It's already a happy new year!

      

YOU GUYS. One of my favorite romance novels OF ALL TIME is back in print as of today! I've read my second-hand copies to the point where the binding is basically gone, and now I can get not only a fresh print copy, but a copy on my Kindle too. Words can't even.

So which book is it you ask? "With This Ring," by Carla Kelly. Just read it. But ignore the new cover. The story's clean too, if that is an issue for you with romance novels. I'm just, just . . . AHHHH so happy. I basically thought this day would never come.

January is turning out to be a good month for anticipated books. "First Frost," by Sarah Addison Allen, is coming out on the 20th and "The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy," by Julia Quinn, is out the 27th!

Review: Crash into You

Crash into You, by Katie McGarry. The GoodReads summary:

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

I feel like at this point I know what to expect from Katie McGarry’s books: There will be two teens in messed-up situations who fall in love despite all the things working against them. Family drama will abound. The plot will veer towards the overly dramatic. The boy will be tough on the outside but more emotionally aware than any boy I’ve met in real life. Love will, of course, prevail. And you know what? I’m okay with these books being formulaic, because sometimes you just need a teen romance that you know will hit the spot without asking too much of you.

“Crash into You” meets all the criteria above. In this book, Rachel is struggling with panic attacks and a family who refuses see her for who she really is. Isaiah is dealing with being a foster kid and with his mom coming back in his life. And they both are trying to find a way to get a few thousand dollars that this shady guy thinks they owe him—which means racing to win money. So as you can guess, dramatic situations happen all over the place in this book. I pretty much spent the whole time cringing as one thing after another goes wrong for Rachel and Isaiah. They do not have it easy, that’s for sure.

Isaiah is hot, so that’s kinda all that matters to me on that front. Plus, as mentioned above, he’s got the whole tough on the outside sensitive on the inside thing going on. Rachel was an interesting character, I thought, because her whole life everyone has seen her as weak because of her panic attacks, but with Isaiah, she gets the chance to show her strength, so it was interesting to get to see those different aspects of her character.

The two things that bugged me bugged me for similar reasons. First, I feel like Rachel’s panic attacks, which take center stage for a lot of the book, all of a sudden drop completely off the radar a towards the end when something more dramatic happens. It’s like the author got distracted by this new turn of events and forgot to give any kind of resolution or wrap-up of the panic attack part of the story. The second thing was that I feel like the resolution with Eric (the shady guy they owe money) was really weak. Like, it felt way too easy considering how much it was built up to.

Overall, if you liked McGarry’s other two books, I’m sure you’ll like this one as well, since it follows the same formula. I was a little disappointed when I saw the next book will be about West instead of about Abby, but I’m sure I’ll be reading it all the same.

Rating : 3.5 / 5

Review: Dare You To

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2), by Katie McGarry. The Goodreads summary:

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

So. I liked the book, but I don’t think I have that much to say about it actually. Basically, I’d say if you liked “Pushing the Limits,” you’ll like this companion book too. It’s about Beth, Noah’s friend from “Pushing the Limits.” I like Beth—she’s got emotional walls so thick and high that it’s anyone’s guess whether she’ll finally let them down or not. But Beth deserves those walls. As frustrating as they are, her life is tough, and I can understand why she clings so hard to them. Ryan . . . I wasn’t that fond of. I mean, he was alright, but not swoony at all for me. I think it was partly because it felt like the author was trying too hard with him. She had to keep reminding us over and over that yes he’s an over-competitive jock, but hey, he’s also a super sensitive, romantic guy at heart. So really, the effect on me was that I pretty much thought he was a douche the whole book.

Overall, I liked the bits about Beth but the bits about Ryan not so much. Still, I enjoyed the book for the most part, and I’m sure I’ll be reading Isaiah’s book, “Crash into You,” eventually. Recommended for fans of Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry series.

