Reading this week

Finished

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Secret Refuge by Dana Mentink

Corral Nocturne by Grace Elisabeth Foley

Currently reading

Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Making Marion By Beth Moran

Enshawdoed Kelly Creagh

Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner

Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

Hazardous Homecoming by Dana Mentink

The Falcon and Sparrow by Marylu Tyndall

Kinsale Kisses by Elizabeth Maddrey

Ashes of Roses by Mary Auch

Mafia Girl by Deborah Blumenthal

Grace’s Pictures by Cindy Thomson

Her Cowboy Hero by Carolyne Aarsen

Classic

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Reviewing

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Narvla’s Celtic New Year by Therese Gilardi

Akarnae: The Medoran Chronicles Begin by Lynette Noni

The Rancher Takes a Bride

To Win her Favor by Tamera Alexander

Devotional reading

Free From Bondage God’s Way by Kay Arthur

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Tear you apart 

Review of thrift shopping

Review of Roses  

Review of Roses

Title: Roses

Author: G.R. Mannering

Series: 

 

Chapters: 29 in five parts

Pages: 311

Genre: Teen fairy tales retold

Rating: 4 stars

Beauty has sliver skin and violet purple eyes

Beast

Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that has elements from the classic fairy tale as well as the Disney movie. I have yet to see a Beauty and the Beast retelling that have combined the two.

Out of all the Beauty and the Beast retellings I have read this one is my favorite. I love how the author doesn’t give the her a name other than beauty. To help it stick to the  actual fairy tale but still unique. 

Review of Thrift Shopping

Title: Thrift Shopping

Author: Sandy Donovan

Genre: Nonfiction

Rating: 3 stars

Publisher: Twenty-first century Books

A fairly quick read designed to help teens learn how to thrift shop. It’s only 64 pages but it is full of information on thrift shopping. Though it is geared towards teens anyone who wants to get into thrift shopping will find this book helpful.

I received a e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Review of Tear You Apart

Title: Tear You Apart

Author: Sarah Cross

Series: Beau Rivage book 2

 

Chapters: 48

Pages: 370

Genre: teen fairy tales retold

Rating: 4 stars

Tear You Apart is the sequel or companion novel to Kill Me Softy. You can read either book without reading the other. Tear You Apart is a Snow White retelling with a twelve dancing princess twist, and a Rumplestekin twist as well. Viv just happens to be the Snow White character, and her boyfriend is not the prince character instead Henley is the huntsman character.

I know this may sound weird but I found myself actually wanting the “villain” the huntsman to win. Which may sound odd but after reading the book and seeing who the real villains are it will not seem weird. There has only been a few cases where I have be on the side of a villain and most of those have been movies and TV shows, but I think this is only the second time that it’s happened with a book.

I’ve also had a slight Once vibe with this book because the evil queen name just happens to be Regina.

Fans of Once and Fairy tale retellings will enjoy this book.

Reading this week

Finished

Love on the Mend by Karen Witemyer

When you are old  by W.B. Yeats

Live Original by Sadie Robertson

Currently reading

Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Making Marion By Beth Moran

Enshawdoed Kelly Creagh

Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner

Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas

Corral Nocturne by Grace Elisabeth Foley

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

Hazardous Homecoming by Dana Mentink

The Falcon and Sparrow by Marylu Tyndall

Kinsale Kisses by Elizabeth Maddrey

Ashes of Roses by Mary Auch

Mafia Girl by Deborah Blumenthal

Grace’s Pictures by Cindy Thomson

Her Cowboy Hero by Carolyne Aarsen

Classic

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Reviewing

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Narvla’s Celtic New Year by Therese Gilardi

Akarnae: The Medoran Chronicles Begin by Lynette Noni

The Rancher Takes a Bride

To Win her Favor by Tamera Alexander

Secret Refuge by Dana Mentink

Devotional reading

Free From Bondage God’s Way by Kay Arthur

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Beyond All Dreams 

Review of With Every Breathe  

Review of With Every Breathe

Title: With Every Breathe

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Chapters: 27 plus epilogue

Pages: 360

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Kate Livingston  has never really forgiven Trevor Kendall for wining a scholarship to college, because it was the only way that she was going to college.  But now he is back in her life and he needs her help. She is the only one who has a drive to win as much as he does. He needs a n assistant who can help in his study of TB patients he is hoping to find a cure for this deadly disease.

Like Beyond all Dreams the only other book I have read by Elizabeth Camden it is sit in Washington DC.  I love that Kate is a redhead spit fire. Who is a strong character in own right.  I also enjoyed that the romance is a slow build, it’s not too slow nor is it insta love. I love that they love interest start out hating each other. With Every Breathe is a sweet quick read.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Beyond All Dreams

Title: Beyond All Dreams

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Chapters: 22 plus epilogue

Pages: 368

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Beyond All Dreams is the first book by Elizabeth Camden that I have read and I loved it.  Anna O’Brien is a map librarian who works at the library of congress. It’s her dream job.  Luke Callahan is a congressman from Maine who has fallen from grace at least according to his fellow congressman. Luke just was to give back the power that he has lost. Anna just wants to find out what really happened to the navy ship that her father was on. 

I enjoyed reading about Anna the shy librarian. As a child who loved  reading and didn’t like to talk much because of my own speech problems.  Anna was a strong heroine that was  relatable too. I also enjoyed that she worked at the library of congress, because that was also my dream job as a child. I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth Camden’s books in the future. 

