Classics Retold: Book Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (no spoilers)

the Classics Retold project hosted by Alison @ The Cheap Reader, Alyssa @ Books Take You Places, Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy, Wendy @ Excellent Library, Brittany @ Book Addict's Guide. Alison @ The Cheap Reader came up with this idea after project Fairy Tale was such a huge hit. She tweaked the challenge a bit to include classic books and their adaptations. 

Book: Scarlet
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publication: February 2012
Source: Local Library
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary (From Goodreads):

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. 

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

 It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

My Thoughts:

Scarlet is a retelling of the classic tale Robin Hood. The main character Scarlet is a twist of the character Will Scarlet in the classic tale. Scarlet in this story is still Robin Hood right hand, but in this tale Scarlet is a girl. That was A.C. Gaughen's big change to Robin Hood's story.

Scarlet was a fiesty, tough, and insecure main character. She had a shattered past that we got clues about throughout the novel. All her secrets led to how she joined Robin Hood's merry band. Robin Hood was called Rob most of the novel. He acted tough, but was a very caring person. He cared about his band and he cared about the people of Nottingham. John Little was a bit soft in this novel. He was willing to fight for Scarlet, but at the end of the day wasn't afraid to confess his feelings for Scarlet. Much the miller's son was the last main character. Much had just one arm, but he was determined to do what he could.

A.C. Gaughen kept many elements from the original tale including Robin and his band robbing from the rich to give to the poor. That was a part I missed in the original novel is I don't think they stressed enough how much the people of Nottingham where really hurting where we got the full extend of their hurt in Scarlet. There was also lots of fight scenes and blood shed during Scarlet.

I do have to admit there was a point where I was ready to give up Scarlet. I didn't think I would be able to finish this novel. I don't know if the author made the mistakes on purpose or if she just had a poor editior, but there were so many grammar mistakes in this novel. I'm not a grammar nazi. It takes a lot for me to see a grammar mistake. When I could point out a bunch on every single page there is a problem. At one point the grammar mistakes were really getting to me and I thought about just giving Scarlet up. I also have to admit that I'm glad I finished Scarlet because the ending was amazing. This novel has five star potential if it was edited better. At the beginning of this book I was thinking it was a two star book. As I went along it redeemed itself. Scarlet still has much more potential than was brought forth in this novel.

I liked Scarlet better than the original novel. I ended up really enjoying Scarlet despite the many grammar errors. Robin Hood is a tale that has been told over and over again. I enjoyed A.C. Gaughen's twist on the tale. I suggest that you go read Scarlet if you like the tale of Robin Hood. I don't suggest you read Scarlet if you can't take a lot of grammar errors. The ending made this novel worth my time, but I still think this novel could have been better.

Classics Retold: Book Review: Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (no spoilers)

the Classics Retold project hosted by Alison @ The Cheap Reader, Alyssa @ Books Take You Places, Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy, Wendy @ Excellent Library, Brittany @ Book Addict's Guide. Alison @ The Cheap Reader came up with this idea after project Fairy Tale was such a huge hit. She tweaked the challenge a bit to include classic books and their adaptations. 

Book:  The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Author: Howard Pyle
Publication: 1883
Source: Digital Library/ Project Glutenberg
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Summary (From Goodreads):

He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and in so doing became an undying symbol of virtue. But most important, Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men offer young readers more than enough adventure and thrills to keep them turning the pages. Who could resist the arrows flying, danger lurking, and medieval intrigue?

My Thoughts:

I'm sad to say I did not enjoy The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood as much as I had hoped for. I think part of the reason is because of the Disney movie I have watched many times. I had other problems with the story as well. This novel took me many weeks to read because it was such a slow moving tale.

This book was published in 1883 and it showed through the writing style. The English was very old English and many words we don't use anymore. The writing was still beautiful and I see why it is a classic. I thought the preface was magnificent and I have to admit I read it more than once. I was intrigued in the opening chapters of Robin Hood, but then it went downhill from there.

I have to admit I had a hard time imagining Robin and Little John as men when I was so used to them being a fox and a bear. Eventually they came to be the men clad in Lincoln Green they were supposed to be. The opening chapters of Robin Hood explain why he is an outlaw and his meeting of Little John. Then it goes on for more than half of the novel to explain how Robin formed his merry band. That is where I felt the chapters got very repetitive and came to be the same concept with the person having a different name. I felt myself getting bored and struggling to read the novel. I pushed through. Around pg 119 I checked out the audio book from the library. I was within 100 pages of finishing, but I was struggling to keep going.

Sometimes I had to laugh as Robin would walk in public in different clothes than his Lincoln Green and nobody would recognize him until he revealed himself. Sometimes I had to wonder how ignorant the strangers Robin met were to not recognize the bold outlaw.

The most disappointing part of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood was that Maid Marion was not really a character in this novel. I have always loved the character of Maid Marion and how she fell in love with Robin. She was only mentioned a couple times and her and Robin never did meet. The whole novel I hoped she would be introduced, but she never really was.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is overall a light tale. Robin steals from the rich to give to the poor. I wish they focused a bit more on the town of Nottingham. I was disappointed that Robin never interact with the citizens of Nottingham although he was the talk of the whole country. For me that was a big part of the Disney movie, his interaction with the people of Nottingham.

Overall I liked the story, but there was a lot of disappointments that came with The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Part of my disappoint came with the expectations I had for this novel. I am glad I read this novel so I can say I read the original story of Robin Hood. I liked getting to know the minor characters a bit better through the novel. I think the story is more brought to life through film. I will recommend this novel although my only advice is to lower your expectations and get rid of all the preconceptions you have in your head of the story of Robin Hood. I do have to admit I do enjoy the Disney ending of Robin Hood more than I enjoyed the book. The book has a very dark ending that I wouldn't recommend for small children whereas the Disney movie ends with a hope for the future. Robin Hood is a very old tale with very old writing that will stand the test of time and forever be a classic. Although I didn't overly enjoy this novel does not mean another person will not enjoy The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. I will recommend it.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (no spoilers)

Book: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publication: March 24, 2009
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

 To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father? 

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed coming back into the world Cassandra Clare created. I found City of Ashes so much easier to dive into than I did City of Bones. For one I was already used to her writing style. I already knew the world so Cassandra Clare didn't have to reintroduce it and I didn't have to wrap my mind around it. I already knew and loved the characters. I can't say the beginning was full of action, but I was interested.

