Tag: books

• Book Review: “Open Road Summer” by Emery Lord

  Posted at 12:47 pm by Laura, on May 14, 2014

  Open Road Summer by Emery Lord 

  Publisher: Walker/Bloomsbury
  Published: April 15
  Genre: young adult, romance, travel, music
  ISBN: 9780802736109
  Goodreads: 4.07
  Rating: ★★★★★

  After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.

  Reagan and Delilah have been best friends since elementary school. A pinch of talent and a stroke of luck changed Dee from an adorably awkward girl with a passion for country music into Lilah Montgomery, America’s sweetheart and teen sensation. Her fame and Reagan’s rebellious streak never break their infinite bond, and they are quite happy about that. For her first headline tour, Dee asks Reagan to come along, and Reagan is happy to oblige. Both friends are nursing wounds and lean on one another for strength, happiness, and support. When a tabloid photo threatens to turn the Lilah Montgomery brand upside-down, once-famed star Matt Finch joins the tour to help boost positive publicity. His presence works wonders, and the summer tour turns out to be so much more than either friend expected.

   

  

  Ridiculous disclaimer first: 1) My coworkers teased me for calling this “my Taylor Swift book,” because explaining the plot and themes and beautiful friendship would take too much time when I so desperately wanted to get back to reading. 2) I’ve never understood the concept of people naming their favorite fictional boy and calling him their Book Boyfriend…until now.

  Reagan and Dee’s friendship is raw, true, comfortable, unconditional, and absolutely stunning. They’re sisters, they have the same soul, they share brain waves, whatever you use to describe your dearest and closest friend(s), that’s what these two are. Reagan comes from a broken family and deals with it in rather harmful ways, but her friendship with Dee is pure and unwavering. Dee helps Reagan to her feet 100%, and supports Reagan’s effort to shape herself into something new, admirable, and better. Dee is a sweet, caring, lighthearted spirit, who works so hard to not crack under pressure and attempts to brush off the horrid tabloids and false news reports. Reagan’s known Dee for a long time, and Dee is a very grounded, family-oriented, small-town country girl living the life of famed country stars. It was wonderful to see how the two of them orbit one another, how Dee’s fame doesn’t get to her head, how Reagan doesn’t take advantage of this friendship, how these girls will stick to each other through thick and thin, across distance and time. Thank you, Lord, for writing such a beautiful friendship in this unique circumstance.

  Similarly — and I don’t know how to put this into better words — I loved seeing the side of celebrity normally hidden in the shadows. It’s ridiculous to think celebrities are perfect and wonderful all the time, that they’re gods and superhuman. It’s ridiculous how quickly the public changes opinion of them when one mistake is splashed across the web, magazines, and news. Because really, celebrities are just like us, the “normal” people of “reality.” We know this, but I don’t think we truly comprehend this. Matt’s character and Reagan’s interactions with him truly flesh out this aspect of celebrity life. With Dee and Reagan, their friendship hardly changed when Dee stumbled into fame. There was a Before. Matt Finch was part of a family band as a young teen, fell out of fame, released one solo album, and disappeared. Reagan knows who he is prior to meeting him in person, but it hits her in the face when she witnesses his efforts to maintain a mask for the stage, for the photographers, and then alone with her and Dee. He’s the sweetheart boy-next-door with a talent for guitar and piano and a handsome face. He’s broken inside and communicates through music — just like Reagan communicates through photography. And even though Reagan likes the charming Celebrity Matt Finch, she loves Reality Matt Finch more. And that relationship, too, is beautiful.

  Open Road Summer is a remarkable debut shedding light on the lives of celebrities backstage, when the photographers are gone and the mics are off; a stunning reflection on a healthy, strong friendship through life’s highs and lows; and a heartwarming love between two broken souls attempting to piece themselves back together.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: music, genre: romance, genre: travel, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Lovely and the Lost” by Page Morgan (ARC)

  Posted at 4:41 pm by Laura, on May 11, 2014

  The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan 

  Publisher: Delacorte Press
  Publishing Date: May 13
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, gothic
  ISBN: 9780385743136
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Ingrid and Gabby survived the Underneath. They saved their brother, Grayson, from a future of dark servitude and exposed a plot to undermine the Alliance. But danger still lurks in the streets of Paris, and the Dispossessed, perched on the city’s bridges and rooftops, might not be able to save their human wards this time.

