Tag: genre: fiction

• Book Review: “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on October 6, 2016

  The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

  Publisher: August 2016
  Published: William Morrow
  Genre: adult fiction, chick lit
  ISBN: 9780062439598
  Rating: ★★★★

  Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
  2) A person’s undoing
  3) Joshua Templeman

  Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

  Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

  If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

  Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

  Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman are the assistants to the co-CEOs of Bexley & Gamin, recently merged publishing houses with two very different ideas of how to run a business. From the very start of their jobs, Lucy and Joshua try to one-up the other in every aspect of their job — until an announcement is made for a new promotion, and only one of them can have it. The stakes are higher, and soon the line between love and hate is blurred, and there’s more at risk than a swanky office.

  A few weeks ago I asked Twitter what they were reading, and how I needed a book to dive into and break out of my reading lull. My client Nina recommended a “funny workplace rom-com,” and after I looked it up I knew I had to get my hands on it. A debut voice a la Kinsella set in the publishing industry? Yes, please. In the midst of reading it, I found other elements that I knew would be appealing to several blogger friends. Soon this book exploded across Twitter and Instagram and Goodreads. If that doesn’t convince you to pick it up, then maybe read on for the review…

  I enjoyed this book. It was like candy for the brain. Intelligently written, funny, with fully-fleshed main characters. Their backstories — Lucy’s childhood on a strawberry farm, Josh’s history with his medically-inclined family — enhanced the experience and really gave the characters the depth they needed to further explain their desires and motivations for the promotion.

  There’s a tension between Josh and Lucy that starts as colleague rivalry, moves into frustration, then secret, romantic glee. The entire story is told through Lucy’s perspective. It’s clear she doesn’t want Josh in her life, but it’s also clear to the reader from the get-go that Josh is into her. These two experience a whole range of scenarios together, at work and otherwise, that demonstrate their compatibility. Thorne was great at not shying away from all the details, never fading to black or glossing over scenes. It was like experiencing these few weeks with/as Lucy as they came up for her, no holds barred.

  That said, there were so many moments I wanted to dive into the book, shake Lucy, and tell her she’s reading each and every little situation wrong. She’s simply not seeing the signs — but after working for the merged B&G for a year with the particular attitude and sass Josh gives her, it makes sense she would see him in such a negative light. But that’s my qualm with hate-to-love relationships. Not a huge fan of them because of one character’s obvious feelings and the other’s blatant blindness. But it kept the plot moving!

  If you’re looking for a Sophie Kinsella-esque book set in a bookish office and lots of sexual tension, this is the one for you!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: romance, review

• Book Review: “The Lake House” by Kate Morton (ARC)

  Posted at 5:35 am by Laura, on October 7, 2015

  The Lake House by Kate Morton 

  Publisher: Atria Books
  Publishing Date: October 20
  Genre: adult fiction, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9781451649321
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Living on her family’s gorgeous lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, clever, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented fourteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure…

  One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest son, Theo, has completely disappeared. Vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined, leaving their estate as empty as their sunken hearts.

  Nearly sixty years later, having enjoyed a long, successful career as an author, Alice is now eighty years old and living in London. Theo’s case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate—now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked and sets off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone…yet more present than ever.

  Alice Edevane is a mystery writer in the making, plotting out stories and taking notes in a tiny journal she carries with her everywhere. But she could never conjure — let alone solve — the mystery that would plague her family for the rest of her life. The youngest Edevane, Theo, disappears in the middle of a massive Midsummer’s Eve party, never to be seen again. Generations later, Sadie Sparrow, a London detective on leave for overstepping boundaries in a child abandonment case, stumbles across the estate in Cornwall while visiting her grandfather. The mystery of the missing Edevane fills her mind, bringing her right to award-winning mystery writer A.C. Edevane’s doorstep.

  First off, all hail Kate Morton. Lindsey, Morgan, Jessie, Katie, and I had a wonderful readalong with this book. Feel free to browse #KMflails! Morton delivers a fantastic novel yet again, only more intricately plotted, more points of view, more timelines than ever before. While House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper are still my favorites, Morton would never disappoint me.

