Thursday, April 30, 2015

Month in Review ~ April 2015


Hey Everyone! It's time to look back and see what my April looked like! Month in Review is a monthly meme hosted by Bookdate.


Books Read

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
Stronger Even Than Pride by Gail McEwen 
Champion by Marie Lu
Prodigy by Marie Lu
Legend by Marie Lu
All the Rage by Courtney Summers



Reviews

Stronger Even Than Pride by Gail McEwen
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton (E-copy)





Newly Acquired Books

A Peculiar Connection by Jan Hahn
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Landlocked by Ja Sanchez
A Tangle of Fates by Leslie Ann Moore
Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton (Hardback)
Fairest by Marissa Meyer

As you can see, I picked these books up at the LA Times Festival of Books! Fun!

Plus, countless e-books! (as always ;)




Books for Review

Twin Piques by Tracie Banister  ~ e-copy from author
Forever Yours by Robin M. Helm ~ the third in the Your By Design Series! A P&P/time-travel variation! ~ paperback from author.
Alive by Scott Sigler ~ a new Dystopian to be released in July!! Yay! ~ via NetGalley




Noteworthy Shows Watched

The Gilmore Girls ~ watched seasons 4 & 5


So, that's a wrap-up on my month! How was yours?

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ April 29, 2015


What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions:


  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you'll be reading next?



What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading Twin Piques by Tracie Banister.  I'm not very far into this story, but it seems good so far! 







What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell. Great book! This is a mix of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Beauty and the Beast, and a little Greek Mythology thrown in there too! Cute!






What do I think I'll be reading next? I think I'll read Steampunk Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Spoofby Monica Fairview. The only thing that bothers me here is Spoof. I'm not sure if I'm going to like that. We'll see! 






FTC Disclaimer:
Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

So...What are you reading?

Monday, April 27, 2015

Stronger Even Than Pride by Gail McEwen ~ My Review

Stronger Even Than Pride by Gail McEwen 

Publication Date: April 7th, 2014 

Publisher: Meryton Press 
Pages: 230 
Received: Purchased my own copy 
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars






 
What would happen if Elizabeth never read Darcy’s letter, and never knew the truth about George Wickham?

Wow! I thought Stronger Even Than Pride was going to be so hard to read! But I was wrong. I truly enjoyed it! Bear in mind, I knew I had to mentally prepare myself for what was ahead. I had to let go of my strong dislike for Wickham (no, this story did not change my opinion of him). I had to go in with an open mind and know Elizabeth was going to choose someone else before Darcy.

Oh, yes, the angst starts right away and keeps on going. Not only did I have to agonize about Elizabeth and Darcy not being together and wonder how they would manage to get together....because we all know they WILL have their happily-ever-after! But, I was also on pins and needles wondering what Darcy was going to do about Wickham.

I loved how steadfast Darcy is. No matter how bleak things looked, Darcy never stopped loving Elizabeth. At the same time, it’s a little frustrating  how he doesn’t make his intentions clear. He assumes Elizabeth understands him perfectly, but, of course, she doesn’t and thinks the exact opposite.

There was one part at the end that bothered me a little bit. It's a small thing really, but I would have liked to see one thing turn out differently. I won't say what that is because of spoilers. :)


I purchase my copy at a book festival where I met the author, Gail McEwen. After discussing my feelings and anxieties about reading her book, she wrote in the inscription, ”Be brave! Read on!”  A year later, I finally pulled it off my bookshelf, and I did just that. I was brave, and I didn’t regret it!

I really enjoyed Stronger Even Than Pride! I read it quickly because I couldn’t put it down! I found myself picking it up every chance I could get! Just as Ms. McEwen wrote in the front of my book, I would also say to you, “Be brave! Read on!”

For Mature Audiences

Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads


FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


Connect with Gail McEwen





This completes the second book I've read for the Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Book Challenge

This challenge was created by Sophia Rose, and you can join by going to the Goodreads page!


Any thoughts? How do you feel when Elizabeth or Darcy has another love interest?

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Suddenly Mrs. Darcy Blog Tour & Giveaway!

Hey Everyone! I'm delighted to be part of the Suddenly Mrs. Darcy Blog Tour! This stop brings Jenetta James author of  Suddenly Mrs. Darcy here to So little time... with a guest post! 



Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews for organizing this Blog Tour! 

Also, Meryton Press is giving a paperback of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy to one lucky winner! You'll find the information for the giveaway at the bottom of this post.




