and his unique story.

  I’m not sure I’ve ever read a YA book where one of the characters was currently in prison, let alone a family member of the main character. I equally resented and loved Peyton, especially when he began to open up to Sydney and her idolization of him crashed down to a more realistic level. A part of me also understood where their mother’s obsession to compartmentalize, control, and plan everything came from — she reminded me of the mother in Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, only much more book-throwing-inducing — and she drew the tiniest bit of sympathy from me for that. But her lack of attention for Sydney bothered me most. I’m not a mother, so I’m in no position to say she can’t treat her good child as if she’s the bad one, and she shouldn’t punish her remaining child for the wrongs the one in prison did. People can’t help the way they react to things, and apparently this mother just holds a tight leash and refuses to listen. There were times I wish Sydney would speak up instead of beating around the bush, but that would’ve only made her conversations with her parents worse. I’m aware of that. But still. Those moments when Sydney, mother, and father were in the room together were some of the most intense, frustrating scenes. Bravo for creating such a mixture of tension and emotion, Dessen!

  Dessen also has a knack of paying close attention to secondary characters. Sydney, Layla, and Mac are at the center of the story, but their families and families’ friends have rounded development, as well. I loved the Chathams and their impromptu gatherings for dinner, bluegrass, and woods wanderings, their tiny home and obsession with a TV show the equivalent to Real Housewives. I enjoyed seeing the stark difference with Sydney and her old private school friends, the bumps in the road eventually bringing them back together again. You become close to all of them, and you want to know their stories, too.

  So much pizza, so many fries, so many YumYums (haha, DumDums!), so much music, so many car rides, so many late nights and texts and wanderings. Though this is not a summer Dessen, this is a classic Dessen, and I’ve no doubt her readers will thoroughly enjoy this. It felt like Just Listen meets The Truth About Forever, and I’m excited to see what she has up her sleeve next.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Viking for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Advance Excitement at a Glance XIV

  Posted at 5:55 am by Laura, on April 29, 2015

  

  A monthly meme to keep up with the latest publications, featuring at least two advance copy reviews to look forward to reading.

  Last month I was tasked to read 9 ARCs for April publication. I only hit 7 of them (only, haha), and now I’m feeling very drained. I want to get back to reading published books and manuscripts — the bookends of ARCs — but there are a couple books I’m excited about for May publication. Some May books include Jenny Han’s PS I Still Love You, SJ Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Patricia Park’s Re Jane (a nod to Jane Eyre!). Hopefully I can read and review these ARCs for you! Until then, here are two ARCs I’m incredibly excited about, and hope to shove everything aside and make room for on the blog.

  

  Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
  (Viking, May 5)

  Peyton, Sydney’s charismatic older brother, receives the lion’s share of their parents’ attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton’s reckless behavior culminates in an accident, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

  Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

  I will read anything Sarah Dessen writes. Gimme. She’s my YA automatic buy, my go-to author for new YA readers. I love her.

  

  Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey
  (Thomas Dunne Books, May 26)

  Having fled from her abusive boyfriend on a late February evening and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane in London where a small, crumbling old house offers her best chance of shelter for the night. The next morning, a mysterious letter arrives and when she can’t help but open it, she finds herself drawn into the story of two lovers from another time.

  In London 1942, Stella meets Dan, a US airman, quite by accident. There is no denying the impossible, unstoppable love that draws them together. Dan is a B-17 pilot flying his bomber into Europe from a British airbase; his odds of survival at one in five. The one thing they hold onto is the letters they write to each other. Fate is unkind and they are separated by decades and continents. In the present, Jess becomes determined to find out what happened to them.

  WWII? Check. Epistolary? Check. Across-the-pond romance? Check. “Perfect for fans of Kate Morton”? GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY.

  What books are you looking forward to in May?

  Posted in Advance Excitement, books | 2 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, books

• Book Review: “The Secrets We Keep” by Trisha Leaver (ARC)

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on April 27, 2015

  The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

  Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
  Publishing Date: April 28
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, mystery
  ISBN: 9780374300463
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★

  Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy’s shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she’s chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy’s world.

  When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy’s death and everyone’s grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy’s life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister’s life.