  The surprise narrator of the story was Eleanor, Alice’s mother. She was a surprise because, well, she’s not mentioned once in the publisher summary. Yet her part in the mystery is key, and she’s an incredibly intriguing character. Her own growth across the book was palpable, and my heart ached for her, the poor mother with the missing boy. What a fantastic storyline for her. Pay attention to Eleanor!

  Alice’s narrative, at least in her teen years, was rather irksome. She reminded me of Briony in Atonement — self-entitled author-in-the-making, devising up plots and stories behind every individual and muddling it within a crime scene. I nearly wanted to wring her neck when her young narrative popped up. But older Alice? Quietly hilarious and witty. She’s that sassy grandmother I’m sure everyone wants in life. I nearly envisioned her as a modern day Agatha Christie.

  Sadie’s narrative was frustrating at first — why is she on leave? why does she feel guilty? who are these people she keeps mentioning? what do they have to do with the case that got her into trouble? why does the Edevane story bother her so much? — but, as Morton always does, you’re brought around to understand all the hidden layers when Sadie feels its appropriate to expose them.

  I can’t say too much without exposing the mystery. But this is a classic Morton piece, where a family mystery tied to a beautiful home all come together in the end. It’s never picture-perfect, but it’s bound to break your heart. It’s such a joy to experience reading all these parallel narratives and how that interconnect up to the final conclusion. I’m looking forward to this hitting the shelves!

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 3 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “The Royal We” by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

  Posted at 6:00 am by Laura, on June 1, 2015

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

  Publisher: Grand Central
  Published: April 2015
  Genre: fiction
  ISBN: 9781455557103
  Goodreads: 3.91
  Rating: ★★★★★

  American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it’s Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain’s future king. And when Bex can’t resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

  Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick’s sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he’s fated to become.

  Which is how she gets into trouble.

  Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she’s sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

  Rebecca would’ve thought twice about making a syphilis joke in front of Prince Nicholas if she had known Prince Nicholas was the one opening the door to her Pembroke home at Oxford University. But she didn’t meet Nicholas — she met Nick. Nick, an insomniac who pigs out on Twinkies; who runs before dawn just to find a quiet, outdoorsy place to work on crossword puzzles; the young man obsessed with Devour, a strange American TV show that blends humans, witches, vampires, and leopards in a small town. One night on the town, Nick solidifies his place in Bex’s heart, and the two can’t look back. But loving Nick also means loving Prince Nicholas and all that entails: media, family secrets, tight social circles, and keeping up appearances. On the night before their wedding, Bex wonders if giving up who she was almost a decade ago is really all worth it.

  England is the motherland, and I am their loyal [American] subject! So when The Royal We came out (perfect timing for HRH Princess Charlotte’s birth), it was an automatic buy and immediate read. This is a fictionalized — although recognizable in many respects — Will-and-Kate story. All the best characters are there, from the gorgeous sister Lacey constantly making the papers to the younger, more charming brother Prince Freddie. Prince Richard, Nick and Freddie’s father, is a distinguished figure though not loved by many, and Queen Eleanor is quite regal and humorous to boot. But what really makes The Royal We stand out are the secondary characters. I haven’t seen secondary characters this fleshed out in adult fiction in quite some time. I fell in love with Cilla and Gaz, with Bea’s posh-ness and Marj’s strict code, and even with Clive to some extent. Nick and Bex rely on their close Oxford circle, and the way they bring Bex into the fold from the very beginning is endearing and wonderful and made me miss college.

  Bex’s family is remarkable. While I was invested in the Nick-and-Bex story, I found her interactions with her family deeply compelling. She’s away from them for most of the novel, but they influence her decisions every day. Bex is close with her father, and he has a way of bringing her mind down from the clouds. Lacey, her twin sister, is competitive in every aspect of their lives without it feeling like a competition, and yet her selfish personality made her downfall somewhat inevitable. Despite all of this, she and Bex are incredibly close, and they go through their ups and downs as any adult sisters would.

