An Unlikely Alliance by Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis:

Spoiled New York rogue Royce Mc Arthur lives a charmed life. He sees no reason to settle down, until his mother issues her decree that he must grow up, find a wife and produce some grandchildren…preferably before she dies of old age. But his choices are quite limited considering the only women of his acquaintance are ones of ill repute. Meeting the beautiful Evelyn DeJarlias at a ball gives him hope he may have found the one. Her southern blue collar outspokenness and lack of refinement draws him like a moth to a flame. Unfortunately, she does not find him nearly as endearing -- consistently refusing his lavish gifts and his attentions, she poses a challenge he simply cannot ignore.

Review:

This was a cute regency-ish novella. It actually takes place in New York, I wasn’t quite sure of the exact time frame, some of the conversations or statements seemed too modern at times. Royce is your typical rake, when he meets Evelyn he regrets his past and wants to make a change. Since the story is so short things moved along quickly (almost too quickly at times) it was a bit hard to believe he had truly changed. He admits that he gets bored with women after a month, and I wonder will he get bored with Evelyn after their whirlwind courtship. Evelyn was likable; she at least tries to resist his charms and makes him work for her affection. The two team up to figure out what is going on between their parents (her father and his mother) and I suppose a friendship grows from their time together. Overall, it was an enjoyable short story.

Content: Clean. Talk of mistresses, no detailed love scenes



For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Synopsis:
Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology. Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go. But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Review:
I was intrigued when I read that this book was a dystopian retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, which happens to be a favorite of mine. I’m a sucker for lost-love stories and was anxiously waiting for the time when our characters, Elliot and Kai, were reunited. Elliot North was a good leading lady. She has good morals, strong convictions, and a kind heart. When Kai returns she has to face some truths about her beliefs and way of life.  Malakai Wentforth was likable, but I felt like I didn’t really get to know him as well as I would have liked. We get to read letters between Elliot and Kai when they were kids, but other than that we only see the present Malakai a few times. I would have liked more page time with Elliot and Kai together. When they are together there are some good tension filled moments, they definitely have chemistry. I’m a sucker for romance and thought there would be more in this book (I don’t think there was even one kiss!), instead it seemed like the focus was more on the dystopian world. In some ways the story stuck to the original Persuasion, but it definitely was unique. Overall, I liked it, but wanted to like it more. Any fans of Persuasion should give it a try, it was a fun retelling.

Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

GoodReads Synopsis: 16 year old Eden Matthews has been in and out of private schools for the last two years. Kingsley is her last chance to finish high school and she is determined to simply do that. But when she meets Kiran Kendrick and her world opens to something she thought only existed in fairy tales, she's unsure what her future will hold. Suddenly she is captivated by a boy who seems to be the source of all of her problems and struggling to rescue her best friend from a foreign prison. When attempts are made on Kiran's life, Eden alone must save him. Thrust into a world that is more make-believe than reality, Eden has to find her own destiny without losing those she loves most. Reckless is an intricate story of mystery, adventure, magic and love. Eden Matthews is an unlikely heroine set on a path to save the world and her loved ones before its too late.(

My Review: This was a fun start to a fun new series. Overall, I really enjoyed it and thought it was an enjoyable read. I admit, the first 30% started to drag, I just wanted Eden to stop being in the dark and start asking more questions. Once things started to be explained and Eden was brought into the loop the story really picked up.

Eden doesn’t always make the best decisions, but it’s not really her fault. I think a lot of hassle could have been avoided if she had just been told the truth. But, at least they explain why they held things back. I felt kind of bad for Lily, at times she felt more like a plot devise than an actual character. Eden only seemed to worry about her when it was convenient to worry about her, if that makes sense.
I was also a little disappointed in some of Eden’s reactions. You’d think with some of these huge revelations she would be a little more emotional about it all, instead she seems to just take everything is stride. There is one big reveal (that wasn’t that surprising) that I would have expected a little more out of her. Wouldn’t she have wondered why she was raised human while a certain someone appears to have always known who he is? Did he know about Eden? I wish that had been address a little.