  Ella and Maddy are identical twin sisters, and once best friends. But on the first day of high school, Maddy races to the popular crowd and leaves Ella behind, nearly shoving her to a group of artsy, quiet types. Ella doesn’t mind — she loves her small group of friends — but she wishes Maddy would open up to her again, just like the old days. So when Maddy calls and asks Ella to pick her up from a party, Ella does so at the drop of a hat. After fighting in the car on a rainy night, Ella wakes up to find she’s lost her memory as well as her sister. Everyone — parents, friends, teachers — are convinced Ella is Maddy, and Ella delivers exactly what they’re hoping for. In an effort to become her sister, Ella discovers some dark secrets in Maddy’s past, secrets that may have been her redeeming quality that night of the party and accident.

  This is an emotionally gripping read. I was flying through the pages just to see how Ella would come out to friends and family to admit she’s Ella and not Maddy. It’s also an incredible mind-bender, a perfect psychological study for soon-to-be or current psychology majors. How would you respond to waking up and not knowing who you are? How would you respond to realizing exactly who you are but everyone is convinced you’re dead? How would you go about pretending to be that person for the sake of others without losing your true self in the process? How would you react, if you were the parent or friend, to finding out the person you think is dead is actually alive and well and right in front of you?

  If I were still a teenager, I would’ve enjoyed this even more. I would’ve thrilled in the mystery, the drama (oh, the drama — poor Maddy worked way too hard for all that exhaustive, conniving, high school popularity crap. Ella tok the right path of solitude and calm!), the emotion, the split-second decision. Leaver really knows how to connect to the reader in that regard. That being said, because I do have a psychology degree and I’m (only slightly) older than the targeted audience, I had a difficult time believing Mom and Dad and boyfriend Alex didn’t realize Maddy wasn’t Maddy but Ella. There were snippets here and there — Ella snapping at her parents at the funeral (Maddy never did that), Mom looking at Ella’s face and searching for one visual difference, Dad noticing that Ella’s dog was always hanging around Ella (Maddy hated the dog) — but it baffled me that hair style, tone of voice, walking style, mannerisms, eating habits, none of that clued anyone in on the fact Ella was not Maddy. Only Josh, Ella’s best friend, knew from the start. And those are just the tiniest of loopholes I let slide.

  Twin stories are fascinating, and Leaver certainly hits this on the head. The great mystery behind Maddy is shocking, and it makes you hate her and love her all at once. Ella’s determination to make others happy is both worthy of respect and a sign to stand up for who you are and be proud of that young person. She doesn’t need to be a doormat to realize people love her for exactly the way she is. She learns the hard way, that’s certain, but I love how much she grew by the end of the book.

  Thank you, NetGalley and Mary Van Akin, for providing this book from FSG for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Secrets of Attraction” by Robin Constantine (ARC)

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on April 23, 2015

  The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: April 28
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, romance
  ISBN: 9780062279514
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Madison Parker is on fast-forward. Working toward a scholarship for a summer art program, she already has her future figured out. But when a visit from a family friend turns her life upside down, everything she thought she knew becomes blurred. All she wants is to stand still for a moment.

  Jesse McMann is stuck on repeat. Reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band, Jesse divides his time between working as a barista and trying to find the inspiration to write music again. All he wants to do is move forward.

  The night Maddie strolls into Jesse’s coffee shop after yoga class, the last thing on his mind is hooking up, but her smile and witty comebacks are hard to ignore. The spark between them is undeniable, but once-a-week flirting is hardly the stuff of epic romance.

  Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett. When Jesse discovers that Gray’s girlfriend is also Maddie’s best friend, he invites Gray to join his band as their new drummer, hoping this connection will give him more time around Maddie. Slowly but surely, Jesse and Maddie forge a friendship, but do they have what it takes to make their relationship truly sync?

  Maddie plans to spend her spring semester pulling together a good portfolio for summer architecture programs, amping up her photography spreads for the school yearbook, and practicing yoga with her mother. But when her mom springs some surprising news on her, Maddie can’t help but feel a little shaken. Jesse, meanwhile, is attempting to crawl out from a pit of despair and get back in the game with his band, and desperately needs a drummer if Yellow #5 is going to play a gig. Brought together by music and a conveniently-located cafe near the yoga studio, Maddie and Jesse stumble through a new kind of romance, one of opening up and putting the other first.

  Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, I can’t help but feel like I enjoyed this story more! It almost makes me want to re-rate TPoA as 3.5 and this 4 stars, for a comparison. While I felt the conflict (Maddie’s mother’s news) didn’t seem too outrageously conflicting (though I can see why it might be something of a rocky surprise…just not as rocky as this was made out to be), I really liked how authentic Maddie’s struggle to open up to Jesse and Jesse’s struggle to put another person first came across.

  Maddie is easy to love. She’s flirtatious and gregarious, has such a beautiful friendship with Jazz and Wren, thinks inappropriate(ly hilarious!) things about her yoga instructor, works hard on her portfolio, and seems to do fairly well in school. She’s good fun with a little extra rebellion on the side. But her biggest issue is opening up her vulnerable side to others. She and her mother are a team, a la Gilmore Girls, and she and her friends are a tight-knit bunch. Why open up to more people? The book starts of in a fun, casual, physical relationship with another guy from school, very light and swoony with no substance. She knows it, she likes it, and she thinks they’re on the same page. But when Jesse crashes in, she’s frightened of another path she could take, one that entails trust and communication and honesty. Witnessing her reactions to each baby step was a joy — such great character growth.

  Jesse grew on me. At first I found him to be a bit whiny about his breakup — but then I remember what it was like when I was a teen. When you thought you would be together forever, you genuinely believed it. And when it comes crashing down, it is truly the end of the world. Thankfully he’s not in that pit too long, and other aspects of his life begin to take over: his passion for music, his ability to take notice of the people in his life and care for them, his passion in everything he throws himself in. He’s the kind of guy who makes an effort and gives his all. Think stereotype musician without the broodiness, the drama and passion and commitment. A light, happy Adam from If I Stay, if you will.

  If you love architecture, music, beating-around-the-bush relationships, something light and fun and makes you want to dance, you ought to read this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what Constantine has in store for Jazz now!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Balzer + Bray for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Silver Witch” by Paula Brackston (ARC)

  Posted at 6:55 am by Laura, on April 20, 2015

  The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston

  Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  Publishing Date: April 21
  Genre: adult fiction, historical, fantasy
  ISBN: 9781250028792
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★

  A year after her husband’s sudden death, ceramic artist Tilda Fordwells finally moves into the secluded Welsh cottage that was to be their new home. She hopes that the tranquil surroundings will help ease her grief, and lessen her disturbing visions of Mat’s death. Instead, the lake in the valley below her cottage seems to spark something dormant in her – a sensitivity, and a power of some sort. Animals are drawn to her, electricity shorts out when she’s near, and strangest of all, she sees a new vision; a boatful of ancient people approaching her across the water.

  On this same lake in Celtic times lived Seren, a witch and shaman. She was respected but feared, kept separate from the community for her strange looks. When a vision came to her of the Prince amid a nest of vipers she warned of betrayal from one of his own. Prince Brynach both loved and revered her, but could not believe someone close to him wished him harm, even as the danger grew.

  In her own time, Tilda’s grief begins to fade beside her newfound powers and a fresh love. When she explores the lake’s ancient magic and her own she discovers Seren, the woman in her vision of the boat. Their two lives strangely mirror each others, suggesting a strong connection between the women. As Tilda comes under threat from a dark power, one reminiscent of Seren’s prophecy, she must rely on Seren and ancient magic if death and disaster are not to shatter her life once more.

  Tilda didn’t mean to become a recluse when she moved into the tiny Welsh cottage by the lake. But because she was supposed to share this time with her husband, who died a year ago in a car accident, she’s finding it hard to connect to the new home and people. She stumbles across an archeological dig while out on a run, and is drawn to it by more than simple fascination — she senses a dark power, and strange things begin to happen in her new surroundings. She sees a woman on a boat, a woman as pale and silvery as herself, a woman named Seren who was a shaman of the area around 920 AD, and Seren’s history is Tilda’s future.

  I enjoyed The Winter Witch so much that I wanted to read anything else set in Wales that Brackston wrote. Though magical realism isn’t my thing, I thought I’d give this part-contemporary part-historical novel a try. It’s not what I expected, but I did enjoy it.

