Impulse by Candace Camp

Title: Impulse

Author: Candace Camp

Publisher: HQN 1997

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 382

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors; 52 Books - W7

Torn from the arms of the woman he loved and cast into the night by her highborn family, Cam Monroe vowed revenge on those who had wronged him.
Fifteen years later, after amassing a small fortune of his own, Cam returns to England with but one ambition. Now the power is his, power to ruin the Stanhope family if they refuse his demands. And what he demands is simple: that Angela Stanhope be his wife.
Then the mysterious "accidents" begin. Are the Stanhopes trying once again to remove him from their lives? Or is it someone from Cam's past, someone desperate enough to kill to prevent him from uncovering a shocking lie?

A nice historical romance to entertain me for an afternoon's reading. I enjoyed the romance between Cam and Angela. They were both feisty characters. My disappointment laid in the question and reveal of Cam's paternity. I was not impressed by the twist. Very contrived. Oh well. That's what happens.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

Title: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Historical Fiction 2008

Pages: 433

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors; 52 Books - W6

Determined to secure another London season without assistance from her new brother-in-law, Mary Alsworthy accepts a secret assignment from Lord Vaughn on behalf of the Pink Carnation. She must infiltrate the ranks of the dreaded French spy, the Black Tulip, before he and his master can stage their planned invasion of England. Every spy has a weakness and for the Black Tulip that weakness is beautiful black-haired women, his petals of the Tulip. A natural at the art of seduction, Mary easily catches the attention of the French spy, but Lord Vaughn never anticipated that his own heart would be caught as well. Fighting their growing attraction, impediments from their past, and, of course, the French, Mary and Vaughn find themselves lost in a treacherous garden of lies.
And as our modern-day heroine, Eloise Kelly, digs deeper into England's Napoleonic-era espionage, she becomes even more entwined with Colin Selwick, the descendant of her spy subjects.

Another satisfying volume in this series. I really can't see why I held off for so long. This is a great historical romance series. They may not have been my absolute favorite couple so far (hello Miles and Hen!), but I really did enjoy Mary and Vaughn. Those two were definitely suited to each other. I love that Willig didn't have a delicate young debutante paired with the cynical Vaughn. That would have been too much! Thankfully Mary is fairly cynical in her own way. They were a nice match. And we get so much more information about the Black Tulip. I'll admit to being surprised by the big reveal. Did not guess that at all! I think that makes it a good plotline. Can't wait to read the next one!

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Title: Station Eleven

Author: Emily St. John Mandel

Publisher: Knopf Books 2014

Genre: Fantasy -- post-apocalypse

Pages: 333

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Popsugar - Dystopian Novel (although I would classify as post-apocalyptic...); Women Authors

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.
Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

I've heard such great things about this book. Finally picked it up at the library as one of my random choices for February. I sped through this one, reading it in two days while home sick. At first, I felt like Mandel was telling too many unrelated stories, but quickly it became apparent that all these stories were connected. We just had to dig into these characters to see the connections. Pretty soon, I was deep into their characters and their survival (or non-survival as the case may be). I was fascinated by the recurring appearance of water and its importance to the character. I loved the Shakespeare connection. While the plot focuses on survival in a post-apocalyptic world, I felt like the book was really focused on the human condition. We dug deep into these characters, finding out their motivations, secrets, and dreams. I loved it! Kirsten was such a great main character. I wanted to spend so much more time with her. Highly recommend.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Title: The Kitchen House

Author: Kathleen Grissom

Publisher: Touchstone 2010

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 368

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Popsugar -- Finish in a day; Women Authors

Orphaned during her passage from Ireland, young, white Lavinia arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed, as an indentured servant, under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, and serve food, while guided by the quiet strength and love of her new family.
In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master’s opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves.
Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Grissom’s debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds.

Our book club selection for February. I'll admit that the first two chapters didn't really hook me, but I kept on reading. And the book and characters got much more interesting. The plotline was fairly predictable. I could ignore the predictable based on the strength of the characters. I was drawn into Belle and Lavinia and Miss Martha and Jamie and Fanny and Mama. I was rooting for all of them but knew this wasn't going to be the happily ever after kind of story. The ending seemed like the happiest one that could happen given the storyline. I appreciate that Grissom didn't go for a fairytale ending. In the end, I very much enjoyed this book. Now I have to wait until late February for book club to discuss.

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Title: What Happens in London (Bevelstoke #2)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 372

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Author; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W30

When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.
Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . . .

I was with this book all the way up to the last 30 pages. And then it just went off the rails for me. We get this story of two interesting characters who eventually fall in love. I loved it! However, the ending involves a kidnapping, an extortion plot, a sudden reversal of character, and a hasty gimicky marriage proposal. No thank you. I could have done without those plot turns. What's so bad with having a nice romance novel focused on characters instead of a cliched plot devices? My advice, read the novel until they arrive at the ball. Then, just quit reading. It's a much better story that way.

Bevelstoke

#1 The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever
#2 What Happens in London
#3 Ten Things I Love About You

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight (Darkest London #1)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 372

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Authors; Monthly Key Word - December; Seriously Series

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I was intrigued by the prequel, but was wary of what would actually happen in the series. I need not worry. This series started off amazing! I immediately fell for Miranda and Archer. I rooted for them to finally confess their feelings and their secrets. Of course it happened in the last 20 pages, but that's okay. I was enjoying their journeys. And we get some very interesting side characters. I figured out that the series will continue with some of the side characters and not focus on Miranda and Archer. I'm a little sad to lose them, but this volume explored most of their story. A great start to a hopefully great overall series. Can't wait to read to the next one.

Darkest London

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

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Title: Bel Canto

Author: Ann Patchett

Publisher: HarperCollins 2001

Genre: Literature

Pages: 318

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 21st Century Women; Rory Gilmore; Mount TBR; Women Authors

Opera and terrorism make strange bedfellows, yet in this novel they complement each other nicely. At a birthday party for Japanese industrialist Mr. Hosokawa somewhere in South America, famous American soprano Roxanne Coss is just finishing her recital in the Vice President's home when armed terrorists appear, intending to take the President hostage. However, he is not there, so instead they hold the international businesspeople and diplomats at the party, releasing all the women except Roxanne. Captors and their prisoners settle into a strange domesticity, with the opera diva captivating them all as she does her daily practicing. Soon romantic liaisons develop with the hopeless intensity found in many opera plots. Patchett (The Patron Saint of Liars) balances terrorism, love, and music nicely here.

This has been on my TBR list for ages. We chose it for our book club selection for July and I was very excited to read the novel finally. However, I ended up being not very impressed with the novel. It's not to say that it's bad. I imagine that many peiple love this volume. I just didn't. I never felt connected to any of the characters and became very detached about everything. People rave about Patchett's writing, but I didn't find anything special about it. It's a well written novel, but just not anything that really struck me as great.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland #1)

Author: Catherynne M. Valente

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends 2011

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Pages: 247

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W25; Monthly Motif -- Long Journey

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn't . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

Very cute little fantasy novel! This is aimed at children and yet I found that it was a very interesting read for adults. The reader is thrown right into the story experiencing the new and strange right along with September. It reminded me of Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz. I loved meeting all the other characters especially the Green Wind. Great writing, very imaginative story, fun characters. What more could I want?

Fairyland

#0.5 The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland -- For a Little While
#1 The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
#2 The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
#3 The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two
#4 The Boy Who Lost Fairyland
#5 The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home

Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg

Title: Tapestry of Fortunes

Author: Elizabeth Berg

Publisher: Random House 2013

Genre: Women's Fiction

Pages: 219

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Author; Library; Lucky No. 14 -- Not My Cup of Tea; 52 Books -- W23

Cecilia Ross is a motivational speaker who encourages others to change their lives for the better. Why can’t she take her own advice? Still reeling from the death of her best friend, and freshly aware of the need to live more fully now, Cece realizes that she has to make a move—all the portentous signs seem to point in that direction.
She downsizes her life, sells her suburban Minnesota home and lets go of many of her possessions. She moves into a beautiful old house in Saint Paul, complete with a garden, chef’s kitchen, and three housemates: Lise, the home’s owner and a divorced mother at odds with her twenty-year-old daughter; Joni, a top-notch sous chef at a first-rate restaurant with a grade A jerk of a boss; and Renie, the youngest and most mercurial of the group, who is trying to rectify a teenage mistake. These women embark on a journey together in an attempt to connect with parts of themselves long denied. For Cece, that means finding Dennis Halsinger. Despite being “the one who got away,” Dennis has never been far from Cece’s thoughts.

This was our book club selection for June. I probably would never have picked up this book to read if it hadn't been a club selection. On the surface it just doesn't seem like my kind of book. I wasn't particularly interested in reading about a motivational speaker finding herself. To my surprise, I really enjoyed this short little novel. I was pulled into Cece's journey right from the start. I came to love Joni, Lise, and Renie. My only issue with the novel is the quick wrap-up in the last twenty pages. I would have liked a bit more...