  Two months after surviving the Underneath, Ingrid and Gabby are training hard in their newfound abilities and passions and Grayson attempts to control his shifting. Ingrid works closely with Monsieur Constantine to control her lightning, and Gabby fights demons alongside reluctant Chelle. But disorder erupts upon their father’s arrival and the return of the Alliance. Fallen angel Axia is still plotting to destroy Ingrid, but the Dispossessed, the Alliance, and another secret order have plans for each of the Waverly siblings. There is only so much Luc can manage before things truly begin to tip over the edge.

  Do not continue reading this review if you haven’t read The Beautiful and the Cursed.

  The action, adventure, and fantasy elements are even stronger; stakes even higher; plot even more complicated. What began as a unique spin in paranormal romance (think Mortal Instruments but darker, more dangerous, and with gargoyles) has turned into a lush story for every character involved — so rich in detail, in risk, that I cannot comprehend what the outcome will be in the final book. Side characters like Vander and Nolan are fleshed out further, to the point where the sisters and the reader notice their flaws. In the first book, they made the perfect romantic conquests. The obvious hero of Ingrid and Gabby’s stories. But with this next installment, we learn more about their past, their opinions and values, their future plans. It was a joy to read, because it created a sense of reality in the fantasy.

  The primary narrators — Ingrid, Gabby, Grayson, and Luc — are showcased once again, with their tumultuous emotions and thoughts, their interwoven adventures and separate plots. Gabby struggles with her scars but is strengthened by her drive to become an Alliance member. Ingrid struggles between Vander and Luc in a way that doesn’t come across as a love triangle — it’s complicated to describe, but it’s so very clear which one she loves as a brother and as a lover that it doesn’t feel like a triangle. Her power is more controllable, but with its growth comes extreme danger for everyone involved. Grayson, on the other hand, lacks control in his shifting, but attempts to harness his demon-side and work with the Alliance instead of against them. And poor, poor Luc…he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place, and his turmoil just made me want to curl up and cry. So much responsibility weighs him down, and he is forever at odds with his love for Ingrid. It’s heartbreaking.

  Like Morgan’s first book, the final 50-odd pages are just pure action from each point of view. It was like a movie with different camera angles, each new narrator coming into the picture just as another leaves. It’s amazing how she appears to easily weave these sequences together. Well done.

  This is more than a second book in a trilogy. This book could stand on its own. It has its own plot, rather than a link between the first and last books. New secret societies with cruel intentions crop up, new influential characters are introduced, new stakes and struggles and topics. A beautiful and thrilling read. I cannot wait till it hits shelves — and I’m really looking forward to the final book!

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: paranormal, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Unfortunate Case of DNFs

  Posted at 7:03 pm by Laura, on May 6, 2014

  DNF: Did Not Finish.

  We’ve all experienced this in one way or another. The book was too boring. The book was too graphic. The book was a walking cliche. The book was nothing like you expected — none of the characters, the plot twists, the writing.

  Over time, I’ve learned to just stop reading something if I haven’t enjoyed it. I’ve rarely come across this issue, and as you can see from the blog, this is the first DNF post I’ve made since the formation of this blog in December 2011. I always manage to find a reason to keep reading books. But with Life knocking at the door, time constraints on digital ARCs, and the simple fact that one should spend time enjoying life’s pleasures, I’ve had to close books early.

  These two particular books — both ARCs due out this month — met such unfortunate endings.

  Royally Lost by Angie Stanton 
  Publisher: Harper Collins
  Publishing Date: TODAY, May 6
  Genre: young adult, romance, travel
  Goodreads
  Why I DNF: Becca whines and complains quite often – it’s a wonder Nikolai is attracted to her at all. She’s got a very first-world-problems thing going on for not enjoying a trip to Europe, as well (even one with emotionally distant family members and old folks). Nikolai is a good enough character, but Becca was incredibly difficult, and so I cannot finish.

  Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn 
  Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
  Publishing Date: May 13
  Genre: young adult
  Goodreads
  Why I DNF: The premise was enticing, and it seemed like it would be a nice, enjoyable, fun summer read. While the first 100 pages felt promising, the rest of the book came across like a completely different story, with a different voice, purpose, narration, characters…
  The motivation for the characters seemed unrealistic and petty, too. While I can completely understand an 11-year-old girl’s vengeful actions and blinding guilt, I cannot comprehend how a person five years later can plan revenge on the off-chance she’d stumble across the person again — and then execute the plan. 
  Maybe this is how classic villains are made. Maybe this is what’s so entertaining about trashy teen TV shows. Whatever the case may be, the book was not for me. I had to stop reading it entirely and instead skimmed to the end.

  Thank you, Edelweiss and MacKids, for providing these books for review. I’m so sorry that I did not enjoy them and could not finish them.

  Have you received ARCs for these books? What did you think of them? In what scenario would you stop reading a book?

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 6 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, dnf, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Advance Excitement at a Glance V

  Posted at 6:34 pm by Laura, on May 6, 2014

  

  This year, in an effort to blog more, to become more involved with the blogging community, and to keep up with the latest publications, I thought I’d create a monthly post about the ARCs I’ve received. These ARCs will be read and reviewed a month prior to the publishing date. The Advance Excitement at a Glance posts will feature one or two (or more, depending on what happens this year) books to look forward to, and it will motivate me to keep my to-read list on track.

  Last month I announced two ARCs, and received a third as a surprise. All three will be reviewed on this blog in the next few days. For June, I have one incredible story to share with you that readers across the board may enjoy.

  

  The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine
  (June 3, Atria Books)

  Jo, the firstborn, “The General” to her eleven sisters, is the only thing the Hamilton girls have in place of a mother. She is the one who taught them how to dance, the one who gives the signal each night, as they slip out of the confines of their father’s townhouse to await the cabs that will take them to the speakeasy. Together they elude their distant and controlling father, until the day he decides to marry them all off.

  Trapped in a house by an unfeeling man who is ashamed of fathering twelve daughters and no sons, the Hamilton sisters are desperate for life and freedom. The eldest, Jo, teaches the sisters how to dance, and eventually how to sneak out in the night and experience Manhattan nightclubs. But the tables turn the day their father announces his plans to marry them off one by one…

  This is a fun and thrilling fairytale retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, set in the Roaring Twenties in NYC. Fans of dance, historical fiction, fractured fairytales, adult and YA fiction will thoroughly enjoy this.

  Which ARCs did you receive for June? What books are you looking forward to reading?

  Posted in Advance Excitement, books | 0 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, advance reading copy, ARC, books

• Plowing Through the Piles

  Posted at 9:24 am by Laura, on April 24, 2014

  Since graduate school is at an end, I finally had a (rare) free afternoon to sit and stare at the piles and piles of books that I couldn’t fit on my bookshelves in the last few months. Not only did I need to do another rearrangement, but I hadn’t checked my inventory in several months and I didn’t know how many books I hadn’t read yet.

  I went to the Container Store (side note: that place is HEAVEN) and bought a jar for all of my TBRs. Many readers have done this before, but I’d always relied on my Goodreads to-read list. Now that my bookshelves are out of control, having a jar to help choose a book at random would make things more efficient and convenient. I pulled all of my colorful notepads, cut them into strips, and prepared to pen all the titles and authors.

  

  My personal library inventory is all on an Excel spreadsheet, alphabetical by author and categorized by genre and readership (children’s, YA, adult). It helps me keep track of everything I own (books on display and books still in boxes under my bed or in the closet), and I put numbers next to them for the number of copies or editions (very important for my collections). Highlighted books are TBRs, and books in red I’d planned on selling. I penned all the highlighted books, folded the strips, and put them into the jar. I then went back through my spreadsheet, deleted rows of books I no longer own, added in books I’ve purchased and read, and books I’ve purchased and haven’t read (and then penned those for the jar, too).

  

  I’m absolutely astounded to say that, according to the spreadsheet (that does not include nonfiction titles like Chicago Manual of Style, home organization books, publishing/editing books, etc) I own 418 books. I’m scared to see the number if I add in the nonfiction titles…

  After the initial shock, I tackled the bookshelves and rearranged them, forcing books to fit wherever they could. Stacks and stacks on several shelves, very few actually standing the way a book should. I’d buy another bookshelf, but I live in a 190-square-foot studio, so you can imagine the available space.