  The historical storyline worked for me in some ways and not so much in others. What worked included the pre-Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasion, when Christianity was new and people still embraced aspects of the Old Ways. Magic is a part of life, and people sought shamans for visions, advice, and healing. Seren’s role in the royal court of this small Welsh area is an honorable one. I enjoyed the dynamics and her romantic storyline and her deep love of nature and the connection she had with the water horse in the lake. But aspects of what I just stated I enjoyed were also things that didn’t quite work for me. I liked the romantic storyline, but as a contemporary reader I had difficulty accepting her affair with the prince while he was married to the princess. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the princess and think Seren a little selfish. The water horse was a bit prevalent in this, too, rather than an occasional sighting of a mythical creature. Hold back — the magical realism is showing.

  The contemporary storyline began a bit slowly, and I was quite frustrated with Tilda at first. But she grows on the reader, aspects of her personality waking up and flourishing. It’s as if she’s waking up from her grief, so in the end I enjoyed her character growth immensely. The way she handles coming to terms with her newfangled magical power was amusing and awesome, as well. Her interest in the history of the area, and how she makes logical connections between now and then, was incredibly enjoyable. I loved her interactions with the archeologists, and her time with Dylan made me smile. But again, as her power grew, it stepped beyond what I was expected and entered into magical realism. I have so much difficulty with that.

  Throughout this plot, we’re trying to figure out what happened to Seren, how she’s connected to Tilda, and what exactly is buried in the unearthed grave. The who, what, when, where, and whys of it all drive the story. I had so many guesses from the beginning, but all of them were completely wrong. But by the time it was revealed (about 80% into the book — great timing!), it all made complete sense and clicked into place. Of all the aspects of the story, it was this I was most interested in: connecting the past and present through this grave.

  The Winter Witch was more earth-based magic (it’s all in the plants and winds and animals, no spells or incantations or brews or mythical creatures) with a very realistic historical storyline (a mute marries a drover). I wanted to know more about Seren than Tilda, or at least see this as two separate books rather than two narratives in one. The book was enjoyable, and perfect for someone with a higher tolerance for magical realism.

  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book from Thomas Dunne Books for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke” by Anne Blankman (ARC)

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on April 15, 2015

  Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: April 21
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780062278845
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

  But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen’s world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she’d escaped-and return to her homeland.

  Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel’s name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

  Gretchen and Daniel managed to escape Germany and start new lives in Oxford. She lives with the Whitestones, the family of the doctor who helped her discover Reinhardt and Hitler’s psychological similarities, and attends school and dreams of going to university. Daniel, however, lives a bit unhappily working as a reporter for a society paper. Their newly constructed identities are shattered when Daniel receives a telegram about his family back in Germany. While he’s there, Gretchen hears on the wireless that Daniel’s wanted for murder in Berlin. Knowing he’s trapped, Gretchen races back to Germany to find Daniel, clear his name, and flee before Hitler discovers she’s back. Clearing Daniel’s name takes longer than Gretchen anticipated, and Hitler is days away from finding her. The Reichstag fire is tied to Daniel, and it takes working with mob rings to bring down Hitler and escape unscathed.

  If you haven’t read Prisoner of Night and Fog yet, do so now. This is a duology, very intense and historically revealing.

  While Prisoner exposes the reader to the Nazi state of mind (which is a complete mind-bender of its own, almost like experiencing Stockholm Syndrome) and reveals the psychological aspects of Hitler’s character, Conspiracy exposes the reader to historical events and conspiracies that lead up to Hitler’s dictatorship and WWII. First of all, mob rings? Who knew?! Right — they’re not really mobsters or gangsters, they have a strict code of honor and no-violence policy — but these underground clubs were targeted by Hitler. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The messy links between politics, money, and business work in Gretchen and Daniel’s favor, and Gretchen needs to use what she’s learned about psychology from Dr. Whitestone and what she knows about Hitler in order to stay one step ahead and make it out of Germany (again) alive.

  Gretchen and Daniel run into family and friends — or, in Gretchen’s case, old friends that are now dangerous enemies — and the reaction to their relationship is across the board. Hitler’s propaganda is rooting, and National Socialists (Nazis) are even more dangerous and impulsive while everyone else is either headstrong and determined to fight against it (and eventually die for it) or frightened (so they follow the crowd to blend in, or are so scared they’re blocking it out and pretending it’s not happening). Germany is not a good place, and any one of their friends or foes could turn them in at any time. It’s heart racing, blood pounding, breathless fear from beginning to end. I don’t know how anyone could have lived like that on a daily basis for years on end.

