25 Days 'Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander

Title: 25 Days ‘til Christmas

Author: Poppy Alexander

Publisher: William Morrow 2019

Genre: Holiday Fiction

Pages: 348

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif - December

Kate Potter used to love Christmas. A few years ago, she would have been wrapping her presents in September and baking mince pies on Halloween, counting down the days and hours to Christmas. But that was before Kate’s husband left for the army and never came home. Now she can hardly stand December at all.

Kate can’t deny she’s lonely, yet she doesn’t think she’s ready for romance. She knows that her son, Jack, needs a Christmas to remember—just like Kate needs a miracle to help her finally move forward with her life. So she’s decided if there isn’t a miracle on its way, she’ll just have to make her own.

As Kate’s advent countdown to the best Christmas ever begins, she soon realizes that even with the best laid plans, you can’t plan for the unexpected. For when the path of the loneliest woman in town crosses with that of the loneliest man, these two destined hearts might find a way to save the holiday for both of them.

I picked this one up as a fun holiday read, but it ended up being a lot more somber than I was expecting. Ultimately, I really enjoyed this story of two lost souls finding one another during the Christmas season. Kate annoyed me at times with her unwillingness to accept help and yet I found her very realistic. Daniel is a great character and I kind of wish we had spent a bit more time with him throughout the story. Be warned that there are some heavy themes in this story (death, suicide, poverty, sexual harassment) but they were all handled in a very realistic portrayal of life.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Christmas Bride by Hope Ramsay

Title: A Christmas Bride (Chapel of Love #1)

Author: Hope Ramsay

Publisher: Grand Central 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 295

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif - Seasons; Literary Escapes - Virginia

'Tis the season in Shenandoah Falls and the first time Willow Peterson has been home in years. But she's determined to fulfill the wishes of her recently deceased best friend and restore Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory-all in time to host the perfect holiday wedding. She just has to get the owner of the historic inn to hire her. Unfortunately, that means dealing with Scrooge himself...

After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter. After a simple kiss under the mistletoe turns into something more, David is hoping he can turn the magic of the holiday season into the love of a lifetime.

Such a cute Christmas story. I loved following David and Willow’s story through conflict to love. Light and fluffy is just want I want to read during the holiday season. I loved the side characters, especially Poppy and Walter, but Natalie might have been the best. I loved the town of Shenandoah Falls. I’ll be continuing to read this series soon.

Chapel of Love:

#1 A Christmas Bride
#2 A Small-Town Bride
#3 Here Comes the Bride
#4 The Bride Next Door

Next up on the TBR pile:

Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine

Title: Sword and Pen (Great Library #5)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Berkley 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Steampunk

The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen. But with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, its future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never before, to forge a new future for the Great Library...or see everything it stood for crumble.

And we finally reach the end of The Great Library saga! It was a crazy whirlwind of action and adventure. I loved every page of it. Every chapter was narrated from a different character helping the reader see multiple areas of Alexandria throughout the timelime of the book. I loved getting more from Morgan and Khalila. Such great characters! Over the course of the series, each of the main characters have grown so much. I feel like we have seen them evolve to embrace their individual identities. I didn’t quite want the series to end, but it was nice to get a proper conclusion.

The Great Library

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry

Title: The Girl in Red

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Berkley 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 292

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif - Color; Horror

It's not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn't look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there's something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.

Red doesn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods....

I picked this one up at the suggestion of the Reading Glasses podcast and sped through it on edge the entire time. I love dark fairy tale-esque stories and this one really packed on the dark. Red is such a compelling character. The world building is complex and yet relatable. Often I am not a fan when a character and/or author mentions something, but doesn’t explain, but clearly is leaving it until later in the book. This story did that a few times and yet I wasn’t annoyed. Perhaps because I really enjoyed Red’s voice I couldn’t wait for her to reveal the entire story of how she got to the current point in her journey. I loved the play on the Red Riding Hood story complete with “wolf.” And then we get the final horrifying twist to the story. I was here for every single reveal. So good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Title: The Woman in Cabin 10

Author: Ruth Ware

Publisher: Scout Press 2016

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 340

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Monthly Motif - August

In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…

Argh! A complete and utter fail for me. Right from the beginning, I was very wary of Lo and her entire story. She wasn’t an interesting or likable character what so ever. And then the cruise started and I never found her more likable as a character. But my biggest problem was all the twists and turns. They were completely unbelievable and dumb. I did not like this one at all. Waste of my time.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes

Title: The Peacock Emporium

Author: Jojo Moyes

Publisher: Penguin Books 2004

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 389

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Monthly Motif - Through the Years;

In the sixties, Athene Forster was the most glamorous girl of her generation. Nicknamed the Last Deb, she was also beautiful, spoiled, and out of control. When she agreed to marry the gorgeous young heir Douglas Fairley-Hulme, her parents breathed a sigh of relief. But within two years, rumors had begun to circulate about Athene's affair with a young salesman.