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Title: Summer Rental

Author: Mary Kay Andrews

Publisher: Whodunnit 2011

Genre: Women's Fiction

Pages: 402

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well-Rounded Reader; What's in a Name -- Weather; TBR Pile; 52 Books -- W22; Women Authors

Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's made over the past decade of her life. Julia--whose caustic wit covers up her wounds--has a man who loves her and is offering her the world, but she can't hide from how deeply insecure she feels about her looks, her brains, her life. And Dorie has just been shockingly betrayed by the man she loved and trusted the most in the world…though this is just the tip of the iceberg of her problems and secrets. A month in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what they each of them needs.
Ty Bazemore is their landlord, though he's hanging on to the rambling old beach house by a thin thread. After an inauspicious first meeting with Ellis, the two find themselves disturbingly attracted to one another, even as Ty is about to lose everything he's ever cared about.
Maryn Shackleford is a stranger, and a woman on the run. Maryn needs just a few things in life: no questions, a good hiding place, and a new identity. Ellis, Julia, and Dorie can provide what Maryn wants; can they also provide what she needs?

A light breezy beach bag book. Thank goodness! This hit the spot! I needed a little levity to get me back on track. I'm excited about the coming summer reading season. While this novel was fairly predictable, I enjoyed taking the journey with the four main characters.

Gentleman of Her Dreams by Jen Turano

Title: Gentleman of Her Dreams (Ladies of Distinction #2)

Author: Jen Turano

Publisher: Bethany House 2012

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 80

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Authors; Read Your Freebies; Lucky No. 14 - Freebies

When Miss Charlotte Wilson asks God for a husband, she decides He must want her to pursue Mr. Hamilton Beckett, the catch of the season. The only problem? She's never actually met Hamilton. Fortunately, one of her oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Henry St. James--who has returned to New York after a two-year absence--does know Hamilton. Much to Henry's chagrin, Charlotte immediately ropes him into helping her meet Hamilton. However, none of her plans to catch Hamilton's eye go as she expected, and she is even more confused when her old feelings for Henry begin to resurrect themselves. In the midst of the mayhem Charlotte always seems to cause, she wonders if the gentleman of her dreams might be an entirely different man than she thought.This novella is a companion to A Change of Fortune.

Silly little romance novella, but I love them occasionally. This one was telegraphed from the first page. And yet, I'm fairly okay with that. I liked the main characters. I liked the cute little story. It was an enjoyable small novella. I might need to pick up the third book in the series.

Ladies of Distinction

#0.5 Gentleman of Her Dreams
#1 A Change of Fortune
#2 A Most Peculiar Circumstance
#3 A Talent for Trouble
#4 A Match of Wits

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Title: How I Live Now

Author: Meg Rosoff

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books 2004

Genre: YA Fiction

Pages: 194

Rating: 3/5 stars Movie: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Library Books; 52 Books -- W17; Books to Movies

Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.
As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.

I feel like this one was a good book but I read it too late in life. It's definitely made for a teen. I kept thinking like an adult and it just didn't connect to the characters or the story. Plus, the style bugged me. First person narratives are very hit or miss and I'd say this one was a miss for me. But I can definitely see how this novel could appear to many teens out there. Daisy is a typical teenager. She doesn't act older than her actual age of 15. She doesn't respond to situation like adults. She has moods and identity issues. She struggled with the teenage angst. I can appreciate a young adult novel that actually features a young adult. I just didn't get sucked into the story and characters. Not a bad book, just not one for me.

Movie:

I liked the movie a whole lot better than the book. They aged Edmund and Daisy up a bit (not so scandalous). They changed other things here and there. But they kept the focus on the survival of the characters. I liked this Daisy much more than book Daisy. She still seemed like a teenager, but not quite as whiny. I also liked how they had a few little scenes the movie touched on her mental health issues, but didn't dwell. Instead, we see a great gradual transition brought on by the war. Plus, the cinematography was just gorgeous. Glad that I actually decided to watch the movie after my so-so reaction to the book.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Title: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Publisher: Washington Square Press 2006

Genre: Literary fiction

Pages: 406

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 21st Century Women Authors; Mount TBR; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W16; What's in a Name -- Number written in letters

All children mythologize their birth...So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.
The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.
As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire.
Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida's storytelling but remains suspicious of the author's sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.