I really enjoyed the brother-sister complex between Jace and Clary in this novel. I think a big part of what happened in this novel was because they are related. Although I still so badly want them together. I also really like what happened to Simon in this novel. The person I really didn't like was Maryse who is Alec, Max, and Isabelle's mom. I really didn't like her attitude throughout the novel. The action with Valentine was awesome. As always I really enjoyed Isabelle and Alec's characters.

I really flew through this book after the action started. It was thrilling and action packed. I really came to love City of Ashes more than City of Bones because I enjoyed understanding the novel from the beginning. Unlike the ending of City of Bones which I was disappointed in City of Ashes left us with a big cliff hanger that makes me want to go pick up City of Glass right now.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult (no spoilers)

Book: Plain Truth
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publication: May 1st, 2000
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

Jodi Picoult has touched readers deeply with her acclaimed novels, such as "Keeping Faith" and "The Pact." Gifted with "a remarkable ability to make us share her characters' feelings" "(People)," Picoult now explores the complex choices of the heart for a young Amish woman -- the compelling journey of discovery for an urban lawyer who befriends and protects her. The small town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, is a jewel in Lancaster County -- known for its picture-postcard landscapes and bucolic lifestyle. But that peace is shattered by the discovery of a dead infant in the barn of an Amish farmer. A police investigation quickly leads to two startling disclosures: the newborn's mother is an unmarried Amish woman, eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher. And the infant did not die of natural causes. Although Katie denies the medical proof that she gave birth to the child, circumstantial evidence leads to her arrest for the murder of her baby.

 One hundred miles away, Philadelphia defense attorney Ellie Hathaway has achieved an enviable, high-profile career. But her latest court "victory" has set the sands shifting beneath her. Single at thirty-nine and unsatisfied with her relationship, Ellie doesn't look back when she turns down her chance to make partner and takes off for an open-ended stay at her great-aunt's home in Paradise.

 Fate brings her to Katie Fisher. Suddenly, Ellie sees the chance to defend a client who truly needs her, not just one who can afford her. But taking on this case challenges Ellie in more ways than one. She finds herself not only in a clash of wills with a client who does not want to be defended but also in a clash of cultures with a people whose channels of justice are markedly different from her own.

 Immersing herself in Katie Fisher's life -- and in a world founded on faith, humility, duty, and honesty -- Ellie begins to understand the pressures and sacrifices of those who to live "plain." As she peels away the layers of fact and fantasy, Ellie calls on an old friend for guidance. Now, just as this man from Ellie's past reenters her life, she must uncover the truth about a complex case, a tragic loss, the bonds of love -- and her own deepest fears and desires.


 Moving seamlessly from psychological drama to courtroom suspense, "Plain Truth" is a triumph of contemporary storytelling. Jodi Picoult presents a fascinating portrait of Amish life rarely witnessed by those outside the faith -- and discovers a place where circumstances are not always what they seem, where love meets falsehood, and where relationships grow strong enough to span two worlds.

My Thoughts:

Plain Truth was another winner by Picoult. I haven't read a book by Jodi Picoult yet that I haven't fully and completely enjoyed. I read Plain Truth with a friend this week and I had a lot of fun discussing the story every night. There is so much controversy in Plain Truth that it is a really easy book to discuss. It is also a really hard book to put down. This book was a page turner.

Without reading the summary all you really need to know that it is about an Amish girl, Katie, and a baby who is assumed to be murdered. Plain Truth was a very character driven novel. The characters were always the main focus of this wonderful adventure. Ellie was Katie's defense lawyer. She was a little rough on the edges and she had some trust issues, but I really loved Ellie as a character. My favorite thing about her was that she cared about Katie. She was willing to tell Katie how it was to get her off when Katie had no idea how the American Justice System works. Katie was naive that was for sure. Picoult was able to make me feel sympathy for Katie when she was accused of committing such a horrible crime. I went back and forth in my mind if I wanted Katie to be guilty and go to prison or if I wanted her to be not guilty.

Besides the two main characters of Ellie and Katie there were many supporting characters such as Aaron the dad which was a very tough guy and didn't bend any Amish rules. I never really liked him. Sarah, Katie's mother who I liked at parts and questioned at others. Jacob, Katie's brother, who was probably my favorite character of this novel. He was all the things that were missing in Katie. He made me understand her more and I understood his decision completely. Then there was Samuel, Katie's Amish boyfriend, which I think was lacking a little character development. Obviously we could see he cared about Katie, but there wasn't much else to Samuel. The last character would be Jacob's roommate, Adam. He was such an interesting character and mysterious too. You never quite knew what was going to happen with him.

I learned so much about Amish life while reading Plain Truth. I learned I couldn't imagine a life with out electricity. There are a lot of things about the Amish life I strongly disagree with especially their treatment of women. I'm always willing to learn and I found the Amish aspect of this book intriguing.

Plain Truth has a twist at the end as I have come to expect with any Jodi Picoult book. The end left me shocked and thinking. Although the end gave me peace with some characters it left me questioning and wondering about other characters. I think it was a perfect ending for Plain Truth. A book that was full of so many curve balls I never knew what was coming next. Plain Truth is an amazing novel that kept me on my toes and helped me learn a lot. Plain Truth was an amazing, quick read.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (no spoilers)

Book: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication: February 5, 2013
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

 Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

 Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts:

Scarlet was the thrilling sequel to Cinder that I couldn't wait to get my hands on. After months and months of waiting it was finally time to read Scarlet. Scarlet started out pretty fast paced introducing the character of Scarlet and Wolf. From there on out the novel never slowed down.

Scarlet's grandmother had gone missing and through Scarlet's actions it was easy to see that Scarlet would do anything to find her grandmother. Meanwhile Cinder is stuck in prison in Bejing where she is waiting to be taken by Queen Levana back to Luna. Cinder isn't able to just sit there and take her fate. She acts with impulse to find a way to escape her fate.

Scarlet was a different character from Cinder. Scarlet was headstrong and was willing to fight for what she believes in. She wasn't about to be pushed around where Cinder  is a quieter character who has a lot to handle in Scarlet. Cinder finds out a lot of secrets about herself in Cinder. She learned that she is not really the person she thinks she is and that she has gifts that can be used for good or evil. We see a lot of change in Cinder during this novel as she deals with the new information she has about herself.