Thirty-five years later, Suzanna Peacock is struggling with her notorious mother's legacy. The only place Suzanna finds comfort is in The Peacock Emporium, the beautiful coffee bar and shop she opens that soon enchants her little town. There she makes perhaps the first real friends of her life, including Alejandro, a male midwife, escaping his own ghosts in Argentina.

The specter of her mother still haunts Suzanna. But only by confronting both her family and her innermost self will she finally reckon with the past--and discover that the key to her history, and her happiness, may have been in front of her all along.

This was one big confusing bore. There were too many time periods, jumping back and forth, but also spending too much time in one period. I wasn’t super engaged in the storyline. And was super confused for the longest time about the meaning of the first chapter and then the first section. I figured it out by the end, but was utterly bored with the story. On the other side, the characters were self-absorbed and whiny. I just couldn’t find myself liking any of them at all. I thought this was a new book by Jojo Moyes, but it turns out it was published in 2004 in the UK. It’s come to the US only this year.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey

Title: Taste of Marrow (River of Teeth #2)

Author: Sarah Gailey

Publisher: Tor 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Monthly Motif - Diversify Your Reading; Literary Escapes - Louisiana

A few months ago, Winslow Houndstooth put together the damnedest crew of outlaws, assassins, cons, and saboteurs on either side of the Harriet for a history-changing caper. Together they conspired to blow the dam that choked the Mississippi and funnel the hordes of feral hippos contained within downriver, to finally give America back its greatest waterway.

Songs are sung of their exploits, many with a haunting refrain: "And not a soul escaped alive."

In the aftermath of the Harriet catastrophe, that crew has scattered to the winds. Some hunt the missing lovers they refuse to believe have died. Others band together to protect a precious infant and a peaceful future. All of them struggle with who they've become after a long life of theft, murder, deception, and general disinterest in the strictures of the law.

I finally picked up the continuation of the story started in River of Teeth and I really enjoyed it. I loved Gailey’s reimagining of Louisiana complete with domesticated and feral hippos. I loved reading about the parallel journeys of Houndstooth, Archie, Adelia, and Hero. Thankfully we also get many appearances from their hippo companions and a reappearance of some interesting side characters. Definitely a good little read!

River of Teeth

#1 River of Teeth
#2 Taste of Marrow
#3 ???

Next up on the TBR pile:

Prince Charming (Royals) by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Prince Charming (Royals #1)

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: 2018

Genre: YA

Pages: 297

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Monthly Motif - One Sitting Reads; Romance

Meet Daisy Winters. She's an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair, a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who's nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince's roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown--and the intriguing Miles--might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

This novel was originally published as Royals, which is the copy I borrowed from the library. I went into this book with extremely low expectations. It’s just that I don’t usually read contemporary romance and definitely not Young Adult contemporary romance. But apparently, I’ve been on a streak lately. This story ended up being a delight romp through the royals of Scotland from the perspective an average American. I loved Daisy from page 1 and kept rooting for her throughout the story. I would have liked to have seen a bit more between Daisy and and Ellie, but did enjoy her interactions with all of the Royal Wreckers. Light and fun. Just what I needed. And I put the second book, Her Royal Highness, on hold at the library.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo and Sara Kipin

Title: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Imprint 2017

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 290

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Women Authors; Monthly Motif - One Sitting Reads

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, the tales in The Language of Thorns will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, each of them lavishly illustrated and culminating in stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

I definitely enjoyed this collection of fairy tales. My favorite was the Hansel and Gretel retelling involving gingerbread golems. Really fell into the imagery in that story. The other five stories were just as good. Really loved this collection! Recommendation of any one who loves fairy tale retellings.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tulle Death Do Us Part by Annette Blair

Title: Tulle Death Do Us Part (Vintage Magic Mystery #6)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Monthly Motif - Mystery; Cloak and Dagger

Maddie’s love of classic fashion has made her Vintage Magic boutique a success—even if the visions she experiences when touching certain items often lead her into trouble. Decades ago, at a Mystic Country Club costume ball, a secret scavenger hunt ended in an unexplained death, hastily concealed.