Book Blurb

Elizabeth Bennet never imagined her own parents would force her to marry a virtual stranger. But when Mrs. Bennet accuses Fitzwilliam Darcy of compromising her daughter, that is exactly the outcome. Trapped in a seemingly loveless marriage and far from home, she grows suspicious of her new husband’s heart and further, suspects he is hiding a great secret. Is there even a chance at love given the happenstance of their hasty marriage?

Add to Goodreads.









I'm so excited about this book! When Elizabeth is forced to marry Mr. Darcy is one of my favorite scenarios! And it looks like it's a favorite of Ms. James, too, as you'll soon see:


Marriage Lessons for Lizzy

When you think about it, it’s a funny thing that Jane Austen wrote so effectively about marriage, having never been married herself. I guess that you don’t need to be a soldier to write about a war and the keen observation and humour that she brought to every aspect of her work – she also focussed on the whole business of matrimony. Pride and Prejudice itself contains a number of brilliantly drawn portraits of marriage – some of them more inspirational than others. The union of Mr and Mrs Bennet is clearly unsatisfactory to all concerned, while that of Mr and Mrs Gardiner appears to be a paradigm case of love and mutual respect.

I have a soft spot for Pride and Prejudice variations in which Lizzy and Darcy are forced by circumstance to marry sooner than they do in cannon. Changing the chronology in that way asks the reader to consider how the characters may build a marriage that is tolerable to both of them on shaky foundations when there are still unresolved conflicts bubbling away under the surface. They are effectively locked into a rigid relationship without first being able to know one another. An “early” marriage also gives a flavour of the times. This was an era in which marriages could be brokered very quickly between families. It was also an era when the threat of scandal might necessitate a marriage in dazzlingly short order, whatever the truth of the matter may be.

That is what happens to Lizzy in Suddenly Mrs Darcy and I have tried to focus on how she would have coped; how the playfulness and intelligence of her personality would have reasserted itself. With that in mind, I have deliberately given her a couple of new examples of marriage within the narrative. The Lizzy of Suddenly Mrs Darcy has within her contemplation and happy marriage of some length and a marriage which has been overshadowed by unhappiness and scandal to the detriment of all. Let us hope that she will heed their lessons in her matrimonial travels with Mr Darcy!


Author Bio:

Jenetta James is a lawyer, writer, mother and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practises full time as a barrister. Over the years she has lived in France, Hungary and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing and playing with Lego. Suddenly Mrs Darcy is her first novel.


Connect with Jenetta James




Blog Tour Schedule


4/20:Excerpt & Giveaway at The Calico Critic 
4/21: Review at Songs and Stories 
4/22:  Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 
4/23: Guest Post & Giveaway at So Little Time… 
4/24: Review at Diary of an Eccentric
4/25: Excerpt & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 
4/26: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm
4/27: Guest Post & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews 
4/28: Guest Post at Songs and Stories 
4/29: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars 
5/1: Review at Margie's Must Reads
5/2: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged 
5/3: Excerpt & Giveaway at Laughing with Lizzie 


* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

Giveaway time! Meryton Press is giving away ONE paperback of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy to ONE lucky winner! This giveaway is open Internationally! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment!

Thank you, Jenetta James and Meryton Press

  • One person will win a paperback of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy.
  • Open Internationally.
  • Last day to enter: April 30, 2015


Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please, leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above). If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ April 22, 2015


What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions? 


  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you'll be reading next?


What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell. I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but it's really cute, and I think I'm going to like it! :) 






What did I recently finish reading? I finished two books this week! First, I finished reading Champion: A Legend Novel  by Marie Lu. Fantastic book! Oh, how I loved this series!! It was so good.  








Next, I read Stronger Even Than Pride by Gail McEwen. This Pride and Prejudice variation was really good! I was afraid it was going to be too angst for me, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it was full of angst, but I loved it. Maybe I'm getting used to it, or Gail is just that good at writing! ;) 




What do I think I'll be reading next? Again, I'm not sure. I'm just going to see what I feel like reading. I'll let you know next week! 

FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

So...what are you reading? 

Monday, April 20, 2015

All the Rage by Courtney Summers ~ My Review

All the Rage by Courtney Summers 

Publication Date: April 14th 2015 
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin 
Pages: 321 
Received: E-copy from publisher via NetGalley 
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars








All the Rage was not the book for me. I’ve read a few books like this and enjoyed them, but this one was just too realistic for me. I felt a lot of emotions reading this story; nervous, sad, confused, but I couldn’t stop reading it. I had to find out what happens and hoped for the best. While some things were resolved, others were not. 

We see the story from Romy’s point-of-view, and she is a mess. Before the story opens, she accused a boy of raping her, which nobody believes. Now she is bullied at school. She’s confused, angry and depressed: all reasonable emotions considering what's she's going through. And because the story is told from Romy’s POV it is confusing and messed up as she is; you don’t know exactly what’s happening because she doesn’t. 