We also meet a few new characters in Scarlet besides of course Scarlet. We meet Thorne and Wolf. Thorne is in prison with Cinder. Thorne was a gruff character, but under his facade you could see he really was a good guy. Although I'm still cheering for Cinder to get with Prince Kai I liked Thorne as a character. Wolf on the other hand was a suspicious character for me. Knowing the original fairy tale I had a hard time accepting Wolf and his good boy act. At the end of this novel I'm still not sure what to think of Wolf. I'm sure I will find out in one of the upcoming books.

The story line in Scarlet was amazing. There wasn't a dull moment in this novel. Marissa Meyer did an excellent job putting the two fairy tales together. She did a great job of transitioning from Scarlet back to Cinder. She never really left us in suspense with one character so I was able to enjoy the other character's story line. My only wish is that Prince Kai had parts in the novel a bit more. Kai was not a big character in this novel.

Overall I loved Scarlet just as much if not more than Cinder. The ending was abrupt, but it set the story up for the next novel Cress. I can't wait for the next installment in the Lunar Chronicles. If you haven't read Scarlet or Cinder yet I highly recommend them. My only regret in reading them this year is that I now have to wait until February for book three. Scarlet was an amazing novel that did a great job with the fairy tale of Red Riding Hood. I highly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the third book.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (no spoilers)

Book: Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
Author: Liesl Shurtliff
Publication: April 9th, 2013
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Summary (From Goodreads):

In a magical kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.

My Thoughts:

Rump was such an amazing novel. Words can't even describe how brilliant this novel was. Rump was full of mystery, suspense, and a boy on an adventure to find his destiny.

After I first heard of this book I knew I had to read. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. After reading it I'm so glad I did. I have to admit I couldn't really remember the original tale of Rumpelstiltskin although once I started to read the novel it all came back to me.

A girl who is trapped in a tower who is forced to spin straw to gold before she will ever be let go. All because of one boy. That boy is Rump. Rump was an amazing character and very unpredictable. Rump was an easy character to cheer for. I wanted him to succeed, but the author always put doubt into my mind. In the next moment I would be back to thinking maybe he could get his happy ending. Rump tells the story of why he only knows half of his name. How his mother died and he was raised by his grandmother. Rump grows up in a village where food is scarce and his only friend is a girl named Red. Red was also an amazing character. She was witty and smart. She was not afraid to speak her mind. That is why many people in the village didn't understand Red. Rump gravitated to her since he had nobody else.

Rump sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the rest of his name and his destiny since names are directly tied to destiny. Along the way he meets many other fairy tale creatures such as trolls and pixies. All things come to help Rump find his destiny.

I especially liked Rump's rhyming. He would get bored and he would make up rhymes. Rump's aunts were also played a key role in Rump finding his name. They were overall funny characters that fed Rump until he was full. Ida, Hadel, and Balthilda are their names. They help Rump discover so many secrets about his life and his mother.

The miller, and the king were the villains of this tale. I hated them from the moment they were introduced in the novel. In a village so poor they only cared about themselves and gold. It is their greed that leads them and Rump into trouble.

Rump is an amazing novel. I loved every second I spent reading this book and was sad to have it come to an end. This book was very lighthearted with touches of darkness. I always enjoy a little darkness in fairy tale retellings. Shurtliff created a story where Rump was in deep trouble, but only he could untangle the mess. I enjoyed every moment it took him to come his ending. The cover of Rump is the most beautiful cover. I was attracted to this book first for the story and second for the cover. Rump was an amazing debut novel and I believe only great novels will come from this author. I highly recommend Rump. I think no matter how old we are our life can always use a little magic. Rump is a novel full of magic and how that magic can tangle up our lives.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (no spoilers)

Book: Just Listen
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication: April 6th, 2006
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" — at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

My Thoughts:

I just finished Just Listen and it has quickly made it to being one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books. Just Listen wasn't what I expected and I really enjoyed that.

The main character of Just Listen is Anabel Greene. From the beginning Anabel is a mysterious character. She doesn't like confrontation which reminds me a lot of myself. Anabel feels alone after losing three friends Sophie, Emily, and Clarke. Although what they think of her is not true Anabel doesn't know how to talk to them. Although Anabel mentioned that there was incident at the end of the last school year it takes us as the reader to over half of the book to find out what really happened. This incident lead to Anabel losing all her friends. I liked this complexity of Anabel. We didn't really know why she was like she was. We didn't totally understand Anabel, but Sarah Dessen kept me reading to find out. In a lot of ways Anabel reminds me a lot of myself and I think that was why I connected so much to Just Listen. I have lost a lot of friends and there is a lot of times where I have felt alone because sometimes losing one friend means losing another because they are also friends with that friend you lost.

Every day at lunch Anabel would sit down six feet away from Owen Armstrong and for awhile they never talked. Owen was mysterious also in the fact that he was always listening to music. Owen stuck out to Anabel. Then the day came that Anabel talked to Owen and she learned quickly that Owen always speaks the truth. This changed Anabel because she started to look at her life and the lies she tells.

Owen also has a little sister named Mallory who is in middle school. She just loves Anabel because Anabel is a lakeview model. Mallory is obsessed with fashion. She was a really funny, cute, and sometimes annoying character.

The other part I really liked about Just Listen is the part about Anabel's sisters. Sometimes family is mentioned, but not focused on, but in Just Listen family was a key part of the novel. Anabel's sister Whitney, tall and beautiful has an eating disorder. Her healing is a big part of the novel. Although at first Whitney is quiet and withdrawn, we watch her grow as the novel progresses. Then there is Anabel's sister Kirsten who changes in many ways during the novel. Kirsten is the outgoing sister of the family not afraid to speak her mind.

Then there was Anabel's mom and dad who were a key part of the novel. Anabel spent a lot of time with her mom through modeling. Anabel's dad would always be up at night when Anabel came home and ask her to watch the history channel with him. Her parent's played a key role in this novel's ending.

I really enjoyed Just Listen's focus on music because even though the music was strange it lead Anabel to figuring out what she needed to do to move back the incident that wrecked her friendships. Anabel learned that sometimes she just needed to listen and that other people needed to be able to listen to here.