Review: 3.5 / 5

Review: Wild Cards

Wild Cards, by Simone Ekeles. The Goodreads summary:

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Huh. Well. This book. I can’t deny I enjoyed it. Or that I basically read it all in one sitting. But I can’t necessarily claim that it has very many redeeming qualities either. Or that I didn’t roll my eyes through most of it. It was a bit like watching a soap opera, I think. You can get sucked into the relationships and storyline, but there’s no denying that it’s rather overdone and ridiculous.

The two main characters were meh—I didn’t particularly like or dislike them. And their relationship is one of those where they claim they hate each other for no reason, despite their obvious attraction. It tried my patience a bit, but I thought it managed to hold itself together relatively well until the end, when all the sudden realizations of love and uncalled-for personality shifts started cropping up at a rather alarming rate. The side characters are flat, though I think the storyline with the sister moving back home could’ve been interesting if it had gone anywhere, as could the one with the grandmother if she hadn’t had a completely random personality transplant.

Overall, I’ll admit I had fun, but it was the kind of enjoyment that comes from reading something on just the wrong side of ridiculous. It wasn’t as bad as the third Perfect Chemistry book, though, so I’ll definitely give it that.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Book Light Confessional: Favorite Couples

I meant to post this on Valentine’s Day yesterday, but, well, that obviously didn’t happen. But here we go anyway . . . a few of my most favorite literary couples. You know, those whose swoontastic romances make me ridiculously just a little giddy.

(In no particular order)

-Kate and Sean (The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater)

-Phaedra and Lucian (The Lumatere Chronicles, by Melina Marchetta)

-Paxton and Sebastian (The Peach Keeper, by Sarah Addison Allen)

-Juliet and Dawsey (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows)

-Jane and Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte)

-Annabel and Owen (Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen)

-Taylor and Jonah (Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta)

-Anna and St. Clair (Anna and the French Kiss)

-Erin and Luthe (The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley)

-Senneth and Tayse (Mystic and Rider, by Sharon Shinn)

-Rose and Dimitri (Vampire Academy series, by Richelle Mead)

Who are your favorite couples?

Review: Such a Rush

Such a Rush, by Jennifer Echols. The GoodReads summary:

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

At a basic level, this book reminded me a lot of Jenny Han’s Summer books. There’s a girl and two brothers—one easygoing and fun, the other dark and brooding—and while the girl has always been in love with the serious brother, there’s the prospect of some romance with the other brother too. Not to mention there’s also summer and the beach. Which is not to say it was too similar to the Summer books—“Such a Rush” is very much its own story; it just gave me a similar vibe to the other.

I really liked Leah as a main character. She’s different from the usual YA heroine—having grown up in trailer parks with a terrible mother, Leah’s used to being seen as white trash. She dresses in low cut shirts and short shorts and has a reputation of being easy. But Leah is secretly really awesome. She’s loyal and responsible and not afraid to be tough and bad-A to those who try to drag her down. Plus, she goes after her dream of learning to fly, despite all the odds stacked against her. She rocks, basically, despite making her fair share of mistakes. Grayson on the other hand, I was not really a fan of. I hate it in books when the guy acts like a total jerk and it's supposed to be okay because deep down he has a good heart. I'm just like, "Dude, I don't care about his motivations--he's still being a jerk." And Grayson definitely had some jerky tendencies that prevented me from falling for him, although I will admit he does have a sexy bad-boy appeal going on.

This is only my second Jennifer Echols book, but I think she’s won me over, despite my dislike of Grayson. I avoided her books for so long for some inexplicable reason, but now that I’ve read a couple, I’m becoming a bit of a fan. From my limited experience, it seems to me that her books tend to be on the more mature end of YA, both in terms of the characters’ ages and sexuality, and “Such a Rush” definitely fell into that category. Leah is no naïve suburban princess, and it definitely shows in her language and actions. But the book never crossed the line into trashy, so I was fine with it.

Overall, it’s not necessarily a book I would recommend to younger teens, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I thought Leah was a refreshingly imperfect character, and—like I did with the other Echols book I read—I adored the drama, drama, drama.