  Because of the tension and the world crumbling to pieces, Gretchen and Daniel try to reconcile their feelings for one another with the reality of their situation. It’s very likely they’ll die at any time, so why discuss the future? Or, if they make it out alive, how can they discuss their future when Gretchen was happy in England and Daniel wasn’t? They’re both young with full lives ahead of them (hopefully), so they’re concerned their love for one another is just emotion without reason. I should note their relationship is not the forefront of the story — it’s not like they sit around and twiddle their thumbs and discuss whether or not to stay together — but their confusion mixed with their without-question race to defend and save one another feels deep and genuine. It’s unconditional. It doesn’t matter what happens after this is over, because here and now they’re fighting for one another, for the other’s safety, for freedom, to expose Hitler and his evil plans. Instinct kicks in, and that’s what drives the story. Again, I don’t know how anyone could have lived like that.

  I’m curious about 1930s Europe now. I want to learn more about pre-WWII Germany. I want to see the chain of events domino from WWI on. It’s dark and fascinating and not really explored in classrooms or in literature. Blankman is a phenomenal writer who gives us such unique perspectives on history. She deserves awards. All of them.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Balzer + Bray for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: Inspiring Quotes

  Posted at 6:40 am by Laura, on April 14, 2015

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Inspiring Quotes from Books.

  

  I love quotes. People in my life know that I’m constantly writing down things I’ve read or overheard, all funny, deep, or inspirational. I’ve got a whole booklet a friend made filled with my favorite quotes, excerpts, and poems. This TTT required sifting through it and finding the ones specifically from books. I wouldn’t say they’re my top ten favorite, simply because I’m sure I’ve tabbed quotes in books all over my shelves and I can’t read through every single one, but these in particular made it into my little booklet!

  “Don’t be afraid. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning.”

  — The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde || Taken out of context, it’s a brilliant quote. Read in context, it’s narcissistic. So let’s just read it out of context!

  “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”

  — Attachments by Rainbow Rowell || This quote especially rings for people in a rough patch, for the people who are compulsive planners, for the worriers and over-thinkers.

  “I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, and everything he touches and every word he says. I love all his looks, and all his actions and him entirely and all together.”

  — Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë || Another read-out-of-context-and-it’s-amazing quote. There’s something deeply human in this savage novel, something very basic and true to all of us: that passion and intensity is within us. And I think we can all relate to this quote, hopeless romantic or no.

  “Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.”

  — Fahrenheit 451  by Ray Bradbury || Go out there. Live.

  “I know that life isn’t life if you just float through it. I know that the whole point – the only point – is to find the things that matter, and hold on to them, and fight for them, and refuse to let them go.”

  — Delirium by Lauren Oliver || Again, go out there. Live.

  “I don’t know when we’ll see each other again or what the world will be like when we do. We may both have seen many horrible things. But I will think of you every time I need to be reminded that there is beauty and goodness in the world.”

  — Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden || This particular quote makes me remember to take a second and think on the good of the day. And then it makes me feel philosophical, wondering what actually happens when our lives are done here on earth. What’s next?

  “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.”

  — Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë || BOOM, FEMINISM. BOOM, HUMAN RIGHTS. BOOM, BEST BOOK EVER.

  “I am tired of trying to hold things together that cannot be held. Trying to control what cannot be controlled. I am tired of denying myself what I want for fear of breaking things I cannot fix. They will break no matter what we do.”

  — The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern || Admittedly, that’s not inspirational. But I read this as “you cannot control everything,” a reminder that we are only human and mistakes will happen.

  “When you’re finally a grown-up, one of the things you find out is that there are no grown-ups.”

  — The Last Enchantments by Charles Finch || I’m constantly reminded of this every time I’m with friends doing “grown up” things. Drinking, planning weddings, getting pregnant, buying a house, discussing health insurance. And we all sit there thinking “how in the world did we get here? Can I have my coloring books back, please?” We’re just big kids faking it until we make it.

  And last but not least (and sorry, not from a book…),

  “When I have fears that I may cease to be / Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain, / Before high-pilèd books, in charactery, / Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain; / When I behold, upon the night’s starred face, / Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, / And think that I may never live to trace / Their shadows with the magic hand of chance; / And when I feel, fair creature of an hour, / That I shall never look upon thee more, / Never have relish in the faery power / Of unreflecting love—then on the shore / Of the wide world I stand alone, and think / Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.”