Another part that really drew me to Just Listen was the references to This Lullaby. The previous book I read by Sarah Dessen. I won't tell who all was in here, but it was really fun to find them for myself.

Just Listen was an amazing novel and I really enjoyed how complex of a story it was. Just Listen was an amazing book with such complex characters and characters that grew and changed throughout the story. This book wasn't all about relationships. It was about finding yourself and mending the bonds that have been broken. Anabel was an amazing character who discovered herself so much during this novel. Thanks to all the amazing people in her life Anabel was able to make a hard, but brave choice at the end of this novel. Although Anabel's life isn't perfect she was able to make the best of the situation. I think everybody can relate to some of the challenges Anabel faced. That is what makes Just Listen so relatable. Just Listen is a must read by Sarah Dessen.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (no spoilers)

Book: This Lullaby
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication: May 27, 2002
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads)

When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

My Thoughts:

I will disappoint you. That is how Remy Starr has lived her whole life, disappointed. It all started with her father. The guy who wasn't around, but wrote This Lullaby that seems to be played everywhere Remy goes. Remy has trust issues and her believe in love isn't there. Remy's mom has been married five times so Remy knows her fair share about how relationships don't work out.

Then Remy meets Dexter who she does everything in her power to keep away from, but this boy won't leave her alone. Dexter is different from Remy's past boyfriends. This one changes Remy.

Remy is different character for Sarah Dessen. She smoked, she drank, and she slept around. She was in no way a perfect character. I liked her for that. Remy was still responsible. As the summary says she doesn't mess around when it comes to relationships. Remy is not going to fall in love because it only leads to being hurt.

Remy's mom was also an important reason in this book that Remy is the way she is. Remy's mom has been married 5 times. That isn't easy for any child to handle. Remy has watched each relationship form and fall apart. Will this be the husband that stays?

Most of the novel is about Remy's relationship with Dexter and I really enjoyed the moments they spent together. The thoughts that ran through clean freak Remy's head. This novel had a really relaxed, real life feel. You feel like you could be friends with the people in this book. Remy's friends were Jess, Chloe, and Lissa. They brought the best out in Remy and helped put things into prospective for her. I like how four girls with so different personalities can still be friends.

This Lullaby is a book full of disappoint, but it also brings the question of is love a worthwhile choice? I really enjoyed This Lullaby. The friendships were great and I really liked Remy and Dexter as characters. The ending of this novel gave us peace with the characters and left it open to our imaginations as to where they would go next. This Lullaby was another winner by Sarah Dessen. The main message in This Lullaby is that your parent's past and your past does not have to determine your future. Sometimes you just need to take a risk and find out what happens. It might be something worthwhile.

Book Review: That Summer by Sarah Dessen (no spoilers)

Book: That Summer
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication: October 1st, 1996
Source: Local Library
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister—the always perfect Ashley—is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future.

My Thoughts:

I have read a lot of Sarah Dessen's books and in this case That Summer got beat out by Sarah Dessen's other books. I was constantly comparing this book to Sarah Dessen's other books that I really liked. That Summer was a pretty good book, but not Sarah Dessen's best by far.

This book was about the summer that changed everything for 15 year old Haven. I think we can all relate to that because there is a time in life with a lot of change happens quickly. For me I can relate to it right now because college is changing a lot of things. Haven is also almost 6 feet tall which I can relate to. She talked about how she slouched to be shorter. I do the same thing without even thinking anymore because I don't like being tall. That Summer is also about hope and fantasying about the past. It always seems when we look back at good memories they are always better in our mind than what they actually were. That was a true statement for Haven who built her expectations for one guy too high.

This book was also about the present and not just the summer that was good for Haven, but the summer that everything changed for Haven. Her sister's Ashley's wedding is a big part of the book. It was Ashley story line they used in How to Deal with Mandy Moore. I didn't really like the character of Ashley just like I don't like her in the movie. Ashley was very needy and self centered. Haven's life would be all turned upside down and Ashley wouldn't even notice. Then there was Haven's mother who was too busy planning Ashley's wedding and trying to get over her divorce to even notice the issues Haven was having. That left Haven to struggle through this difficult, life changing time by herself.

Of course there had to be a boy in That Summer. His name was Sumner. Sumner was the perfect guy. Haven kept bumping into him everywhere she went. For Haven, Sumner brought back memories of a time when everybody in her family was happy and care free. She would give anything to have those days back. Sumner isn't exactly the person Haven believes him to be.

I really liked the themes of That Summer of hope, loss, and change. I think the author made a novel that real teaches you that the past isn't really as great as we make it out to be in our minds. People are not who we always thought they were. I think she also mixed in the right amount of humor and stressful moments. Overall this was a very light read with great hidden messages. I always feel like I have learned something about life after reading Sarah Dessen and That Summer did a beautiful job in doing so. Although this wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessen book I did really enjoy That Summer.

Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments Book 1) (no spoilers)

Book: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments Book 1
Publication: March 2007
Source: Local Library
Rating: 4/5 stars.
Summary (from Goodreads):

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My Thoughts:

City of Bones was a book I really wanted to like because I wanted to go see the movie in August. I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed City of Bones although it is not my favorite book. I have heard a lot of good things about City of Bones and when I forgot my book at home on Tuesday I quickly hurried over to the library to check out a random book. City of Bones was going to be on my TBR list for this summer so it was the perfect time to get the book done. I read it at a pretty fast pace.

The beginning of City of Bones is pretty confusing as we are thrown right into the shadowhunter world. The book quickly picks up and I didn't want to stop once it got good. I wasn't a big fan of the writing style at first because the third person writing style made it really hard to connect with the characters. Eventually I got over it and fell in love with the characters anyways.

Clary is the main character of City of Bones. She doesn't know anything about this shadowhunter world until she meets Jace, Isabelle, and Alec. The next day she is attacked by a demon and her mother goes missing. The only people that can help her are Jace, Isabelle, and Alec. Clary and her friend Simon go on an amazing adventure discovering many new things about themselves and the shadowhunting world.

This book is jammed full of action and suspense with a mix of romance and a love triangle. This book is defiantly not real life. Nothing in this book is relestic, but I enjoyed it anyways. I loved and hated the character of Jace and Simon. Clary, Isabelle, and Alec were amazing characters. Magnus Bane who you will meet in the book quickly became one of my favorite villains. There were a lot of side characters such as Valentine leader of the uprising who really added to this book.