Now, Maddie's invited to participate in a similar anniversary event: but one touch of the vintage petticoat used to hide evidence of the original crime hurtles Maddie into a scavenger hunt of her own. She must find missing petticoat pieces and re-stitch the clues it reveals...to expose a killer!

The last in Madeira Cutler’s story of sleuthing and fumbling at romance. Thankfully the series ended the way that I hoped it would. I was very concerned at the end of the last book, and thought about not finishing the series. But I persevered and am glad to see that this volume pulled out a good romance and a good mystery. I loved the Fiftieth Jubilee scavenger hunt. I only wish that the series had a bit more of a definite ending.

Vintage Magic Mystery:

Next up on the TBR pile:

A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa

Title: A River in Darkness: One Man’s Escape From North Korea

Author: Masaji Ishikawa

Publisher: Amazon Crossing 2018

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 172

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif - Governments; Modern Mrs. Darcy - Outside of My Genre Comfort Zone; Alphabet Soup - I

Half-Korean, half-Japanese, Masaji Ishikawa has spent his whole life feeling like a man without a country. This feeling only deepened when his family moved from Japan to North Korea when Ishikawa was just thirteen years old, and unwittingly became members of the lowest social caste. His father, himself a Korean national, was lured to the new Communist country by promises of abundant work, education for his children, and a higher station in society. But the reality of their new life was far from utopian.

In this memoir translated from the original Japanese, Ishikawa candidly recounts his tumultuous upbringing and the brutal thirty-six years he spent living under a crushing totalitarian regime, as well as the challenges he faced repatriating to Japan after barely escaping North Korea with his life. A River in Darkness is not only a shocking portrait of life inside the country but a testament to the dignity—and indomitable nature—of the human spirit.

Very disappointed in this book. It was our Girly Book Club selection for March. I wasn’t expecting a fun and light read, but was really not in the mood for a super dark and depressing memoir. I struggled to find much light in the book. And most of the information about conditions in North Korea I have read about through news investigations. I felt very sorry for what the author went through to strived and ultimately get out of the situation, but I didn’t couldn’t connect to any in the book. And the writing style really bugged me. I understand that this one has been translated, but I just couldn’t move beyond the simplistic writing. I compare a book like this to Elie Wiesel’s work and really found it lacking. Definitely not for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang

Title: A Beautiful Poison

Author: Lydia Kang

Publisher: Lake Union 2017

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Motif - Cover Love; Historical Fiction

Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene questions if the flu is really to blame. All appear to have been poisoned—and every death was accompanied by a mysterious note.

Desperate for answers and dreading her own engagement to a wealthy gentleman, Allene returns to her passion for scientific discovery and recruits her long-lost friends, Jasper and Birdie, for help. The investigation brings her closer to Jasper, an apprentice medical examiner at Bellevue Hospital who still holds her heart, and offers the delicate Birdie a last-ditch chance to find a safe haven before her fragile health fails.

As more of their friends and family die, alliances shift, lives become entangled, and the three begin to suspect everyone—even each other. As they race to find the culprit, Allene, Birdie, and Jasper must once again trust each other, before one of them becomes the next victim.

A promising idea for a book: focusing on poison as murder weapon during WWI and the Spanish Flu. I was intrigued and very excited to read this one. Unfortunately the book fell very flat for me. I didn’t like a single character. They were all vain and selfish. Just couldn’t get behind all of those… But the big problem I had was the twist ending. After finding out who the murder was, I was very confused. The motivations of the murderer just didn’t make any sense, at least how the author portrayed the character and the reasoning for the murders. Nope. I was really disappointed.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Title: Guidebook to Murder (Tourist Trap Mystery #1)

Author: Lynn Cahoon

Publisher: Kensington 2014

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 208

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Monthly Motif - New to Me Author; Cloak and Dagger

In the gentle coastal town of South Cove, California, all Jill Gardner wants is to keep her store--Coffee, Books, and More--open and running. So why is she caught up in the business of murder?

When Jill's elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily's gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill--along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit--especially if it gets her closer to South Cove's finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she's on the case--and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . .

I picked this volume up on a whim at the library and I’m so glad I did. This is a very cute cozy mystery full of red herrings, twists, secrets, and ultimately a good conclusion. Jill is a great main character and amateur detective. And South Cove is a great little setting for murder. I can just see the main street full of old cottages serving as business locales. And all the great random side characters. I’ll definitely keep reading this series.