As for Eden and her love interest, I thought they had a nice relationship and at times had great chemistry. I would have liked if they had more of a foundation before they start declaring their love for each other though. Sure they are attracted to each, but at times it just felt more like hormones than actual love. In fact, it seemed like their only connection was through their magic, and of course some passionate kisses. I just thought the end, while nice, was a little dramatic. I don’t think it will bother me in the next book, usually by then the relationship is established and the whole insta-love thing doesn’t bother me anymore. I hope that’s the case here anyway.  

My only other minor complaint, I didn’t really care for the character names, mostly Kiran and Avalon. Personally, I think Avalon sounds too feminine. I like my male characters to have really masculine names. Not a big deal though.

Overall, a fun read. I liked the new take on magic and the history. I thought it was original and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Content: Pretty clean. Lots of mild swearwords.

Reading Order:

Book One: Reckless Magic

Book Two: Hopeless Magic

Book Three: Fearless Magic

Book Four: Endless Magic

Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson

 

GoodReads Synopsis: Jessie Taylor is furious when her roommate secretly posts her picture on the dating website LDS Lookup -- furious, that is, until she spends all night instant messaging Ben Bratton, a man whose wit and warmth just might make Jessie forget the train wreck of her last romantic relationship. Their first date is a smashing success (literally), but Ben's overall awesomeness can't save Jessie from having to deal with Craig, her competitive coworker whose baiting behavior sets new standards for obnoxiousness. Determined to beat Craig at his own game, Jessie spends long office hours finishing projects and putting out fires, but while her performance wows her boss, it only makes Ben skittish -- after a failed engagement to an up-and-coming lawyer, he's not about to pair up with someone who's married to her job. Will Jessie figure out how to be true to herself and take her big chance at love before it's gone with a click of the mouse?

My Review:I admit, when I first saw this book pop up I thought it was about Twitter. Since I’ve never used Twitter I wasn’t that interested. Then I noticed it was by Melanie Jacobsen and since I enjoyed her first two books I thought I’d give this a try. Luckily, it wasn’t at all about Twitter.

If you’ve read and enjoyed Melanie’s first two books then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as well. I thought it was a fun lighthearted read; it was a nice break from all the Regencies I’ve been reading lately. I thought our main character Jessie was pretty likable. She has some relationship baggage that she hasn’t wanted to let go of. She’s a big workaholic. But, she’s fun, loyal and easy to like. Ben was also very likable. With all the Regencies I’ve been reading I guess I’ve gotten used to the “brooding hero” and Ben was a nice lighthearted change from all that. I thought they had good chemistry and it was fun to see them together. Jessie’s roommate Sandy was also a fun addition to the story. Maybe they’ll be a future book about her so she can have her HEA too. At times I thought Jessie, Ben and Sandy’s personalities were a bit to similar, or it was more that their voices at times sounded too much the same. Some of the conversations could be interchangeable and you wouldn’t really notice any difference, if that makes sense. I also thought the end all wrapped up a little quickly and considering the book takes place over a three-ish week period, I thought it was all a little too fast. Overall, I really enjoyed it, it’s a nice break. I look forward to reading more of Jacobson’s books.

Content: Clean.

Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T Bergren

Release Date: June 1, 2012

GoodReads Synopsis: When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

Review: I’ve been looking forward to this for quite some time and was really excited to see it available on NetGalley. I just have to say, I love the cover. It’s just so pretty and inviting.