My only complaint about City of Bones was the ending. I finished the book late into the night and I was a bit disappointed when I got to the end. I have to say I was expecting a cliff hanger, but I was suspecting an action packed cliff hanger not the mellow ending I got. I'm excited to read the second book City of Ashes and find out what happens to Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Alec, and Simon.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (no spoilers)

Book: Firefly Lane
Author: Kristin Hannah
Series: Firefly Lane Book 1
Publication: 2008
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship. . . .

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness.

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship---jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget . . . one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.

My Thoughts:

The first thing the librarian said to me when I came to pick up this book was "This book looks well loved." I couldn't help, but agree. The corners were bent and the paperback cover looked like something had been spilled on it. There is a small tear on the back cover and the back cover is bent. It wasn't until I started reading Firefly Lane that I realized why this book was so beat up. This book deserves to be read and this book had a very good reason why it was loved. From the very first page of Firefly Lane I knew I was in for an emotional ride. Kristin Hannah didn't disappoint.

Firefly Lane is primarily about friendship, but it has the underlying theme of abuse, abandonment  conformity, dreams, hope, jealousy, regrets, foreignness, love, family, and betrayal. This book had way more to offer in themes than most books do. This book had the unique ability to make me laugh and cry. I don't know where to start because this book was so beautifully written and so raw and emotional.

I'll start with friendship. Kate reminds me of myself in a lot of ways that she was quiet and she turned to books as her safety net. That is until the day Tully moved in. To Kate Tully always seemed unreachable until something bad happens to Tully and Kate is there to be her shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. From then on TullyandKate were said as one word because they were inseparable.

Tully was abandoned by her mother and that has hurt her in many ways. I think it made Tully as a character hard to understand because you didn't exactly know the reason for the things she did. Underneath that Tully is a dreamer. She holds on to dreams tightly and doesn't let go. Tully had high hopes and many fantasies. She wasn't giving up until her dreams were completed.

Kate's dreams were a bit more simple and normal. She wanted to be a wife and a mother. Kate wanted to be as great a mom as her mom is. Kate doesn't know how much being a mother will change her and how many hurdles she will have to jump over in life.

Tully and Kate remain friends through more than 30 years, but their friendship was not without difficulties. They have real life problems. They have fights that are just apart of being human. That is what made this novel feel real is that their life wasn't perfect. Kate and Tully had flaws. When they were going through hard times they were always there for each other..  That is the type of friendship I hope to find.

One act of betrayal changed everything for Kate and Tully. It was because of this act that they missed out on many important events in each other lives. That is where the regret comes in. That is when they start to realize they can't get those moments back. Kate began to say at one point "The past is gone we can only move forward."

I really loved what a big part music played in this novel. I listen to Abba and I love their songs. It was so great to see them be a part of Firefly Lane. Music is a way for memories and that is how it was for Tully and Kate. They would pop in a CD from the 80s and be transported back to the time. The time of their youth.

Firefly Lane is a deeply personal story for Kristin Hannah who after 10 years of writing wrote her first author's note. Kristin Hannah lost her mother to breast cancer, she grew up in the seventies, and listened to the songs that Tully and Kate love. I think that is why Firefly Lane is such a emotional novel is because it was written straight from the heart. Firefly Lane is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I was so touched by this book that words can't even explain my feelings. In a lot of ways this book reminded me of my own life. My own friendships that haven't worked out. I would guess that every person who has read this book could pick out one moment that they could relate back to their own lives. I highly recommend this book. It has been an amazing, emotional ride. I can't wait to read the squeal Fly Away.


Memorable Moment
When life got tough for Kate and Tully they transported themselves back into a world where they were young and carefree. Where KateandTully was just one word and back to a time they were known as the Firefly Lane girls.


Thanks for reading. If you have read the book I have a discussion post up.


Rachael

Book Review: Happy Birthday Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel (no spoilers)

Book: Happy Birthday Bad Kitty
Author: Nick Bruel
Publication: May 11, 2010
Source: read while babysitting
Rating: 3/5 stars


Summary (from Goodreads):

It's Bad Kitty's birthday, and you're invited! Bad Kitty's second illustrated novel is packed with deadpan humor, rich tidbits of cat information -- and even some suspense! Who took Kitty's presents? Why are Kitty's friends so bizzare? Readers will laugh out loud at Kitty's feline mood swings, and they'll be touched by the heartwarming visit from a surprise guest.

My Thoughts
My sister and I were babysitting and it was late at night and the kids were either asleep or getting close to that time. I picked up this book from their coffee table. I had read one other bad kitty book, but it was just one of the children's book. I really liked it so I started reading. Obviously this book is way below my age level, but I thought the author made a really entertaining book for younger readers. I loved all his fancy names for the cats that came to Bad Kitty's birthday party. The added mystery to the story was entertaining also. The illustrations really kept me interested in Bad Kitty's story. There was time this book made me laugh. I think for a children's book this is great read and even though it is below my reading level it kept me pretty entertained.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: 44 Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4) by Debbie Macomber (no spoilers)

Book: 44 Cranberry Point
Author: Debbie Macomber
Series: Cedar Cove Book 4
Publication: January 1st, 2004
Source: Digital Library
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Summary (from goodreads):

Dear Reader,

I love living in Cedar Cove, but things haven't been the same since a man died at our B and B. Turns out his name was Max Russell, and Bob had known him briefly in Vietnam.We still don't have any idea why he came here and—most important of all—who killed him. Because it now appears that he was poisoned. I sure hope somebody figures it out soon!

Not that we're providing the only news in Cedar Cove these days. I heard that Jon Bowman and Maryellen Sherman are getting married. And Maryellen's mom, Grace, has more than her share of interested men! The question is: Which one is she going to choose? Olivia—I guess it's Olivia Griffin now— is back from her honeymoon, and her mother, Charlotte (who's in her mid-seventies at least), seems to have a man in her life, too. I'm not sure Olivia's too pleased….

There's lots of other gossip I could tell you. Come by for a cup of tea and one of my blueberry muffins and we'll talk.