Reading this week

Finished

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts

Women Heroes of the American Revolution by Susan Casey

 The Faults in our Star by John Green 

Currently reading

Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Making Marion By Beth Moran

Enshawdoed Kelly Creagh

Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner

Non-fiction reading

Live Original by Sadie Robertson

Getting ready to read

Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

Hazardous Homecoming by Dana Mentink

The Falcon and Sparrow by Marylu Tyndall

Kinsale Kisses by Elizabeth Maddrey

Ashes of Roses by Mary Auch

Mafia Girl by Deborah Blumenthal

Grace’s Pictures by Cindy Thomson

Her Cowboy Hero by Carolyne Aarsen

Classic

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Reviewing

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Narvla’s Celtic New Year by Therese Gilardi

Akarnae: The Medoran Chronicles Begin by Lynette Noni

The Rancher Takes a Bride

To Win her Favor by Tamera Alexander

Devotional reading

Free From Bondage God’s Way by Kay Arthur

Reviews Posted this week

 Review of Cinderella's Dress

Review of The Murder Complex

Review of The Murder Complex

Title: The Murder Complex

Author: Lindsay Cummings

Series: The Murder Complex book 1

 

Chapters: 89

Pages: 398

Genre: teen dystopia, 

Rating: 4 stars

The Murder complex is a een dystopian,  novel in which the murder rate is basically higher than the birth rate. At first I didn’t know what to think about it. I was to the point where I was tired of dyspotaion but I gave it a chance and really did enjoy it. I can’t wait for the second book to be released.

The book is told from the point of view of Meadow and Zephyr the two main characters, each chapter is a different point of view. Either his or hers.

To me this was a cross between Hunger Games and Divergent, but so much better. It's set in the future in which a cure for what is called the plague is actually in many ways much worse than the disease. It's a society where death is chosen randomly and certain people are programmed to kill. It's basically kill or be killed.

It's an action packed book. I mean it's gotta be with the tagline the death rate is higher than the birth rate.

Review of Cinderella's Dress

Title: Cinderella’s Dress

Author: Shonna Slayton

 

Chapters: 41

Pages: 322

Genre: teen historical fiction fairy tale retold

Rating: 4 stars

Cinderella’s Dress is a retelling of Cinderella with a twist. This story doesn’t focus on Cinderella instead it focuses on the dress and the family that was trusted with protecting the dress.  It is set in New York during WWII. Kate Allen wants to design department store windows.  But her mother wants to be a model. Her father is overseas. Her brother is leaving for basic training along with her sort of beau. 

Then her great aunt and uncle show up with a truck calming that it contains Cinderella’s dress, and they are the protectors and keepers of the dress.

At first I didn’t think I would like it because I’ve never been a fan of Cinderella retellings. But I enjoyed this retelling because it didn’t really focus on Cinderella. And true to fairy tale retellings there’s a prince. 


I received a copy of this book from the author through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading this week

Finished

Tear you Apart by Sarah Cross

Surrender the Heart by Marylu Tyndall

The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rapport

With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

Currently reading

Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Making Marion By Beth Moran

Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

Hazardous Homecoming by Dana Mentink

The Falcon and Sparrow by Marylu Tyndall

Kinsale Kisses by Elizabeth Maddrey

Ashes of Roses by Mary Auch

Mafia Girl by Deborah Blumenthal

Grace’s Pictures by Cindy Thomson

Her Cowboy Hero by Carolyne Aarsen

Enshawdoed Kelly Creagh

Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner

Live Original by Sadie Robertson

Classic

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Reviewing

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Narvla’s Celtic New Year by Therese Gilardi

Devotional reading

Free From Bondage God’s Way by Kay Arthur

Reviews Posted this week

 Review of The Princess Bride

Review of Kill Me Softly

Review of Kill Me Softly

Title: Kill Me Softly

Author: Sarah Cross

Series: Beau Rivage book 1

 

Chapters: 21

Pages: 331

Genre: Teen fairytale retelling

Rating: 3 stars (mainly due to the use of language)

Kill Me Sofly is a fairy tale retelling that is set in a fictional town called Beau Rivage that is a fairy tale town. Everyone is pretty much under a fairy tale cursed. Either as the one that is cursed or an honor bound which is basically the one who is supposed to break the curse.

MiraBelle or Mira is a girl who grew up away from Beau Rivage but wants to find about her the place where she was born. So on the eve of her sixteenth birthday she goes. Based on the cover I thought that it was going to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling instead it was actually a Sleeping Beauty retelling which was fine. It was actually the first fairy tale retelling that I have read. I really did enjoy in the book.  It was also neat to read about the other fairy tale characters in the town. I am looking forward to reading Tear You Apart which is a Snow White and huntsman retelling.

Review of The Princess Bride

Title: The Princess Bride

Author: William Goldman

Genre: fantasy

Rating: 4 stars

The book in which one of my favorite movies as a child and even now was based. It’s slightly dorky but that is one of the things that I love about it.  I mean what’s not to love about a pirate and a princess and of course true love.  Westley the farm boy turned pirate,Buttercup(The Princess Bride) the beautiful peasant girl turned princess Not to mention the loveable sidekicks.  Inigo Montoya the swordsman on his quest for reveage, and Fezzik the giant gentle. Not to mention the crazy miracle man Mad Max.  

It was a fairly quick read. Complete with the classic line As You Wish but I do have to say that I like the movie better than the book. As a book worm that’s something I don’t ever say, but I think there are only five movies that I like better than their books and this is one of them.