Rating: 4 / 5

Review: Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits, by Katie McGarry. The GoodReads summary:

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Since I’d read mixed reviews of this book, I was a little apprehensive going in. But as it turned out, I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It’s a teen romance of the same type as Simone Elkeles’s Perfect Chemistry series—full of lots of drama, cheesy dialog, and making out. But those things worked for me in the Perfect Chemistry books, and they worked for me here too.

And I’m warning you—I’m not kidding about the cheesy dialog. But while it made me almost roll my eyes more than a few times, it never quite crossed the line into actual eye-rolling territory. And aside from the writing sometimes being over the top, I thought the book was actually pretty well written. The story flowed fairly seamlessly, and nothing in the writing ever really pulled me out of the narrative.

Neither Echo nor Noah ever quite won me over, but they didn’t bug me either. So while I didn’t become super invested in the story on their behalf, I did want to find out the secrets in their pasts badly enough to keep on reading. The secondary characters in the book are fairly flat, but since Echo and Noah and all their drama looms larger than life, I didn’t really miss having any strong side characters.

Overall, if you’re in the mood for some dramatic teen romance, I think this book is a pretty good choice. While the story is probably totally unrealistic, it was still infinitely readable and quite enjoyable, if a bit of a guilty pleasure.

Rating: 4 / 5

Book Light Confessional: Historical Romances & Courtney Milan

You guys, sometimes I just enjoy a good historical romance. (And admittedly I occasionally enjoy the totally worthless and trashy ones too). Historical romances are like junk food for the brain to me: not something I eat too often but just what I need sometimes.

Not that long ago, the marvelous Angie of Angieville introduced me to Courtney Milan’s historical romances via the novella “The Governess Affair.” And after I devoured that little gem, I went to the library and picked up a few of the other Milan books they had, which turned out to be the first two books in the Turner Brothers series. I proceeded to wolf those down as well. So here I am on the other side of a three-book/novella Courtney Milan stint, and these are my general thoughts:

I love that she surprises me. There seems to always be a point in her books where I’ve been enjoying the story so far, but then something a little (or a lot) cliché happens and I start to think, maybe this book won’t be that good after all. But Milan always manages to resolve the cliché situation in a brilliantly not-so-cliché way. Which I thoroughly appreciate. And that bit of doubt that gets proven wrong always seems to make me love the story all the more.

I also love that her characters are emotionally honest. When they realize they care about each other, they consistently show it through their actions, and they don't act or speak in ways that contradict that. Similarly, I like that her characters are respectful to each other even before they necessarily like each other. Not that they don’t argue and make each other mad, but there’s a core of respect, especially on the part of the men, that I really, really like. And speaking of the men, I adore ’em. The women are strong (and hallelujah for that), but it’s the fact that the men don’t seem to be surprised by it that wins me over every time. And not only are they not surprised, they also support the heroines and let them know it’s okay to become even stronger. I love that the men are secure enough in themselves that the strength of the heroines doesn’t cause them to resort to pettiness and pride (that happens all the time in historicals and it makes me grrr).

So yep, new Courtney Milan fan over here. I’m excited to eventually get to her other books and see if what I liked about the three stories I’ve read so far continues to hold true. I certainly hope so.

Friday Favorites: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not-necessarily-YA books I love.

Which book?
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn

Genre?
Historical Romance

Summary? (from GoodReads)
Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for... well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret... and fears she doesn't know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph.

But when Colin returns to London from a trip aboard, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same, especially Penelope Featherington, the girl haunting his dreams!

And when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide... is she his biggest threat, or his promise of a happy ending?

When did I first read it?
I’ve been trying and failing to remember. I went through two main phases of romance-novel reading: high school and my sophomore and junior years of college. So it was probably during one of those times.

Why did I first read it?
This is the fourth book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, and I honestly can’t remember if I had read the ones before this book already and that’s why I picked it up, or if I just read it randomly.

What did I think about it then?
I immediately liked that it was lighthearted and funny. So many historical romance novels tend to be on the overly dramatic side, but “Romancing Mr. Bridgerton” manages to have emotional heft AND humor. Similarly, I loved that Colin wasn’t a dark and brooding hero. He’s a nice, normal guy who’s not perfect but tries his best to be a good person. I also liked that the book wasn’t all about the sexual tension between the two characters. They actually get to know each other and become friends and have meaningful (and witty) conversations. Hallelujah.