Peggy Beldon

My Thoughts:
Again I really liked the relax feeling of Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series. I listened to this book during Dewey's read-a-thon and it was a nice break for the other books I was reading. I still think 204 Rosewood Lane has been my favorite Cedar Cove books so far, but this one was very interesting.

The person who ended up killing Max Russell was very unlikely and I liked the fact that Debbie Macomber kept me guessing. I also liked the fact that Rachel Pendergast had her own story line and that Celia Randall came back into the gossip of Cedar Cove.

What I really like about these novels is that it feels like real life. Not everything that happens for sure because some strange stuff goes on in this town, but the gossip and some of the problems the characters face such as trouble in their marriages is normal. This is the fourth Cedar Cove book I have read and they have all been amazing so far. Bob and Peggy Beldon aren't my favorite characters so that is probably why I prefer 204 Rosewood Lane over this book. Grace Sherman has been my favorite character of the series so far although some of her choices have been very frustrating to me.

I have done another character follow along spoilers included post for this book and I will be reading the next book 50 Harbor Street soon.


Thanks for reading

Rachael

Book Review:Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn (no spoilers)

Book: Breathing Underwater
Author: Alex Flinn
Publication: April 24, 2010
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 Stars












Summary (from Goodreads):

Like father, like son.

 Intelligent, popular, handsome, and wealthy, sixteen-year-old Nick Andreas is pretty much perfect — on the outside, at least. What no one knows — not even his best friend — is the terror that Nick faces every time he is alone with his father. Then he and Caitlin fall in love, and Nick thinks his problems are over. Caitlin is the one person who he can confide in. But when things start to spiral out of control, Nick must face the fact that he's gotten more from his father than green eyes and money

My Thoughts:
This was my first book by Alex Flinn and I have to say she didn't disappoint. I picked this book up totally random after quitting Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. I just went to the library and picked up this book. I had heard about it on Goodreads and added it to my maybe I will read this book someday To Be Read list, but it was totally unplanned when I read it.

This is a book I'm so glad I don't relate to. Nick was abused as a child and he abused his girlfriend Caitlyn which lead to the restraining order she filed against him. This book is basically about Nick suffering the consequences of his actions and finding out more about himself in the process.

When I learned what this book was about I immediately thought I was absolutely going to hate Nick as a character. The funny part is that I didn't. I hated Nick's dad, but I didn't hate Nick totally as a character. Alex Flinn was able to make me sympathize for Nick in some parts and really not like him in other parts. I think she created a good balance. Caitlyn was a character I felt sorry for throughout the book, but I thought she was smart for filing a restraining order against Nick. We have all heard the story of it was my fault not his when in all truth if the guy is the one being abusive it is his fault.

This books main theme was paying for your actions and the consequences of your actions. Nick learned throughout the book more about himself than he expected to learn. Through his journal we got to learn more about his relationship with Caitlyn and his present life. The underlying theme I noticed towards the end was forgiveness. People have the power to change if they admit that they have a problem and want to change. Although things may not have turned out the way Nick would have liked them to he learned to forgive people. The ending was very powerful in Breathing Underwater. I was in awe as I finished this book that brought forward so many mixed emotions for me.

Overall I loved Breathing Underwater and I can't wait to read another book by Alex Flinn. The writing was simple, but amazing overall. The writing made me feel like I went to school with Nick and Caitlyn instead of being an outsider looking in. This book wasn't what I expected at all, but this book impressed me more than words can explain.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (no spoilers)

Book: Tiger Lily
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Publication: July 3rd, 2012
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

 Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

 Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

 With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

 From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

My Thoughts:

Tiger Lily is a retelling of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan narrated by Tinker Bell about Tiger Lily. Tiger Lily had a very small part in Peter Pan so I was excited to see what Jodi Lynn Anderson would do with her character. In all honesty Jodi Lynn Anderson had a lot of room for imagination while still sticking true to the story of Peter Pan. She did a great job with the story, but I still saw the glimpses of the story of Peter Pan that I fell in love with.

Tinker Bell was a great narrator to this novel although there were many times I forgot it was her talking, she was able to keep an eye on Peter Pan and the pirates when Tiger Lily wasn't with them. This gave us as the reader a unique glimpse into their lives. Tinker Bell is the fairy I love from the Disney movie, but yet Anderson embraced her darker side that we see in Peter Pan. I really loved that aspect of her character.

This novel was about Tiger Lily and Peter Pan's unconventional  love story. I really liked that Jodi Lynn Anderson didn't rush the relationship. It took most of the book before either of their feelings became known and then even after that they weren't in love in the way you would think. Anderson did an amazing job with the character of Peter because he is so forgetful in the original novel he was forgetful in Tiger Lily still. Peter Pan made a different choice in the end than I could ever see him making, but I was okay with his decision. We don't know a whole lot about Tiger Lily from the original novel so Jodi Lynn Anderson had a lot of room to imagine up her character. Tiger Lily was a girl that didn't show her emotions, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't care. Tiger Lily isn't quick to anger and she isn't overly compassionate, but we could see throughout the novel that she cared about her tribe, The Skyeaters and Peter Pan and the lost boys. I especially enjoyed that Anderson embraced the darker elements of Peter Pan. The pirates and the mermaids were no angels and I really enjoyed that although I do wish the pirates had a little bigger part. The mermaids aren't seen for long in the original novel so she really fleshed out their characters for Tiger Lily and did an excellent job.

Tiger Lily is a beautiful novel full of adventure, courage, and love. I really enjoyed my time reading Tiger Lily.  I love the story of Peter Pan and Tiger Lily did not disappoint. I would recommend this novel to all fans of Peter Pan. I think all fans would fall in love with this novel as I did.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: 311 Pelican Court (Cedar Cove Book 3) (no spoilers)

Book: 311 Pelican Court
Author: Debbie Macomber
Series: Cedar Cove Book 3
Publication: September 1st, 2003
Source: Digital Library
Rating: 5/5 stars












Summary (from goodreads):

Rosie Cox 

311 Pelican Court

 Cedar Cove, Washington

 Dear Reader,

One thing about Cedar Cove — people sure are interested in what other people are doing. Take me, for instance. Everybody in the town knows that my husband, Zach, and I recently got a divorce. Everybody also know that Judge Olivia Lockhard decreed a pretty unusual custody arrangement. It won't be the kids moving between my place and Zach's. We're the ones who'll be going back and forth!