  

  A-F, with some ARCs stacked on the side that might already be published…

   

  

  G-W, with my Narnia, Picoult, and Shakespeare collections. And an assortment of stuffed animals. Hi, I’m 24.

  

  TOP: Jane Austen collection, Jane Eyre editions, Wuthering Heights editions, Harry Potter collection, and DoSaB collection.
  BOTTOM: W-Z, children’s books, and Harry Potter-related books. The following shelves on this bookcase contain photo albums, nonfiction essentials, and pantry items. This bookcase acts more like a junk drawer than anything else.

  For the time being, my bookshelves are arranged alphabetical by author, unless they’re part of a collection. My collections (Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Harry Potter, Daughter of Smoke and Bone) belong on my desk shelves.

  How do you arrange your shelves? Do you hoard books? Have you created a TBR jar?

   

  Posted in books, Update Post | 13 Comments | Tagged book hoarding, books, bookshelves, personal, TBR jar

• Book Review: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han

  Posted at 7:34 pm by Laura, on April 23, 2014

  To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han 

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  Published: April 15
  Genre: young adult
  ISBN: 9781442426702
  Goodreads: 4.22
  Rating: ★★★★★

  What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once?
  
  Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

  Lara Jean Song Covey has found a way to get over her loves quickly and efficiently: write them a love letter, seal it in an envelope, and hide it in her mother’s hatbox. By writing to them, she can let out all her feelings without the embarrassment of admitting them. Except when somehow the letters are delivered, and the boys come forward with their questions…

  

  This book was hilarious, awkward, quirky, and touching. While the premise of the book suggests a love story, at the heart it’s about growing up, facing fears, and finding independence. Lara Jean is very close to her sisters Kitty and Margot — it’s just them and their father; their mother passed away several years ago. Margot’s going to college in Scotland, and since she’s been the surrogate mother to Lara Jean and Kitty, Lara Jean is concerned she’ll never live up to Margot’s image and standards. She has difficulty fulfilling the role of Big Sister to Kitty, she’s scared of doing things without Margot and her approval, and she’s always concerned with what Margot would think or say in a situation. As the novel progresses, Lara Jean becomes less concerned on the idea of Margot and simply misses her sister’s companionship. It’s so remarkable, how close and loving this family is, that it warmed my heart.

  Another facet I liked about Lara Jean is her honest narration, her true-to-life insecurities, her racing thoughts, her pounding heart, her fight-or-flight rash decisions when Margot’s ex Josh and Lara Jean’s old friend Peter come forward with their letters. The whole situation with Josh and Peter heightens the hilarity and brings out Lara Jean’s quirks. The interactions they have with her family, their eagerness for her to share Korean food, the ways in which they want to protect her innocence or expose her to new experiences is beautiful to watch.

  Thank goodness Han has a sequel planned! While the ending of this book would allow the reader decide what Lara Jean plans to do with her final letter, I felt her story with her family and the boys she’s loved just wasn’t over yet. I’m so excited to see what’s in store for her!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Top Ten Tuesday: Characters Who Never Left Me

  Posted at 7:52 am by Laura, on April 22, 2014

  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 Who ___. I’ve chosen “never left me.”

  

  Characters Who Never Left Me means they’ve made an impression on me, their stories connecting to mine in some way, leaving me with a book hangover and constant love.

  Jane Eyre — Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte — She sparked everything I am, everything I love, everything I study in academic culture. She awakened me.

  Sirius Black — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling — The first character I distinctly remember crying over.

  Hermione Granger — Harry Potter series — She made nerdy girls cool.

  Lara Jean Song Covey — To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han — I’m over halfway finished with this, and I so desperately wish this came out when I was a teenager. Lara Jean is basically me in a nutshell, all quirks and awkwardness.

  Lina Vilkas — Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys — Extreme book hangover. I want to read it again, but I have to do it knowing I won’t read another book for several weeks.

  Celia and Marco — The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern — Another extreme book hangover. These two — their love, their talent — just swept me away.

  Catherine Morland — Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen — She is one of the silliest and most under-appreciated heroines in Austen literature, and she’s my absolute favorite. Her wild imagination is extremely entertaining.

  Emma of Normandy — Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell — Damn. This woman’s made of steel.