  — When I Have Fears by John Keats || It’s melodramatic, yes, but Keats captures a young heart’s desires and fears perfectly in this poem. For those of you going “huh?” he’s saying he wants to be successful, to find passionate love, to live a filled-to-bursting life, but he fears his life will be too short to accomplish it all. He fears he’ll never reach his goals, never see his dreams and desires come to fruition. That an ounce of it at all can burn (and burn bright) right now to satisfy his short time here on earth. Another carpe diem moment.

  Which quotes made it to your TTT? Do we have any overlaps in books or authors?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 1 Comment | Tagged books, top ten tuesday

• Book Review: “The Wondrous and the Wicked” by Page Morgan (ARC)

  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on April 8, 2015

  The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan

  Publisher: Delacorte
  Publishing Date: April 14
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, gothic
  ISBN: 9780385743150
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Since the Waverlys arrived in Paris, the streets have grown more fearsome by the day. As Ingrid learns to master her lectrux gift, she must watch Axia’s power grow strong enough to extend beyond her Underneath hive. By all indications, the fallen angel’s Harvest is near-and the timing couldn’t be worse.

  Targeted by vengeful gargoyles, Gabby has been exiled to London for her own protection. Meanwhile, the gargoyle castes are in disarray, divided between those who want Luc to lead them and those who resent him and his fondness for humans. The Alliance is crumbling from the inside as well, its members turning against one another, and possibly against the Waverlys, too.

  Axia has promised that the world will burn. And now, unable to trust the Alliance, separated from Luc, Gabby, and her twin, Grayson, Ingrid is left to face the demon uprising alone.

  Ingrid is left in Paris with a different gargoyle presiding over her home. Her brother, Grayson, seems to have disappeared, when he’s actually learning more about demon dust with Vander in order to fight off his hellhound instincts. Gabby is trapped in London with Rory, Nolan’s cousin, and she insists on training to become an Alliance member, no matter what Nolan says. Meanwhile, Luc is separated from the Waverly family, and a civil war is approaching the Dispossessed, one that decides whether Luc should become their leader. But Axia’s Harvest could happen any day now, and Ingrid’s life — her blood — is at stake. But who can anyone trust? The Alliance, with their oath to slay demons? The Dispossessed, with their curse to protect humans? Or the Diacrypta, with their newfangled technology that may prove to save them all?

  Okay, so, the publisher summary makes it sound like Ingrid is all alone, the poor dear. What is she to do? And while my summary is a bit jumbled, I can’t say too much without revealing the entire plot. But what is true about both of these summations is that Ingrid, Gabby, Grayson, and Luc all share equal page time with their voices and perspectives, weaving together seemingly dissimilar parts of the story into one complex and epic plot.

  Trust me. It will all make sense.

  That’s the thing about Morgan’s writing. With The Beautiful and the Cursed, we had several perspectives but it was primarily on Ingrid and Luc. As the plot thickened in The Lovely and the Lost, secondary characters had more to tell the Waverlys and Luc. And now, they all work together to bring down Axia and find their way to a happy ending. That’s not to say this ends everything all neat and tidy (for a moment, there, the Dispossessed does have an elder, a leader, but by the end that’s up for debate — plus, Gabby’s future and Vander’s future and basically all of Paris and these fantastical orders), but it certainly leaves you in an expected but very satisfying place.

  I loved every single character in this book, bad and good and somewhere in between. The places the plot takes them matches their personality and decision-making and the way everything came together. Gabby’s stubbornness felt more like bravery and less like snobbery, and that’s a major character growth. Ingrid was always determined to do what she could to save those she loved, and thank goodness she used more thoughtful reasoning behind her actions in this book than in previous — more growth there. Luc point-blank gave up trying to govern himself. By being more human, he’s able to accomplish so much more — and his support from Marco was a welcome sight. Grayson was just an interesting character all around. We only knew him as a brother in book 1, and a struggling half-demon in book 2, so getting into his mind and understanding his thought process, motivation, and emotional turmoil was very interesting and eye-opening. It makes his big moment really hit you in the gut, too.