Olivia isn't immune to gossip herself. Will she stay with Jack, the guy who runs our local paper, or will she get back with her ex? Inquiring minds want to know!

But the really big gossip has to do with the dead guy — the man who died at a local bed-and-breakfast. Who is he and why did he show up there in the middle of the night? Roy McAfee, our local private investigator, is absolutely determined to find out. I hope he does — and then I'll let you know! See you soon. . . Rosie

My Thoughts:

I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this cedar cove novel as much as the previous novel, but it still was an amazing novel. I found myself really waiting for Rosie and Zach's diagolue to come back. I really enjoyed their after divorce relationship, no matter how weird it was. This was a big book for Olivia and Grace. They had a number of life changes. I found Mary Ellen really interesting in this book also and I hope she continues to have a big part of the series.

The biggest focus of the story was the guy who died at the bed and breakfast. Roy McAfee, the private investigator, refused to give up. A number of secrets about Bob Peldon came out during this novel. The most surprising relationship was the one that formed between Olivia's mother Charlotte and a friend, Ben Rhoades.

Overall I fell in love with the Cedar Cove story all over again. There is just a relaxed feeling to these books that makes it very easy to fall in love with the characters. I will be doing another character follow along for this novel so you can check that out if you have read the book, but if you haven't read this book it is time for you to begin the series. I understand this series won't be for everybody, but it is an amazing series that is very easy to relate to.


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard (no spoilers)

Book: Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard
Publication: January 1st, 2013
Source: Local Library
Rating: 2/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now. When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

My Thoughts:
I had high hopes for Splintered by A.G. Howard. The cover is magnificent  but unfortunately the content inside doesn't match. This book has received a lot of hype and I hoped that the book would live up to the hype, but unfortunately for me, Splintered fell short in more ways than one. The idea was Splintered is brilliant, but it is the execution that I didn't enjoy.

My number one issue with Splintered was the writing style. Usually I adjust quickly to different author's writing style, but throughout Splintered the writing style continued to bug me. Howard has very description writing which had the ability to paint a vivid picture of the scenery in the characters in my head. The problem I had with her writing style is that it dramatically slowed down the story. Something really exciting would happen and then Howard would take a paragraph or two to describe the exciting thing in detail. This novel was like a heart monitor machine where the book reaches a good point, but then it quickly drops down and stays down for many pages. I found myself literally bored while reading this book. I felt like exciting things were happening, but the writing style made the events less traumatic  Its is good to describe things, but in my opinion this writing style got in the way of the story more than it helped it.

Another issue I had with Splintered was the randomness. Anybody who knows the story of Alice in Wonderland knows it is a very random story. I'm okay with the randomness, but I felt in Splintered the author almost made everything too random. It was hard for me to keep track of what was going on because the author was quick to jump from plot line to plot line.

I never really formed any emotional response to the characters. I wanted Alyssa to succeed  but I didn't overly care how she got to the point of success. The insta love with Jeb bothered me and throughout the book Jeb's character bothered me. Then there was Morpheus who was just a brain washing fool. I didn't find a favorite character in this novel that I wanted to cheer for or a character that made me want to keep reading which is the reason Splintered took me some time to read.

I also really hoped that I would see the white rabbit, the queen of hearts, the caterpillar, the mad hatter, and the Cheshire Cat. Although some of the characters were in the novel they weren't even remotely close to the characters I fell in love with. Although since it is a fairy tale retelling I do want the author to add something new to the story I would still like to be able to relate to the characters. The characters in this novel were much darker and very hard to get to know because the writing style got in the way.

Overall I had high expectations for Splintered that were not able to be met. It takes a lot for me to dislike a book and I'm sorry to add Splintered to the list. The cover is beautiful, but the content inside is not. Although I know other people have enjoyed Splintered I don't happen to be one of them. I won't be recommending Splintered to anybody and I probably won't read another book by this author.


Positive reviews: Belle of the Literati and Creativity's Corner
Negative Review: Books of Amber


Thanks for reading


Rachael

Book Review: And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry (no spoilers)

Book: And Then I Found You
Author: Patti Callahan Henry
Publication: April 9th, 2013
Source: Goodreads First Reads
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Kate Vaughan is no stranger to tough choices.

 She’s made them before. Now it’s time to do it again.

 Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she’s getting on with her life. Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the perfect on paper relationship; she wants a real and imperfect love. That's why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan's drawer, she panics.

 It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she’s filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?

 When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it’s time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won’t fully love until she confronts those from her past. It’s time to act.

 Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?

And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase “inspired by a true story.” By travelling back to a painful time in her own family’s history, the author explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.

* I received this book though Goodreads First Reads. I did not receive any compensation for this review. All thoughts and feelings are honest and my own. *

My Thoughts:

The only thing that separates Kate’s past from her future is a single letter in her first name. Kate used to be Katie back in a time where she fell in love with a boy named Jack Adams and gave their daughter Luna up for adoption. It took us to a place where everything magical in the world happened on the first day of spring. And Then I Found You is about having the courage to confront your past. And Then I Found You is about love, loss, and reunion.

And Then I Found You was an extremely emotional, heartfelt novel. And Then I Found You is about love and never letting go of where you came from. And Then I Found You is about Kate’s first love and her present life. And Then I Found You is about a daughter who is loved more than she will ever know. And Then I Found You is a novel that will bring you to tears because it did for me twice. And Then I Found You is a novel that will touch a million hearts. I don’t have words to describe the emotions and the love I felt for this novel.

Placing your baby for adoption will never be an easy thing. Patti Callahan Henry takes us back to the past so we can watch Kate experience every single emotion after giving her daughter up for adoption. She chose closed adoption where she will have no contact with her baby girl. We watched Kate suffer through the not knowing, but still believing she made the right choice for her daughter.

Kate and Jack wrote yearly letters to each other, but they never saw each other since the day Kate told Jack she was pregnant and they decided to give their baby girl to hand chosen, but unknown family. Kate is trying to create a life for herself separate from Jack in the town of Bluffton, South Carolina where she owns an upscale boutique and has been in a relationship with a guy named Rowan for four years. Kate can’t deny her feelings for Jack. She doesn't want to love him, but she can’t help it that she does. Kate sets off on a journey to see her long lost love Jack in Birmingham, Alabama. What Kate doesn't realize is that this will be the trip that changes everything.