What do I think about it now?
This is my favorite romance novel. Ever. I adore all of Julia Quinn’s books, but this is definitely my favorite of hers, and I’ve reread it more times than I can remember. I love the story and the writing style a lot, but more than that, I love Penelope. That girl is my soul sister. I always prefer books where I can relate to the main character, but when it comes to Penelope, I kinda feel like I am her. We’re similar in so many ways it’s ridiculous. So if there was ever a book I could live vicariously through, this is it.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Friday Favorites: Anna and the French Kiss

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not necessarily YA books I love.

Which book?
Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

Genre?
YA contemporary

Summary? (from GoodReads)
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

When did I first read it?
When it first came out, two years ago.

Why did I first read it?
Because all the blogs were raving about it, so I had to investigate.

What did I think about it then?
I loved it, just like everyone else. I found Anna really easy to relate to, and I thought her actions and reactions were totally believable, given her situation. But more than that, it had great romantic tension between Anna and St. Clair. I LOVED them together and thought their relationship felt really natural. I’ve always disliked that he’s dating someone else the whole time, but I like the book enough that I can overlook it.

What do I think about it now?
I still need to reread this one all the way through, but I’ve reread my favorite parts a bunch of times. I just really love that scene where they sleep in the same bed—it’s completely awkward and uncomfortable but so perfectly full of romantic tension. I adore it.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Friday Favorites: The Sevenwaters Trilogy

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not necessarily YA books I love.

Which book?
The Sevenwaters Trilogy, by Juliet Marillier

Genre?
Fantasy

Summary?
It’s a trilogy that’s morphed into 5 books and a novella, all about different generations of this family who lives in old Ireland (I think). They intermittently interact with the faeries and other fae, have adventures, and fall in love.

The books in the series are
-Daughter of the Forest
-Son of the Shadows
-Child of the Prophesy
-Heir to Sevenwaters
-Seer of Sevenwaters
-Twixt Firelight and Water

When did I first read it?
About two years ago.

Why did I first read it?
I was reading a different book by the same author that my sister had recommended to me. One of my co-works saw me with it and asked if I had read this series. When I said I hadn’t, she lent me them, for which I will be forever grateful. I downed the whole series (or at least the books that were out at that point) in two weeks.

What did I think about it then?
These aren’t short books. In paperback, they’re 500-600 pages of fairly small text. And usually that’s the kind of thing that turns me off. But from the very first book, these sucked me in. The fantasy aspect with all the faeries and old gods and whatnot is great, but what I really loved were the layered characters and how the author managed to include romances that were plenty swoony without taking over the story.

What do I think about it now?
My favorite in the series is the fourth book, Heir to Sevenwaters, but they’re all pretty great. Even my least favorites, Child of the Prophecy and Seer of Sevenwaters, are still fairly fantastic. There are some parts of the books that I love rereading, just because they’re so wonderful. Actually, I read Heir to Sevenwaters before I read Iron King, by Julie Kagawa, (which has a fairly similar storyline) and I couldn’t even finish Iron King because it didn’t come close to stacking up to Heir to Sevenwaters.

Have you read this series? What did you think?

Review: Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3), by Simone Elkeles. The GoodReads summary:

Like his brothers, Luis Fuentes is a risk taker; whether he's scaling the Rocky Mountains or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis is always looking for the next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by certain rules -, don't trust a boy who says "I love you", boys lie to get their own way and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex's wedding and suddenly she's tempted to break all her rules. Getting Nikki to give him a chance is Luis's biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by the head of the gang that nearly destroyed his brothers' lives. Will Luis's feelings for Nikki be enough to stop him from entering a dark and violent world that could prove to be the ultimate risk?