I have a huge question about why isn’t Romy getting any counseling? If she cries rape and that proves to be false, wouldn’t that be a red flag that maybe something's off with Romy? And if she did get raped then she definitely needs help. Either way, she would need help.

If you like stories about bullying, teen/date rape, and a missing girl, then All the Rage is the book for you, but it wasn't for me. Because real life can be hard enough, I want to read something with a better resolve.


FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC e-copy of the story from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads


FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!





Connect with Courtney Summers



Any thoughts? 

Friday, April 17, 2015

Giveaway Winner!

Hey Everyone! It was a pleasure to be part of A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour! Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews, Meryton Press and Jan Hahn for including me in the fun!  




Without further ado, Rafflecopter has picked a winner!

Congratulations to:

Maria!

You've won an e-copy of A Peculiar Conneciton!





I have emailed the winner. (Winners have 72 hours to respond to this post or an email, or a new winner will be picked. Thank you.)


Thanks to all who entered and took the time to comment! I appreciate all of you! :)

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ April 15th, 2015


What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions?


  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you'll be reading next?

What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading Champion: A Legend Novel by Marie Lu. It's so good! All I want to do is read! Love this series! 









What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading Prodigy: A Legend Novel by Marie Lu.  I wasn't as sucked into this book as I am into Champion, but it's still very good.  





What do I think I'll be reading next? I'm not sure... maybe some JAFF? I'm hitting the LA Festival of Books this weekend, and Meryton Press will have a booth there! Woot! I'm sure my TBR pile will grow! hehe! ;)



FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


So...what are you reading?

Monday, April 13, 2015

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton ~ My Review


Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton 

Publication Date: February 10th, 2015 
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 
Pages: 448 
Received: E-copy from Random House Children’s via NetGalley 
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book Blurb:

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’. 

Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.


I really enjoyed Seeker! This Sci-Fi/Fantasy is the first book of at least two in the series. There is a lot going on in this first book. The story is told from the POV of four different people, Quin, Shinobu, John, and Maud, each with a back story, leading to an explosive ending! 

Quin, Shinobu, and John are training to be Seekers. Seekers are supposed to seek the truth, fight against evil. It's an honor that is passed down through generations. But Quin’s father, a Seeker himself, has become nothing more than an assassin.


Maud is a Young Dread. Dreads are a stealth like people, quick and quiet. They have the knowledge to stretch their lives out, making them much older than they appear. They are there to watch the Seekers. They are not to interfere with them, but there is a corruption among them too. 


Quin can’t wait to become a Seeker! She’s been training for this her whole life. When her training is complete, and she is finally a Seeker, she learns what she thinks is a noble cause is something entirely different. When the chance to escape presents itself, Quin and Shinobu take it and head to Hong Kong. Injured during the escape, a Healer not only heals Quin's body, but also helps her forget her past. Until her past catches up with her, and she is forced to remember what she is…a Seeker. 


Arwen Elys Dayton paints a vivid picture of castle ruins in Scotland, busy Hong Kong streets and seedy opium dens, and the skyline of London. With a medieval feel in Scotland to a modern Hong Kong and London, Seeker has a mixture of textures throughout it.  


I have to say, all the back stories of the four main characters did slow Seeker down a bit, but I do feel it was necessary. And it all comes together to make a spectacular ending and a lead into the next book, Traveler, which I for one can’t wait to read! 



FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC e-copy of the story from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads


FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide I will receive a small commission. Thanks!




Connect with Arwen Elys Dayton




I hear this is going to be made into a movie. I think it would be good! 

Any thoughts? 

Thursday, April 9, 2015

A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour & Giveaway!

Hey Everyone! I'm excited to be part of the A Peculiar Connection Blog Tour! At this stop in the tour, Jan Hahn has an intriguing excerpt for you to read from her new book, A Peculiar Connection. And Meryton Press is giving away an e-copy of the book to one lucky winner! Woot! You'll find the information for the giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews for organizing this blog tour!  



Book Blurb:
Will a mysterious note from the past doom the love of Jane Austen’s most beloved couple?

A Peculiar Connection begins near the close of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Bent on preventing the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh declares that any union between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth would be “a sin against Heaven itself!”  Her shocking revelation, along with a cryptic message written over twenty years earlier, thrusts the couple into a whirlwind of heartbreak and disbelief.

Could a deserted mansion in Derbyshire or a small church hidden in the wood hold the key to solving the puzzle?  And why is Elizabeth inexplicably drawn to the portrait of three young boys in Pemberley’s gallery?  