  The same could be said with Nick and Freddie. The Heir and the Spare. Freddie is fun and playful, trying to make it into the papers the further Nick’s immersed in the family politics and responsibilities — something to distract the public from what’s going on underneath. He was obnoxious and fun, and soon he cracked and gave a glimpse of his character on the inside. I couldn’t help but feel deeply for him! The whole family, really. From the Queen Mum cracking jokes and whacking people with her cane, to drunken aunts and snobby cousins, to the cold father and mysterious mother. This family is full of secrets, and it was thrilling to discover each one as Bex moved deeper into the circle.

  Nick and Bex grew as characters as time moved on. Like life, I didn’t notice how much they had grown up independently and together till I re-read the first couple chapters again. It was amazing how Cocks and Morgan could immerse the reader into this story and show the progression of Nick and Bex’s relationship from college students to adults, secret to public, private to daily media, and broke to royal. Though the story may seem familiar, The Royal We can definitely stand on its own. It’s a dream come true smashing headline into the reality of modern celebrity, and it was a phenomenal ride!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 7 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: romance, review

• Book Review: “Letters to the Lost” by Iona Grey (ARC)

  Posted at 7:00 am by Laura, on May 21, 2015

  Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

  Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  Publishing Date: May 26
  Genre: adult fiction, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781250066770
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★.5

  Late on a frozen February evening, a young woman is running through the streets of London. Having fled from her abusive boyfriend and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane where a small, clearly unlived in 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 inexorably into the story of two lovers from another time.

  In London 1942, Stella meets Dan, a US airman, quite by accident, but 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 odds are stacked against the pair; 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. Her hope—inspired by a love so powerful it spans a lifetime—will lead her to find a startling redemption in her own life.

  A young woman on the run from an abusive boyfriend and a terrible situation breaks into a small English home and comes across a shoebox full of WWII letters. The letters are written by the same man who recently sent a desperate plea to a Mrs. Thorne to get back in touch with him — a letter dropped through the slot that Jess opens out of curiosity. The letters transport Jess back in time, to London 1942, to US airman Dan and sheltered vicar’s wife Stella. They stumble across one another in a bombed-out church, searching for Stella’s bracelet. As time progresses, their friendship-through-letters turns into something much more, and Stella struggles to find a way out of her destructive sham of a marriage.

  At first this book had a lot going for it — nearing five stars for this WWII fanatic — and for a while I was convinced that, as a Kate Morton fan, I would adore this. Dual timelines are hard, historical fiction is hard, and getting the reader to fall in love with the parallel stories is even harder. And that’s where my love for it dwindled away: I didn’t care one bit about Jess. Her story — on the run from a bad situation and seeking solace in a quiet place before getting back on her feet — was compelling at the beginning, but then she latched on too quickly to the next man to come into her life (Will, and he’s another (boring) story) and became dependent on a male once more. I didn’t believe it, I didn’t enjoy it, and I felt her story could have been so much stronger if it went in a different direction.

  But Dan? Dan and Stella totally made up for it. Stella was a poor orphan who, once she was of age, became the housekeeper at Charles Thorne’s vicarage. She didn’t know what love was, so when Charles proposed — and this meant having her own home and building a family, things she didn’t have growing up — Stella’s overjoyed. She quickly learns there’s something off about their marriage, and begins to wonder if it’s her fault. (Oh no, honey, it’s definitely not you!) Enter Dan: charming in a quiet and chivalrous way, not at all cheeky or boisterous like the other Americans roaming London. He helps her find jewelry she’d lost, and they decide to have lunch together. Lunch turns into an exchange of letters, which turns into “when are you on leave next?” and “let’s go on a weekend trip together” and “how can we get you out of this marriage and start over?”

  I know that sounds predictable for a WWII romance, especially when the characters not only have a war to deal with but also an entire body of water if the war ever ends and they’re both still alive. But it’s really not that predictable. I had no idea if their plans would work, I didn’t know why Dan was reaching out to her in modern day (did things not work out, and why?). They’re full of love and fire and logic that everything seems possible and yet hopeless. The modern time portion of the narrative gives us a trail of clues to follow, and that was enjoyable up to a point (cue Jess and Will rants).