  Cassie Maddox — The Likeness by Tana French — Another book hangover. My absolute favorite murder mystery / psychological thriller. Except it’s not a thrilling book — it’s quite slow, Victorian even — but that creeping plot makes it all the more intense. And Cassie’s in the middle of it all.

  Emma Morley — One Day by David Nicholls — EMMA, YOU ARE MY SPIRIT ANIMAL.

  Who are the characters that never left you? Or, what did you fill in the blank for TTT?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 6 Comments | Tagged books, top ten tuesday

• Book Review: “Prisoner of Night and Fog” by Anne Blankman (ARC)

  Posted at 3:39 pm by Laura, on April 15, 2014

  Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman 

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: April 22
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780062278814
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★ 

  In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her “uncle” Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf’s, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

  Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

  And Gretchen follows his every command.

  Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can’t stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can’t help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she’s been taught to believe about Jews.

  As Gretchen investigates the very people she’s always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

  Gretchen Müller’s father is considered a martyr for the National Socialist Party; he darted in front of Hitler and took the bullets. Since then, the Müller family is Hitler’s favorite, and he’s especially fond of Gretchen. She stands by his beliefs and hopes for a better Germany. But when Jewish reporter Daniel suggests her father was murdered, Gretchen’s world is turned upside-down. She watches her brother beat others mercilessly, makes connections between his behavior and Hitler’s, discovers incongruities in her father’s history, and pieces together Hitler’s darkest intentions for the Jews. Gretchen must face her most difficult decision of all: side with the people she’s been molded to hate, or follow a man intent on genocide.

  When I began Prisoner of Night and Fog, I thought I would encounter a I’m-supposed-to-hate-you-but-I-love-you-anyway YA historical love story. That the only interesting thing was that it was set before Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. I was completely wrong. This book is intense, a major psychological page-turner, with mystery, terror, and violence. Yes, there’s a romance, and the way it blooms is stunning — but this is first and foremost a third-party observation and psychological study on Hitler.

  It was oddly thrilling to be in the mind of a young Nazi girl. Gretchen is afraid of her brother, but is most frightened of him when he beats people without guilt. She watches him beat a Jewish man, and is torn between wanting to save this “monster” she’s been trained to dislike, and wanting to turn the other way. She is shocked to find humanity in the Jew. And she’s bothered even more when she meets Daniel and finds that he does not have any tricks in seducing her, does not transfer viruses, does not turn into a monstrous creature. Hitler’s brainwashing went so deep into her mind that when she realizes on her own that the Jews are innocent humans, she feels terrible for believing in such horrors and supporting the Fuhrer. She’s on edge, uncomfortable, tip-toeing around the whole Party. But most of all, she’s iron-willed and determined to find out the truth about her father’s death, even if it means putting her and Daniel on the line.

  There is plenty of fiction available for victims of  WWII. We have the perspectives of the women at home, from the soldiers across the world, from the Jews in the camps and in Siberia. But there are very few perspectives from the Nazi side, and even fewer from before the war when Hitler’s party was one of many attempting to take control of Germany. Gretchen’s independent transformation, coupled with the trust and understanding with Daniel, makes for a fascinating, frightening, and exciting read.

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Deception’s Princess” by Esther M. Friesner (ARC)

  Posted at 8:25 am by Laura, on April 8, 2014

  Deception’s Princess by Esther M. Friesner 

  Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
  Publishing Date: April 22
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780449818633
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Maeve, princess of Connacht, was born with her fists clenched. And it’s her spirit and courage that make Maeve her father’s favorite daughter. But once he becomes the High King, powerful men begin to circle–it’s easy to love the girl who brings her husband a kingdom.

  Yet Maeve is more than a prize to be won, and she’s determined to win the right to decide her own fate. In the court’s deadly game of intrigue, she uses her wits to keep her father’s friends and enemies close–but not too close. When she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the son of a visiting druid, Maeve faces a brutal decision between her loyalty to her family and to her own heart.

  Maeve’s life is over-exaggerated — for better or worse — in bards’ songs. Sure, she was a daring five-year-old when she chased after her father’s prized bull. Yes, she learned how to use weapons against threatening beasts. And it’s true she speaks her mind, in a witty, intelligent, and clever manner. But Maeve is a princess in first-century Ireland, and an independent, headstrong young woman is one to be feared or beaten down with a stick. She’s determined to find solid ground to stand up for herself and her beliefs without angering her father, upsetting the land’s most powerful druid, and crushing the druid’s son, a healer and master with creatures.