  Though the historical aspect may appear simply as a backdrop for the story (that maybe this could take place at any time), it’s not. Morgan chose this time frame meticulously. It all comes down to the blood. All those scientific studies Vander worked on in the previous books help shed light to the situation in this one, and blood transfusions is one of them. Blood transfusions were dangerous in this time, yet new and fascinating and gross and taboo. That’s why Dracula was oddly enjoyable for readers when it first came out. Toss in the science versus religion conversation and this book goes well with that. Gargoyles are placed on cathedrals to keep the demons out. In this book, that’s true too, but they keep the humans within holy places and homes safe.

  So who wins this war in science versus religion? Is it even a science versus religion topic? Is it about race or social class? Is it about the human condition?

  I love this trilogy. It’s so unique, and Gothic, and fantastical, and deserves so much attention! Thank you for the wondrous journey, Morgan!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Delacorte for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: paranormal, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I’d Like to Check in With

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on April 7, 2015

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Characters I’d Like to Check in With. The book/series is over, and I just want to peek in on the “life” I imagine they’re leading years after the story ends.

  From the Classics…

  

  

  

  Pip from Great Expectations. I mean, really, how do you recover from all that? He’s barely in his twenties and a bunch of psychological crap happened to him thanks to Miss Havisham. // Jane from Jane Eyre. I know she’s happy at the end of the book, but I also want to see her as a mother of a teenage boy, I want to see her as a grandmother. I love her so much! // Hareton from Wuthering Heights. Like Pip, this boy got a whole lot of crap from Heathcliff (he’s Catherine’s nephew, was then adopted and turned into a fieldworker for Heathcliff, and then marries Catherine’s daughter Catherine. Cathy&Heathcliff 2.0, really). Is he okay? Are he and younger Catherine happy?

  Honorable mentions: Catherine from Northanger Abbey (Henry Tilney is my favorite, but I do wonder if all of his Educating-Miss-Morland dies away when she’s his wife) and Georgiana from Pride & Prejudice (Death Comes to Pemberley gave me a better glimpse of what might have happened to her, but even still…does she marry happily? Does she have children? Can she live outside of her brother’s shadow?).

  From Today…

  

  

  

  

  Eleanor in Eleanor & Park. Is she okay? What happens next? How are her siblings? I want to see her in college, after college, in her thirties, in her fifties, as a grandmother. // Neryn in Shadowfell. Now that peace was achieved (or at least beginning), what does the rest of her life look like? How does she handle her abilities in her everyday life? // Allyson in Just One Day. I know some of our questions were answered with Just One Night, but I want to know! Does she stay with Willem? Do they build a life together, or do they go their separate ways? And if they separate, who is she with and what is she doing? Is she happy now that she has complete closure? // Katie in The Hallowed Ones. This was kind of answered in The Outside, but she has a lot of issues to grapple with. A glowing Amish girl who managed to ward off the vampire plague now out in the real world (or what’s left of it)…is she okay?

  

  

  

  Margaret in The Thirteenth Tale. Seriously, how do you move on from a story like that?! What do you do with your life?! // Hermione in Deathly Hallows. Again, I know we get a glimpse in the epilogue, but I want to see her as a grandmother! What did she accomplish in her lifetime? JKR, you gotta give the Potter Generation something in another 20 years, okay? // Cassie in The Likeness. We get a tiny tiny tiny glimpse in Faithful Place, but I just have to know: does she think about them in that house? Does she wish she was still there, minus the murder? Does she unplug from the outside world when she goes home from work out of habit, now?

  Honorable mentions: Karou in Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Now that she and Akiva are finally together, and it’s peaceful, what do you do? How does she live? Is she happy? So many questions for this fantastic character!

  Basically, this whole post can be summed up with: are they okay?! This is why I didn’t use my psych degree become a therapist. I get too involved already!

  Who do you want to catch up with? What questions do you want answered?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 1 Comment | Tagged books, top ten tuesday

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

• Search the Blog

  Search for:

• Currently Reading

  

• Book Review Rating Key

  ★★★ — It’s good
  ★★★★ — It’s great
  ★★★★★ — OMG LOVE!!!

• Recent Posts

  • MSWL for 2026
  • Favorite Reads of 2025
  • Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Romance
  • Deal Announcement: Sharon Choe, YA Fantasy
  • Deal Announcement: Hanna R. Neier, MG Historical/Contemporary