  Lindsey @ Bring My Books and I had a long conversation about this. We love Dan just like we love Jamie and Red, and we really felt something for Stella. Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking and we wanted more. We also wanted to shove Jess in a broom closet till she examined her life and looked at her choices, and we wanted to kill off Will (not even going to bother more comments on him) so that no reader would ever need to read his passages. If you want to know the definition of “weak,” I’d point you to this storyline.

  That being said, I’m definitely going to watch out for Iona Grey’s next books. Stella and Dan won me over, and if Grey’s publications follow that line I’m on board!

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

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

• Book Review: “Drums of Autumn” by Diana Gabaldon

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on March 8, 2015

  Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

  Publisher: Dell
  Published: 1996
  Genre: historical fiction, fantasy, romance, adventure
  ISBN: 9780440224259
  Goodreads: 4.33
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the stone circle and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history…and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past…or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong…

  Claire and Jamie travel from Jamie’s aunt’s plantation in the South upriver to the Carolinas, where Jamie builds a homestead on a vast expanse of land. As his men from the prison years begin to settle, so too does Claire into her medicinal routines. Young Ian has a way with the Native Americans, and while times are by no means easy or peaceful, the Frasers are content for the first time in years. Meanwhile, Brianna and Roger continue their research to find out whether Claire reunited with Jamie, and a discovery from a newspaper clipping dating 1776 proves Claire and Jamie were reunited, but something terrible will happen to them. Brianna takes it upon herself to reunite with her mother, meet her biological father, and keep her heart in one place in time.

  SPOILER ALERT
  Events pertaining to Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager are within this review.
  SPOILER ALERT

  Reading Gabaldon is an extreme time commitment. When I began this book (late October!), I had a lot going on in my life, and so I would only read maybe ten pages a night. Not even a full chapter. Or even a full scene! But despite how long it took to finish, I can say without a doubt that this is, thus far, my second favorite of the series (first being Outlander, of course).

  It’s also the most unique of the four I’ve read. Drums delves into multiple points of view across time, such as Jamie and Claire building a home in the Carolinas, and Roger and Brianna looking for ways to connect back to Claire. So much happened in this book — homelessness, poverty, plantations and slavery, encounters / fights / friendships with Indians, time travel, love, pregnancy, misunderstandings, illness, reconciliation — that it might be best if I summarize character growth instead of plot.

  Jamie. He’s running a farm, just like he wanted to do at Lallybroch, without a price on his head. He’s relaxed and gentle, while still maintaining a very political, skeptical mindset. We also get to see the fatherly side of him, his protectiveness over the younger generation and how it’s different from what he shows with Claire. I was happy to see him this way. He’s still that adventurous, laughing, fierce warrior Claire met in Outlander, but in a much calmer, settled way. Like a sigh.

  Claire. She manages to be a woman of her original time as well as a woman in history. She adapts easily to the culture (apart from the slavery) and manages to hide her differences very well now. It’s interesting seeing the Native Americans’ reaction to her healing powers. Word spreads about her talent, and the settlers of the area, as well as the Indians, see her as a cross between a good witch and a healer. The lore of the area is like that of Scotland, only with a different sort of superstition. It was neat watching her navigate that territory.

  Young Ian. He always longed for adventure, to be just like Uncle Jamie while living in Scotland, that he adapts very well to living on Fraser’s Ridge. Like his uncle, he has a knack for languages and a natural charisma. He thrives in the New World, and becomes a great asset to Indians and the settlers alike. I can’t wait to read the rest of his story in the following books!

  Roger. Our historian, our musician, our modern, chivalrous knight. He’s passionate and loving and thoughtful, incredibly patient and determined, and fights hard to understand and rationalize time travel. He loves Brianna deeply and throws himself into understanding her family history as well as his own. Poor man went through several ups and downs in this book, and I’m also looking forward to what comes next for him.