The first chapter, I was wary. By the second chapter, I was intrigued. By the third chapter, I couldn't put it down. This book and storytelling style reminded me of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books. And I absolutely adore his book. They and this novel are great stories, but also amazing love letters to books and storytelling. I immediately connected with Margaret and her love of books. My dream would be to own a book store (unfortunately there's not much money in it). I would love to surround myself with dusty tomes containing amazing worlds and people. Back to The Thirteenth Tale... I enjoyed the slow unraveling of the story. I loved Miss Winter's "no questions, telling it in order" approach. Sure, we all wanted to know everything up front. But the story itself needed to be told in order so that the reader (and Margaret) could truly understand Miss Winter and her life. At times, I had to slow myself down. Instead of rushing to find out the next secret, I wanted to savor the story. Setterfield has a way with words. They just seemed to melt off the page, slow and luxuriously. If I could write like that, I would be perfectly happy. I won't give away anything, but the secrets revealed were definitely the icing on the cake. Now I feel like I need to pick up Setterfield's new book...

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: Bantam 2010

Genre: Fiction - Magical Realism

Pages: 270

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Library; 52 Books -- W12; Lucky 14 -- Once Upon a Time

Emily Benedict has come to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, not only wishing to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also dreaming of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

I love Allen's books! I love her characters! I love the settings! I love the storylines! And I love the magic! These have become my go-to books for something satisfying yet light. Sometimes the stories are a bit predictable, but I get into it so deep that I don't care. I love taking the journeys with the characters. This particular book was really great. I think it's my second favorite behind Garden Spells. I love the duel stories of Julia and Emily. Both outsiders, they find their place in Mullaby by the end of the book. It's a great little story. The ever-changing wallpaper was a nice little touch. A great bit of magic to liven up the setting. Allen writes with such atmosphere that I can picture myself right there with the characters. The town came alive and stayed alive throughout the book. A great setting really helps set the characters and the overall tone of the book. I loved it and can't wait to read another by Allen (must pick up Lost Lake!).

The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy

Title: The Baker's Daughter

Author: Sarah McCoy

Publisher: Broadway Books 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books -- W11; Women Authors; Library; Well Rounded Reader -- Historical Fiction

In 1945, Elsie Schmidt is a naive teenager, as eager for her first sip of champagne as she is for her first kiss. She and her family have been protected from the worst of the terror and desperation overtaking her country by a high-ranking Nazi who wishes to marry her. So when an escaped Jewish boy arrives on Elsie’s doorstep in the dead of night on Christmas Eve, Elsie understands that opening the door would put all she loves in danger.
Sixty years later, in El Paso, Texas, Reba Adams is trying to file a feel-good Christmas piece for the local magazine. Reba is perpetually on the run from memories of a turbulent childhood, but she’s been in El Paso long enough to get a full-time job and a fiancé, Riki Chavez. Riki, an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, finds comfort in strict rules and regulations, whereas Reba feels that lines are often blurred.
Reba’s latest assignment has brought her to the shop of an elderly baker across town. The interview should take a few hours at most, but the owner of Elsie’s German Bakery is no easy subject. Reba finds herself returning to the bakery again and again, anxious to find the heart of the story. For Elsie, Reba’s questions are a stinging reminder of darker times: her life in Germany during that last bleak year of WWII. And as Elsie, Reba, and Riki’s lives become more intertwined, all are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and seek out the courage to forgive.

This was March's book club selection. Apparently we have a thing for books (fiction or nonfiction) set in WWII. As far as I know, our pattern is completely unintentional... Weird!

As for the books, I liked it overall. When I go a bit deeper, I found that i really enjoyed the story set in the 1940s and the parts of the 2007-2008 story that involved Elsie. So I guess I really liked Elsie. Reba just didn't speak to me as a character. I kept thinking that her and Riki were wrong for each other and yet they still ended up together (pretty obvious from the set-up). I glad Reba decided to eventually just be herself, but all of her waffling and fakeness just got to me after awhile. On the flip side, Elsie was a great character. She had layers. She had great qualities, but also a few faults. I loved getting insider her mind as she dealt with the realities of Germany during WWII. I loved her relationship with her parents and especially her relationship with Tobias. I loved watching her grow throughout the years to eventually become the woman that Reba meets. A solid historical fiction story focusing on two (three if you count Jane) women growing.

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; 52 Books - W8; Women Authors; Seriously Series

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

It was refreshing to read a book set in fey that wasn't focused on Meghan. I'll admit that I was tiring of her by the end of The Iron Fey series. I needed a change to stay interested. Ethan is a great change. We get appearances by Meghan, Ash, and even Puck, but the book is really centered on Ethan and Keirran's journeys. I liked getting to know these two new-ish characters, The book definitely ends on a cliff-hanger, but I'm okay with it. We get a whole new mystery to solve in thus series and I'm on board. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

Title: Iron Legends (The Iron Fey #1.5, #3.5, #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 287

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors; Seriously Series

While I had read the four main novels in the Iron Fey series, I thought I would pick up this compilation of the short stories. Quick, but enjoyable reading as Kagawa helped to fill in the gaps in-between books.