Jack and Kate were both wonderful complex characters. I was really rooting for them to be together, but then there is the part of me that liked Rowan and Kate as a couple also so it was hard to choose. We really got to know Kate’s family where we were more left in the dark with Jack’s family. I grew to love them both as characters and I grew to love every character in this novel.

And Then I Found You was a profound novel that made me feel things I didn't expect to feel. And Then I Found You was amazing. My only problem with the novel was that I kept comparing it to other books I have read such as Where We Belong by Emily Giffin and The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. Besides a few instances it was a complete original work. I could never imagine what a mother goes through when she isn't allowed to know anything about her child that she placed with a loving family. I would love for everybody to read this novel. It was a quick read with pretty short chapters, but it was a novel that deeply touched me and I haven’t even gone through an adoption. And Then I Found You is a novel that wasn't afraid to touch emotions we aren't willing to touch. Patti Callahan Henry crafted a novel that I won’t soon be forgetting. This novel ended with happiness and rejoice, but it also ended with it fair amount of hardship. 

I definitely like the published cover better than the book I received  The reason I entered this giveaway was for the cover. I was disappointed to receive the one I received, but it in no way takes away from the content inside this book. I would love for the world to read And Then I Found You because I think it is a novel that would really educate people about adoption and maybe people would stop being so insensitive to a person that has just made a hard decision for their child.

Thanks for reading

Rachael 

Book Review: The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (no spoilers)

Book: The Silver Linings Playbook
Author: Matthew Quick
Publication: April 27, 2010
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him -- the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he's being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy  Plus, he's being hunted by Kenny G!

 In this enchanting novel, Matthew Quick takes us inside Pat's mind, showing us the world from his distorted yet endearing perspective. As the award-winning novelist Justin Cronin put it: "Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true, The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut."

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My Thoughts:
Silver Linings Playbook what a heartwarming novel and so different from any other book I have read. I have not read a book about mental illness before so to say the least I was intrigued about this novel. It also helped that it is now a major motion picture. I have not seen the movie so I was able to judge the book while leaving the movie out of it. The movie on the other hand will be judged using the book as my reference.

I imagined the characters as Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence because there are such well known actors. I think if they were lesser known actors I may have imagined the characters for myself, but I didn't mind. Pat is the main character of this novel. He has lost his memory and spent the last 4 years in a mental health facility. His whole goal is to get his wife Nikki back. He refers to their time apart as apart time because he believes they are taking a break from their relationship. Something always felt strange to me about the way he talked about Nikki and how his parents and friends acted whenever her name was said which I later found out the reason why. I'm extremely jealous of Pat's dedication to working out. I really wish I could get myself to workout as much everyday as he does. I like that Pat isn't a perfect character besides his mental health he has many other flaws that don't ruin him as a character, but made me anyways like him more. I like when characters have flaws because you can relate to them. I couldn't totally relate to Pat, but in a lot of ways I could.

Tiffany is invited over for dinner one night when Pat is at his friend Ronnie's house. From the beginning Pat isn't sure about Tiffany. He just wants to get rid of her because he is waiting for apart time to be over and for Nikki to come back. I really thought Tiffany was an odd character and not just because of her mental illness. She had some stalker like tendencies and she always seemed like she was plotting something which I was later correct. Deep down Tiffany is a good person and we do realize that at some point.

I had to laugh at how deep of a fan Pat, his father, and his brother Jake were of the Eagles football team. Pat loved Hank Baskett who is no longer playing football. I'm guessing Quick is probably a fan also. This book has a lot of football references which truly I didn't mind at all because it didn't distract from the book.

This book is all about silver linings and happy endings. Although I know that happy endings can't always happen in life it sure is nice to read a book that promotes us to be positive. I think that is the most important thing I took away from this book. I really like Pat and Tiffany. I really enjoyed this book. The ending does not disappoint and there are so many unexpected things in this novel that I loved. Now I just hope the movie can do this fabulous book justice.


Thanks


Rachael

Book Review: The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (no spoilers)

Book: The Storyteller
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publication: February 26, 2013
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 Stars












Summary (from goodreads):

Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.

 What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice?

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My Thoughts:

Jodi Picoult is the ultimate storyteller. If you haven't read Jodi Picoult's newest novel what are you doing with your life? Jodi Picoult was able to take a very serious topic in this case WWII and turn it into a novel I was interested in. I would sit and read this book for long periods of time and when I reached the last page I was ready for the novel to be over.

Before I began this novel I really thought its main theme would be murder, but murder was an underlying theme while WWII took center stage. From the summary you may also think this book is about Sage Singer and Josef Weber and although it is about them it is so much more about Sage's grandmother. Sage's grandmother Minka who is a WWII survivor. She went through a lot surviving through several concentration camps such as Auschwitz. This book is Minka's story and all the survivors of the holocaust movement. The only way we are going to keep the holocaust as history is by telling these people's story. We can't let people forget about the holocaust and the only way people are going to remember is through survivor's story. Almost everybody alive during WWII is gone now, but there relative such as Sage in this novel life on.

Jodi Picoult writing is brilliant and the emotions in this book are so raw it takes you back to a different time and you feel like you are next to the characters. There are times I felt like I felt everything Minka went through and no matter how many times I read a WWII novel I will always feel shock about what those people were capable of.

The ending was very unexpected as most Jodi Picoult endings are. I watched the characters of this novel change so much throughout the novel. Some for the good others for the better. This book was mainly about lose with an underlying theme of love, heartache, and the difference between right and wrong. What lengths would you go to protect your family? That is the question Jodi Picoult asks.

Overall I fell in love with this novel and I have not read a book this quickly in a while. I want to see this book being read for generations because WWII is an embrassing, but important part of our history just as slavery is an embrassing, but important part of U.S. history. Both desevered to be remembered no matter how hard they are to swallow and I believe that fully. I believe things shouldn't be forgotten just because we don't like what happened during that period of time. Go read this book it is so much more than a nonfiction novel of world war 2. It is a well researched fiction novel with a story based to educate people on what happened. I think that is what makes this novel unique. Have I mentioned I love Jodi Picoult?  The Storyteller is a great new addition to the Jodi Picoult collection.

Thanks for reading and go read this book


Rachael