  Brianna. She, too, is a determined, stubborn character, an outlander in her own right. She’s deeply conflicted throughout the novel, and even when she has doubts she’ll firmly stick to her decisions. She’s strong and bold, an enigma. I’ve no idea how she managed to handle any of the conflicts thrown her way in this book, and her bravery has me rooting for her in the next ones!

  Drums contained so many echoes and parallels to Outlander. I worried that I wouldn’t like the series as much since we were no longer in Scotland — and I’ll be honest and say Scotland was partly the draw. But Scottish culture made its way to the mountains, and the American lore blends in well. Claire and Jamie’s relationship deepens, and they grow and love one another even more. It’s just beautiful. Watching everyday life come about from extraordinary circumstances…it’s beautiful.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Miss Buncle’s Book” by DE Stevenson

  Posted at 8:00 am by Laura, on January 22, 2015

  Miss Buncle’s Book by DE Stevenson

  Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (org. Farrar & Rinehart)
  Published: 2012 (org. 1934)
  Genre: fiction
  ISBN: 9781402270826
  Goodreads: 4.03
  Rating: ★★★.5

  Barbara Buncle is in a bind. Times are harsh, and Barbara’s bank account has seen better days. Maybe she could sell a novel … if she knew any stories. Stumped for ideas, Barbara draws inspiration from her fellow residents of Silverstream, the little English village she knows inside and out.

  To her surprise, the novel is a smash. It’s a good thing she wrote under a pseudonym, because the folks of Silverstream are in an uproar. But what really turns Miss Buncle’s world around is this: what happens to the characters in her book starts happening to their real-life counterparts. Does life really imitate art?

  Mr. Abbott doesn’t know what to make of this “John Smith” and “his” book Disturber of the Peace. Is “he” an idiot or a prodigy? Is “he” incredibly simple or full of wit and satire? When Miss Barbara Buncle fesses up to being “John Smith” and writing what she knows — literally — Mr. Abbott is beside himself and can’t wait to publish her book. But Silverstream, Miss Buncle’s quaint English village, is not quite ready to read about their town, exposed so nakedly to the public eye. Soon enough, the events in Miss Buncle’s book — the portion she actually used some imagination for — begin to unfold in real life, and fiction and reality start to blur.

  What a charming read! At first I found the writing a bit jarring. The narrative jumps between characters within the chapters. But once I got into the flow, I found I couldn’t put this book down. It’s very much a product of its time in terms of style and execution, but you can find remnants of good old English storytelling in today’s BBC shows. I couldn’t help but think of Doc Martin when reading this.

  My favorite thing about this book — apart from it being a book about a book — was how everyone responded to Miss Buncle’s book and scurried around her, gossiping in front of her, scheming within earshot about discovering the author’s true name. Some cute romances blossomed from this as well, whether or not they were inspired or nudged by the book. Seeing this little town fall down a rabbit hole of a tizzy was very entertaining. It makes me wonder how many people swear up and down they’re a character in an author’s book. (And it must have happened often enough to warrant the disclaimer at the beginning of every fictional work!)

  A delightful read, perfect for an afternoon tea when BBC television just can’t cut it for the day!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, goodreads, review

• Top Five Books of 2014

  Posted at 8:40 pm by Laura, on December 17, 2014

  The most difficult post of the year: selecting five fantastic books from the 66, as of December 17th, I read this year!

  

  Goodness. This year was full of discoveries. If last year was deemed The Year of Gothic Literature, this could be called the ARC Frenzy (so. many. ARCs.) or The Year of Contemporary YA. Seriously, why hadn’t I read Gayle Forman sooner? Or Rainbow Rowell? Or Stephanie Perkins? They’re definitely my top YA authors now — I will follow their publishing career to the ends of the earth. This was also the year I stumbled upon Morgan Matson, Jenny Han, and Huntley Fitzpatrick. What a fun experience!

  In no particular order, here are my Top Five Books of 2014!

  For more favorites: Top Five of 2013, Top Five of 2012. To see the full list of books I read in 2014, feel free to see my Goodreads Challenge!