Tourist Trap Mystery:

#1 Guidebook to Murder
#2 Mission to Murder
#3 If the Shoe Kills
#3.25 Rockets’ Dead Glare
#4 Dressed to Kill
#5 Killer Run
#6 Murder on Wheels
#7 Tea Cups and Carnage
#8 Hospitality and Homicide
#9 Killer Party
#9.5 A Deadly Brew
#9.75 Santa Puppy
#10 Corned Beef and Casulties
#10.5 Mother’s Day Mayhem

Next up on the TBR pile:

RC 2019: Monthly Motif

From Girl XOXO:

Welcome to the 2019 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge! This challenge runs from JANUARY 1, 2019 – DECEMBER 31, 2019 ~ For this challenge, each month of the year is assigned a motif or theme. Your task is to read one book per month that fits in with the assigned motifs…

2019 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

JANUARY – New to You Author

Read a book by an author whose writing you’ve never read before.

FEBRUARY – Cover Love

Yes. We’re giving you permission to judge a book by its cover and read a book with a cover that really caught your eye.

MARCH – Royalty, Kingdoms, Empires, Governments

Read a book in which the character is involved in a ruling or governing body in some way.

APRIL – Crack the Case

Read a mystery, detective story, true crime, cozy mystery, or book involving a puzzle to solve.

MAY – One Sitting Reads

Read something that is short enough you could get through it in one sitting- try a graphic novel, comic book, short story, essay, or short collection of poetry.

JUNE – Diversify Your Reading

Read a book with a character (or written by an author) of a race, religion, or sexual orientation other than your own or read about a culture you want to learn more about.

JULY – Through The Years

Read a book involving time travel, a book with a ‘time’ setting such as The Great Gatsby (20s), read a historical fiction/nonfiction, or choose a book published in your birth year.

AUGUST – Mode of Transportation

Read a book where the mode of transportation plays a role in the story (ex. Murder on the Orient Express or The Boys in the Boat)

SEPTEMBER – Animal, Number, Color, Name

One of those things needs to be in the title of the book you choose (ex. Water for Elephants, Red Queen, Fahrenheit 451, Rebecca, Harry Potter)

OCTOBER – Tricks and Trades

Read a book set in a theater, an amusement park, a circus, or a book involving magic, illusions, or characters with special powers.

NOVEMBER – Seasons, Elements, and Weather

Embrace a winter wonderland setting, pick a beach read, or read about a natural disaster. As long as a season, element, or the weather plays a key role in the story or is part of the title, it counts. (ex. Little Fires Everywhere, The Snow Child, On The Island)

DECEMBER – Last Chance

Finally read that one book that you’ve been meaning to get to all year long.

The Nuts and Bolts – IMPORTANT!

Below is a participation linky (the blue button.) Please use it to sign up and/or link up to your Monthly Motif Introduction blog post. If you don’t write a blog, link up to your Goodreads profile page, your Instagram, etc.

We’d love for you to post to social media (if you use it) using the hashtag #monthlymotifgxo.

Just before the first of each month we’ll be checking in with you and putting up a new linky for you to link your reviews for that month to. You will have until the 10th of the next month to add your link. After that the linky will be closed. You can still link up after that, you’ll just need to message me.

You can find our latest Monthly Motif post in the blog sidebar.

Thanks for joining and have fun!

I haven’t done this challenge in a few years, I’m in!

Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Evernight (Darkest London #5)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2014

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 385

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W47; Monthly Motif - December That's a Wrap

Once the night comes . . . Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him-until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.
Love must cast aside the shadows Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable-and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.

After two good, but not great volumes, Callihan redeems herself with this awesome engaging book from the Darkest London series. Immediately I fell in love with Will and Holly. Of course, I knew that they would end up together at the end, but I loved their journey. I loved watching the characters grow and open up. I loved their little fights and arguments. I loved the background story and additions to the world of the series. Finally we get to hear more and the fae! We even get a few appearances from previous characters. Thank you Jack Talent! I was engrossed in this novel from page one and couldn't put it down until the end. Can't wait until book six is released next year. I'm betting it will be about Sin and the mysterious lady at the party...

Darkest London

Dune by Frank Herbert

Title: Dune

Author: Frank Herbert

Publisher: Chilton Books 1965

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 894

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: NPR Scifi and Fantasy; NPR Teen; Ebook; New Author; Monthly Motif - Award Winner

Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family--and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what it undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.

J has been trying to get me to read Dune for ages (at least 2 years). I finally did it and I'm pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoyed another classical science fiction book. Many complain that the book throws the reader into a complicated world with its own language. That's true, but I had not problem parsing out the meaning of the words or figuring out the various houses and motivations. As the book progresses, Herbert touches on a variety of topics including politics imperialism, race, and religion. I loved the layers. On the surface you get a story about a boy/man avenging his family name. But then we start to see that this isn't just Paul's story. Instead, it's a story of a universe; a variety of people all striving to survive and thrive under a multitude of restrictions. I really got into the story and couldn't wait to read what happened to all the great houses and players. Definitely a good read.