  Maeve, like King Arthur, is based on threads of fact but mostly of mythical fiction. Her frustrations are understandable, and the men in her life are equally supportive as well as manipulative, protective, and controlling. She can see right through them, and plays their game by speaking only the truth and pointing out inaccuracies and falsehoods. She wants to help her father defend the land — thus her warrior skills — but also wants to be a compassionate healer — thus her lessons with the druid’s son Odran. Maeve is a force of nature, admirable and wonderful to behold, and it was a joy reading her mind.

  What I loved most about this book was what Friesner was able to accomplish with so little recorded historical information at the time. Truly, the tales that lasted from Iron Age Ireland are the tales sung by bards and centuries later recorded in manuscripts. Like the game “telephone,” both in Maeve’s experience as well as in research, only a grain of truth can be found in the poems. Even with little research, Friesner managed to concoct a beautiful and rich tale of love, friendship, and compassion in this tumultuous age. I loved the feast scenes — so much laughter and joy — and the moments Odran and Maeve spent in the hut caring for the animals. Every moment circled back to a previous, an endless loop of past events impacting the present, and it was fun to make the connections. Even the dark moments of sexist frustration and political intrigue were scattered with light, sarcastic commentary in Maeve’s thoughts.

  A fun read for anyone interested in ancient historical fiction, fierce young women, and awesome names you’ll need a pronunciation guide to get anywhere close to its actual sound.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Random House Books for Young Readers for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Geography of You and Me” by Jennifer E. Smith (ARC)

  Posted at 9:15 am by Laura, on April 1, 2014

  The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith 

  Publisher: Poppy
  Publishing Date: April 15
  Genre: young adult, romance
  ISBN: 9780316254779
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they’re rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

  Lucy and Owen’s relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and — finally — a reunion in the city where they first met.

  Two strangers’ lives change forever after getting stuck in an elevator in sweltering New York City summer heat in the middle of a black-out. Lucy, the youngest in her traveling, absent family, and Owen, new to the apartment building and grieving with his father the sudden death of his mother, end up spending the rest of the powerless day and night together, learning everything and nothing about one another. But when power is restored, their lives immediately change: Lucy’s family moves to Edinburgh and London, and Owen travels across the country with his father in search of employment and college options. As months pass and the distance between them widens, Lucy and Owen soon find that “home” doesn’t always mean a specific place: it can be a person.

  Smith has a unique way of creating love stories out of travels and chance encounters. I loved The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and was thrilled to receive this. It certainly makes you wonder what sort of lasting imprint you’ve left on a complete stranger, with a look or comment or action. Imagine an extreme situation where you and that stranger were forced to be together for an extended time — how would this happenstance grow into friendship? Would you keep in touch, and how?

  Lucy and Owen have a bit of an inside joke with postcards, sending them to one another throughout the novel. It began as a snarky comment, that people only send postcards out of politeness, and say “Wish you were here” when really the sender is probably functioning just fine without the sendee. But for these two, a postcard with a few lines means so much more. The wish is genuine. The thought and effort speaks volumes. It’s amazing how, having only been in the other’s presence for roughly four times in the novel, the love can seem so real despite the minimal communication and the vast distance. They see the other in everything, there’s a constant desire to turn to the other and share the excitement or sadness over an event, followed by a disappointment over the constant fact the other is not there. You’d think this desire would be exaggerated passion, “insta-love,” or some other hokey term — but it’s not. It’s like a crush you didn’t realize you had till you found yourself disappointed at the reality of a situation, and then begin to hope once more when a small hint is tossed your way.

  It was wonderful to read Lucy’s adventures in Europe, to watch her build a relationship with her parents for the first time; to root for Owen and his father (and their stow-away turtle) on their trek across the country for employment, to witness them slowly emerge from their grief. The ways in which Lucy and Owen’s lives intersect are remarkable, further solidifying such a beautiful basis for a relationship.

  Definitely a read for fans of Smith’s previous work, as well as Gayle Forman’s Just One Day and Just One Year. Enjoyable and touching.

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

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• 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!

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