Winter's Passage
Never make a promise to a faery. They always come to collect. Now Meghan Chase must fulfill her promise to Prince Ash of the Winter Court and embark upon a dangerous journey into the heart of enemy territory—while being pursued by a relentless new foe and guarding her own foolish heart.

This was my least favorite of the stories, if only because Meghan is still so young and naive. I think I knew too much of what comes after to truly enjoy this one.

Summer's Crossing
What can turn enemies into reluctant allies? A call from the Exile Queen, Leanansidhe, ties legendary prankster Puck to his archenemy, Prince Ash, on a journey that may end in betrayal and will set them both on an irreversible path.

My favorite of the stories because it stars Puck. Other than Grimalkin, Puck is the most interesting character in the entire series. I loved reading about his adventures with Ash and Leanansidhe. Great fun!

Iron's Prophecy
Before she ever knew what she might become, Iron Queen Meghan Chase was warned by the oracle that her firstborn child would bring nothing but grief. And even as Meghan and Ash celebrate their long-awaited union, the prophecy stirs.…

A nice bridge between the original Iron Fey series and the new Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series. This actually made me want to read the next series. I have to see what happens to Ethan and Keirran.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Title: Sharp Objects

Author: Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Broadway Books 2006

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 272

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Ebook;

Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.

Sharp Objects was this month's book club selection. I found Flynn's other book Gone Girl to be very interesting. I had heard from many bloggers that this one was also good. So, we gave it a try. And I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. I won't give away the twists and turns, but I will say that I saw most of them coming. The story was a bit contrived and predictable. As to the characters, I hated every single one of them. They all seemed fake or caricatures of real people. At a certain point, I would have loved for everyone to just say what they were thinking. Instead, characters dance around each other in a very frustrating way. Even the horrors didn't seem real because of how characters reacted to them. I just was not impressed at all. It seems that I am all but done with Flynn's work. I think I'll move on to something else...

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Title: The Nanny Diaries

Author: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 2002

Genre: Chick Lit

Pages: 306

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Movies; Rory Gilmore; 52 Books -- W6; Women Authors

Wanted: One young woman to take care of four-year-old boy. Must be cheerful, enthusiastic and selfless--bordering on masochistic. Must relish sixteen-hour shifts with a deliberately nap-deprived preschooler. Must love getting thrown up on, literally and figuratively, by everyone in his family. Must enjoy the delicious anticipation of ridiculously erratic pay. Mostly, must love being treated like fungus found growing out of employers Hermès bag. Those who take it personally need not apply.

Who wouldn't want this job? Struggling to graduate from NYU and afford her microscopic studio apartment, Nanny takes a position caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved to ensure that a Park Avenue wife who doesn't work, cook, clean, or raise her own child has a smooth day.

When the Xs' marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny ends up involved way beyond the bounds of human decency or good taste. Her tenure with the X family becomes a nearly impossible mission to maintain the mental health of their four-year-old, her own integrity and, most importantly, her sense of humor. Over nine tense months, Mrs. X and Nanny perform the age-old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude.

Overall, a fairly disappointing book. I think the problem is that it is just so predictable. I knew exactly how the relationships between Nanny and Mrs. X and Grayer would play out. It feels like this story is just played out. It's just not the book for me. I seem to be on a trend lately of disappointing reads. I hope they get better. At least I am weeding out the not great reads from my bookshelves. Off to Half Price Books to sell some books I go...

Movie:

The movie is fairly true to the book which of course bored me. I just didn't really connect to any of the characters. It's not a bad movie, just a tired storyline and stereotypical characters. The movie may appeal to some, but I just didn't find myself wanting to see it again.

Tithe by Holly Black

Title: Tithe (Modern Tale of Faerie #1)

Author: Holly Black

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2002

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 340

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Author; 52 Books - W6; Top 100 YA Novels; Read Your Freebies

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

The entire time I was reading this, I just kept thinking "I've read this before." I haven't read this actual book, bit I've read so many YA stories just like it that the storyline was just incredibly familiar. I was pretty bored. I think I could have liked this book, but I've just read too much of this genre. I was going to include this series in my Seriously Series Reading Challenge. Since i am nixing this series, I will not include it and substitute a different series for the challenge.

Modern Tale of Faerie (DNFed series)

#1 Tithe
#2 Valiant
#3 Ironside