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan

Title: Moonglow (Darkest London #2)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 382

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Monthly Motif - Alternate Reality

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . . Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . . Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

I thought I really enjoyed the first volume in this series, Firelight. How is it that the second volume is even better? I immediately fell for Daisy and Ian. I was rooting for them the entire time. The complications were riveting. The world expansion was a nice surprise. As was the inclusion of Miranda, Archer, Poppy, and Winston. I was lost in this book until the very end. I could not put it down! Definitely a winner! I can't wait to read the third volume. I hope we get to see more of Poppy and Winston and special appearances by all the already know characters and a few shadowy figures. I want more!

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Fables: Snow White

Title: Fables 19: Snow White

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2013

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 168

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books -- W28; Mount TBR; Monthly Motif -- July

With Castle Dark now back in the hands of the Fables, mysteries both young and old begin to challenge the residents of Fabletown. Bigsby and Stinky set off from Fabletown in Rose Red's blood-fueled sports car to track down the two abducted cubs. Unfortunately for Snow White, besides suffering the trauma of having two of her cubs go missing, a long forgotten secret uncovered in Castle Dark threatens to sabatoge her and Bigsby's marriage.

While I loved the second half of this volume, I just wasn't as excited at the first part concerning Bufkin's adventures. I skimmed through the all of Bufkin's stories to get to Snow White. I needed to see how the search for the kids was progressing. I wanted to see if they had made any progress on turning Castle Dark into Fabletown. And I wanted to see how much the new residences had revealed about themselves. I was not disappointed in those respects. I loved and was heartbroken by Snow and Bigby's story. Ugh! Now I have to wait until Vol. 20 is released to see if there is any happy resolution. We also get a bombshell dropped on the last page. Can't wait to find out more. Overall, I still really enjoy this series, I just want to stick to the main storyline. One final thought: I want to know more about the relationship between the Blue Fairy and the Lady of the Lake...

Fables:

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Title: Silent in the Grave (Lady Julia Grey #1)

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Mira 2006

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 511

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Pile; Monthly Motif -- March; 52 Books -- W27; New Author; Lucky 14 -- Visit the Country

"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."
These ominous words are the last threat that Sir Edward Grey receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, he collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that her husband was murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers damning evidence for herself, and realizes the truth.
Determined to bring the murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

I don't know why it took me this long to finally start this series. It was an absolute delight. Right away I was taken in with the mystery of Lady Julia and her husband's death. Then we get the entrance of Nicholas Brisbane and a whole host of interesting side characters. I love that the reader is right along with Lady Julia in finding the truth in the case. She holds nothing back from the reader even if she does keep things from other characters. I loved how the truth eventually came out and the story ends. Or at least this chapter of Lady Julia's life is ended. I can't wait to read the next story.

Lady Julia Grey

#1 Silent in the Grave
#2 Silent in the Sanctuary
#3 Silent on the Moor
#3.5 Midsummer Night
#4 Dark Road to Darjeeling
#5 The Dark Enquiry
#5.5 Silent Night
#5.6 Twelfth Night
#5.7 Bonfire Night

Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk

Title: Stranger Than Fiction

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Publisher: Anchor 2005

Genre: Nonfiction life stories

Pages: 256

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well-Rounded Reader -- Short Stories; TBR Pile; Monthly Motif -- April; New Author

Chuck Palahniuk’s world has always been, well, different from yours and mine. In his first collection of nonfiction, Chuck Palahniuk brings us into this world, and gives us a glimpse of what inspires his fiction.At the Rock Creek Lodge Testicle Festival in Missoula, Montana, average people perform public sex acts on an outdoor stage. In a mansion once occupied by The Rolling Stones, Marilyn Manson reads his own Tarot cards and talks sweetly to his beautiful actress girlfriend. Across the country, men build their own full-size castles and rocketships that will send them into space. Palahniuk himself experiments with steroids, works on an assembly line by day and as a hospice volunteer by night, and experiences the brutal murder of his father by a white supremacist. With this new direction, Chuck Palahniuk has proven he can do anything.

I really wanted to like this collection, but I found that I just couldn't. The stories all seemed disjointed and abrupt. I couldn't really sink my teeth into any of them. By the time I would start, the story would be over. Plus, some the material was really hard to connect to. Just not a fan...