  

  

  

  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon || Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins ||
  Just One Day by Gayle Forman

  A time-traveling historical fiction with a dash of romance, now a hit TV series, is totally worth the volume of words and pages. If you haven’t giggled in a while, travel to Paris and relive your first romance! And finally, one magical day abroad can change your life forever.

  Clearly there’s a foreign theme going on…

  

  

  Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell || Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

  Break personal barriers and overcome anxiety your freshman year in college, or shatter your entire belief system to save hundreds of people your uncle despises. These young women are daring in their own way!

  Some honorable mentions include Indiana author Sharon Biggs Waller’s A Mad, Wicked Folly, the Buffy-esque series starter Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins, and quietly beautiful The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston. There are two great books coming out in January 2015 that I read this year and loved (and will most likely make it into the Top 5 of 2015!), Geek Girl by Holly Smale and All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven — reviews to come.

  Which books made it to your Top Books of 2014 list? 

  Posted in books, Update Post | 7 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult

• Book Review: “Voyager” by Diana Gabaldon

  Posted at 3:09 pm by Laura, on October 29, 2014

  Voyager by Diana Gabaldon 

  Publisher: Dell
  Published: 1993
  Genre: historical fiction, romance, fantasy, adventure
  ISBN: 9780440217565
  Goodreads: 4.37
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her… and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

  Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her…the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland… and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love.

  Claire’s told her daughter Brianna about her birth father, Jamie, and the unusual circumstances in which he and Claire met. With Roger Wakefield’s help, Claire and Brianna begin a desperate search to find out what happened to Jamie after Culloden, as evidence points to his survival. When they make a discovery that he could still be alive 20 years after the battle — 200 years exactly for Claire — Claire decides to take a chance and return to him. But will he be the same man she left 20 years ago? What sort of life is he leading now? And though Claire clings to the memory of him, does he still hold her in his heart as well?

  SPOILER ALERT
  Events pertaining to Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber are within this review.
  SPOILER ALERT

  While only slightly put off by the 1960s Scotland in Dragonfly, I was not put off at all in this book! I love Roger and Brianna, their personalities and enthusiasm and general goodness. They’re fleshed out much more in this book, and even while Claire was reunited with Jamie I did wonder how they were getting on. Could they follow Jamie and Claire in the history books? How was Brianna dealing with the loss of her mother? How was Roger coping with his newly discovered, time-warped family history? How was Brianna coping with her newly discovered, time-warped family history?! I’m excited to see more of them in future books.

  Gabaldon knows just how to answer all the reader questions. I was happy to see the conflict and slow decision Claire encountered when faced with traveling back in time to see Jamie. Of course she’d go back — but that takes preparation. And she did it so well, so thoughtful of her daughter’s well-being, of her career and friendship with Joe (who is also awesome, by the way), her forgiveness for Frank (who frankly (ha ha) doesn’t deserve it, the bastard, but it was well done and very Claire-like). It was fun to see her collect the proper coinage, the right dress, the knowledge of history and culture and politics — so much preparation to blend in for her arrival.

  Not to mention the constant insecurities and questioning upon reuniting with Jamie! They love each other, pure and true, but it has been 20 years, and so much can change a person. The book takes place across four months in the 1760s, and while the reader gets snippets of Jamie’s past (his hiding, his imprisonment, his servitude in England), Claire learns of them briefly and at very inopportune moments. It’s as if they know one another so deeply, and suddenly there’s a rift they must work through. It was beautiful (and heartbreaking) to read. I’ve never read of a couple more human than these two.

  So much happens in this book. If I thought Dragonfly was filled with several many names and circumstances, I had to think again. New acquaintances, reconnections, pirates and military, nieces and nephews, adventures on land and by sea, Scotland and France and the Caribbean — it was all a jumble of love, adventure, shock, discovery, and brand new beginnings for these two. And I can honestly say that at this point, I don’t care where they end up as long as they’re together.

  I also hope Jamie’s no longer an outlaw, poor fellow. But clearly he becomes one again at some point in future books. Sigh. Can’t seem to catch a break.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, 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 librarian, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I have a passion for Victorian culture, Gothic lit, and music. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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