Determined to confirm or refute Lady Catherine’s accusation, Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to embark upon a twisted trail into bygone days and family secrets.  All the while, they must endure the exquisite torture of denying the indisputable desire that still hovers between them. 



Excerpt:


From Chapter SixDarcy and Elizabeth attempt to keep the circumstances of her birth secret.  The following scene takes place at Pemberley late at night between Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam with Elizabeth listening.

Descending the stairs, I rounded the corner toward the drawing room when I saw lights issuing from within and heard the sound of men’s voices.  I shrank back into the shadows and blew out my candle.  Sufficient illumination remained in the hall sconces to show the way.  I had tiptoed lightly, my slippers making little sound on the walnut floor.  I turned to retrace my steps, but then I realized the argument between the men would drown out any muffled sounds I might make.

“But you do not care for dancing, Darcy.  Thus, I see no valid reason why I should not have secured Miss Bennet’s hand for the first two dances.”

“She is pretty enough.  Plenty of men will seek her favour.  You need not claim her attentions for the entire first hour.”

“But she knows no one in Derbyshire.  I fail to see why my invitation rouses your temper.”

“Do not concern yourself with my temper; it is within check.  And you are mistaken.  Several neighbours have called since her arrival, and we have returned the visits.  Elizabeth is acquainted with enough local gentlemen to attract an adequate number of partners.”

“Then why in heaven’s name are you in such a humour?  I have not seen you drink this amount since we left Rosings last Easter.  What is wrong with you, man?”

I could not hear an answer and quickly scurried across the hall until I stood right outside the door.  I wished to hear Mr. Darcy’s words more than I feared detection.

“The whole affair is troublesome,” he said, his voice sounding defeated.  “Elizabeth’s connection with my family is obscure, to say the least.  I would not draw undue attention upon her or raise questions that might cause talk.”

“I do not understand your reasoning.”

He sighed deeply.  “I wonder just what my neighbours think of her.  I cannot recall when the Whitbys moved here.  Surely, there are others among my friends whose families lived here when it all happened.”

“When what happened?  Out with it, Darce. Of what do you speak?”

“What?”  Mr. Darcy sounded as though he had been awakened from a private reverie and somehow been caught revealing more than he should.

“You said you wondered how many of your neighbours lived here ‘when it all happened.’  I do not understand to what you refer. Is Miss Bennet’s birth the result of some sort of scandal?”

“Of course not, Fitzwilliam!”  

Silence followed. I could hear my heart beating, and I began to tremble, holding my breath. I heard someone begin to pace back and forth within the room.  

“It is just that her parents were killed in an unfortunate accident right after her birth, and she was left an orphan.  To have been taken in by a family other than her own kindred may give rise to gossip, and I will not have talk about her!” His voice grew insistent.  “Do you hear me?  I will not tolerate it!”

I released my breath, reassured that Mr. Darcy had covered his blunder.


Author Bio:

After leaving a long career in the world of business, Jan Hahn began writing stories based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 2002.  Her first novel, An Arranged Marriage, was published in 2011 by Meryton Press and won Best Indie Novel from Austen Prose that year.  Her second novel, The Journey, was selected by Austen Prose as one of the Top Five Austen Inspired Historical Novels of 2012, and it won the Favorite Pride and Prejudice Variation/Alternate Path award from Austenesque.    In 2014, Austen Prose listed Ms. Hahn’s third novel, The Secret Betrothal, among the Best Austenesque Historical Novels. She is a member of JASNA and lives in Texas.


Connect with Jan Hahn 



Buy: Amazon • B&N
Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a book from the link provide I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


Blog Tour Schedule



3/30: Review at Savvy Verse and Wit
3/31: Excerpt at Songs and Stories 
4/1: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 
4:2: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm
4/3: Author Interview at  The Little Munchkin Reader 
4/4: Review at Margie's Must Reads
4/5: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 
4/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged 
4/8: Excerpt at Laughing with Lizzie 
4/9: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…
4/10: Review at Diary of an Eccentric
4/12: Review at The Delighted Reader 
4/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews 
4/14: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm
4/15: Review at Warmisunqu's Austen


*** Giveaway***

It's giveaway time!! Meryton Press is giving away ONE e-copy of A Peculiar Connection to ONE lucky winner! This giveaway is open Internationally! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment! 

Thank you, Jan Hahn and Meryton Press

  • One person will win an e-copy of A Peculiar Connection (Kindle or Nook).
  • Open Internationally.
  • Last day to enter: April 16, 2015.

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please, leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above). If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks!

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