Anyway, I thought this was enjoyable. I admit, I think the last 30% was probably the best part of the whole story. The story almost has a Cinderella feel to it. Cora’s life is turned upside down early in the story. She goes from living a poor life with her parents, to that of an heiress with an unwelcoming family she never knew. The book focuses on her adjustments and also a focus on their travels through England and France. There is of course a love-triangle. It’s pretty subtle for now, but I’m sure it will play a much larger part in future books. I already know who I’m rooting for, although both are charming. I’m not a super big fan of love-triangles and I hope Cora doesn’t become wishy-washy. It’s annoying when they expect two guys to pursue them and not realize that by spending so much time with one suitor it might just turn the other away. I would have liked a little more between Cora and one of the guys, but I also appreciate a slow buildup which allows a strong foundation for something more. Again, I think the last part of the book was the best and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

This would probably fall into the Christian Historical Fiction genre. The history part is written well and woven into the story nicely. The same goes for the Christian elements, although it’s still a little much for my personal taste. Not over the top though.

Content: Clean.

Reading Order:
Glamorous Illusions
Grave Consequences
Glittering Promises

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

Review: This book just matched my mood today I guess. I got caught up in the story of Mariah and the atmosphere of the book, like I was transported back in time to Regency England. I really liked Mariah and thought she was a great leading lady. The book starts soon after her father banishes her after a mistake she has made. Alone in the world except for her companion, Miss Dixon, she finds a place to stay at her aunt’s gatehouse. I really liked the setting; the quaint gatehouse seemed cozy and inviting. I liked how over the course of the book Mariah makes genuine friends and learns forgiveness. I also really liked our hero in the book, I liked that they started out as friends and slowly built to something more. Normally I like a little more romance, but the amount in this book just seemed to match the story and left me happy. Instead of the story taking place over a short couple week span, it covers a few months. It was nice to see things develop slowly and have a few mysteries thrown in to keep things interesting. The supporting cast was just as fun as the main couple, especially Miss Dixon and Martin. Probably my favorite of Klassen’s books, so far.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

GoodReads Synopsis: Fleeing a dishonorable man, Margaret abandons her pampered upper-class world for an anonymous life "below stairs." But will danger or love find her first

Kathy’s Review: This kind of reminded me of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, with a twist. There is a bit of a lost-love story going on, which I’m always a sucker for. Margaret flees her home one evening and finds employment in the home of a man who once proposed to her. She wears a disguise and becomes a housemaid. I liked the changes Margaret goes through during her story. She starts off a bit pampered and kind of self-centered, but as the story progresses and she starts to actual work her personality softens and she begins to see people for who they really are. I thought it was a fun twist to have her working at an old “boyfriends” house. I admit though, I was a little disappointed that there weren’t more interactions between the two. I think it was about halfway through the book before they finally crossed paths. I would have liked more interactions, but the ones we do get were great. Overall, I enjoyed the story. You get to see behind the scenes of what the servants lives were like back then.

Variant by Robinson Wells

Synopsis: Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life. He was wrong. Now he's trapped in a school that's surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive. Where breaking the rules equals death. But when Benson stumbles upon the school's real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape--his only real hope for survival--may be impossible.

Review: I keep jumping around on what I should rate this. If I overanalyze it I would give it a three, but since I did enjoy it and it totally kept me interested I have to go with four stars. I liked the story, I thought it was original. I thought the story progressed well, for me I was never bored or thought things were moving too slowly. In fact, I was sucked in right from the start and thought it had a fun eerie vibe to it that made you want to keep reading. Some have called this a “boy book” and I can see where they get that. It’s told entirely from our main character Benson’s perspective, is somewhat violent and has little to no romance. By the end I still didn’t feel like I had really connected with Benson. I liked him, I was glad that he wasn’t just submitting like so many others had, but there was just something missing for me. I think a little romance would have really gone a long way here. What little was in the book felt flat, unreal, and lacked chemistry. Benson didn’t act like a guy in that regard. I’ve read plenty of books with male POV, and it can be really fun to see a guy fall in love with a girl, and this book was missing that fun element. Like others have said, there are a few twists and a huge cliffhanger ending. I wasn’t too surprised with the twists, but was a little disappointed that some of my questions still weren’t answered by the end. The ending was way too abrupt. I can see why an author would enjoy having a huge shocker ending, but I need a little more closer and a few more answers. I’ll definitely be reading the next book though.

I saw on the author’s blog that this is actually only a two-part series and the next book, Feedback, is scheduled to come out around October 2012!

Northanger Alibi by Jenni James

Synopsis: The Russo family and Seattle, WA are no match for Claire Hart and her savvy knowledge of all things vampire related. Thanks to her obsession with the Twilight series, if there is anyone who would know a vampire when she saw one, it's Claire. And she's positive totally hot Tony Russo is a vampire--she just has to prove it. In this modern retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, follow Claire's hilarious journey on her first summer adventure away from home, where she learns everything isn't what it seems, and that in some instances, reality is way better than anything she'd ever find in a book.

Review: What a fun read. I should say that I’ve never read the original Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, so I can’t compare the two. I had a vague idea what the story was about and thought the author did a good job recreating the story in a modern setting. Our main character Claire is endearingly naive, especially at the beginning of the book. To say she is a fan of the Twilight series is a huge understatement. I thought it was a fun element to the story though. I liked Tony, he has a few great lines and the two had good chemistry together. While I thought they were cute together, I had a hard time buying that they were truly in love, maybe SERIOUS like though. I can definitely see things growing between them, but the whole book only takes place over a couple of weeks with a handful of date/interactions, so love is a bit of a stretch for me. If you suspend reality for a couple hours though, it’s a very fun entertaining read. I thought it moved along nicely and kept me wanting to read more. I think I may have a new author to look out for. I loved the sample of her next book Persuaded at the end; I really can’t wait for that one! I also hope we get a book about Tony’s sister Nora, I really liked her character.

Slayers by CJ Hill

Synopsis: Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

Review: I knew this book was going to be totally different from the author’s other published work for her to take on a pseudonym, so I was able to go into it with an open mind and not expect something like she’d written in the past. ended up enjoying this one and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

It wasn’t that long ago that the word “dragon” would totally turn me off from reading a book. Not sure why, but I had no interest in them. I think it was Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George that changed my mind. Ever since then I have really enjoyed dragon lore. CJ Hill did a great job with her dragon mythology, I thought it was believable and I enjoyed how she worked dragons into a modern day setting. I liked our main character Tori. I liked that in her world she was accomplished at everything she tried, but once she reached camp things change and she was now the bottom of the pack. I like that kind of humbling. While she is still awesome, she still has a lot of room left for improvement. I suppose you could say there is a bit of a love-triangle, but personally I didn’t feel any chemistry with either guy and I’m crossing my fingers for a third option.

I did feel that the book was a little slow, and may have suffered a bit from being the first book in a series. I don’t mind reading trilogies, but like when each book in a series could almost stand on its own. I think the only reason I liked this one so much was because I knew there would be more to come. If it was a standalone book I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much.

Overall, I did really like it. I don’t think there is anything this author could write that I would not love.

Blog Tour: Persuasion: A Latter-day Tale by Rebecca H Jamison

Release Date: March 8, 2012

Synopsis: When Anne broke off her engagement seven years ago, she thought she'd never see Neil Wentworth again. But when Neil's brother buys the house she grew up in, it seems fate has other plans in store, and Anne is woefully unprepared for the roller coaster of emotions that accompanies Neil's return. Fans of Persuasion will love this fast-paced, modern retelling of Jane Austen's most romantic novel.

Review: This is a LDS version of the Jane Austen novel Persuasion. I’m a sucker for books about lost-love. I don’t know why, but I guess it’s fun to read about people getting a second chance at something that they thought was lost. In this book we follow the story of Anne and Neil, who were separated eight years earlier by Anne’s fear of marriage. In a lot of ways the story follows Austen’s novel but somewhere along the way Anne and Neil’s story really becomes their own. There is a nice twist to the story that adds a little excitement. Overall, I thought it was a fun read.

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Author Website: http://www.rebeccahjamison.com
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