Um, so, this book. This book was 100 percent a guilty pleasure for me. I’m honestly not sure that I can pinpoint any things that I like about it, but at the same time I got totally addicted. I gulped it down so fast. It’s the third (and last?) in the Perfect Chemistry series, in which the hot, gangbanging, trouble-making Fuentes brothers find true love in high school with their own little-miss-perfect rich girls. These books have seriously gotta be so unrealistic, but that never seems to stop me. Really, every time I read one of these Perfect Chemistry books, the whole time I just think, “Is that really what gang life is like? Is that what being Mexican American is really like?” It always seems so impossible to me, and yet since I am so far removed from either of those lifestyles, who am I to be skeptical?

Chain Reaction was probably my least favorite of the three in the series—neither Luis or Nikki really did it for me. I’m not actually sure that either of them have redeeming characteristics, especially Louis. When is it a good idea to join a gang, let alone lie to your girlfriend about it? It’s no wonder they make mistakes considering they both have to deal with really tough situations, but I couldn’t help rolling my eyes at them rather than sympathizing.

The book is also a straight up YA romance. It doesn’t bother trying to pretend to be anything else, which I found quite refreshing. It is what it is and isn’t ashamed of it. The romance is pretty hot and heavy too—it’s full on makeout sessions and groping and the whole shebang. Probably the cover gives that fact away.

Overall, if I hadn’t read the first two books, I wouldn’t have read this one, and if you haven’t read the first two, I don’t think this one is good enough to stand on its own. It more like, “Yay, let’s find out what happens to Louis!” But if you do decide to read it without having read the others, you won’t be lost or anything—the plot is separate from the others. And honestly, despite all my criticisms of this book, I had a hard time putting it down. It reeled me in for sure.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Friday Favorites: With This Ring

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not necessarily YA books I love.

Which book?
With This Ring, by Carla Kelly

Genre?
Regency Romance

Summary? (From GoodReads)
It was clear to Lydia Perkins from the first that she was courting scandal when she became involved with Major Samuel Reed. This outrageously impudent officer kept deplorable company in dismal surroundings beyond the boundaries of polite society. Even worse, he was shamelessly, sinfully penniless. — To keep him company would ruin Lydia's already slim chances in the marriage mart. To listen to the shocking proposal he made to her would spell ruin to her good name. To run away with him in a mockery of marriage on a honeymoon journey through the wilds of England was the ultimate folly for a young lady whose family demanded she wed both wisely and well. Could Lydia say "I do" and accept the Major for better or for worse, or would she risk losing the only man who had ever captured her heart?

When did I first read it?
Um…eight years ago probably? Sometime in high school.

Why did I first read it?
There was a box of regency romances out in our garage, and so I read my way through them.

What did I think about it then?
I think regency romances are a lot of fun—clean and light—but they tend to lack any major depth. The characters tend to flirt and go to balls and go for rides in Hyde Park and that’s it. But “With This Ring” is more grounded—its characters deal with real issues, and there is definite character growth going on. Plus, it is really, really funny. So reading “With This Ring” after a bunch of fluffier books was just so refreshing.

What do I think about it now?
I love this book A LOT. It is hands down one of my top two favorite romances. I’ve reread it a ton of times, and I never get tired of it. I just admire the characters so much and kinda look up to them in a way because they’re such strong people. And I like how the author makes the two characters’ relationship feel so real without having to be explicit about what goes on in the bedroom. I feel like this book completely disproves all those people who think romance novels can’t have substance and are only about sex.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Friday Favorites: The Winter Sea

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not necessarily YA books I love.

Which book?
The Winter Sea, by Susanna Kearsley

Genre?
Historical Fiction

Summary? (From GoodReads)
It is 2008 and Carrie McClelland can't hit the right note for her next novel, but an unplanned detour in Scotland, and a stop at the castle that inspired Count Dracula, sets her on a different path; a path that took her back in time exactly 300 years, to that same castle, and to a rebellion doomed to failure. Alternating between the contemporary setting and the past, The Winter Sea takes us at every turn into little known worlds; historical footnotes writ large, a history of Scotland and the Jacobite rebellion of 1708 and the possibility of genetic memory. Historical fiction at its best and Susanna Kearsley at hers, The Winter Sea evokes the writing of Thomas Raddall, Daphne Du Maurier, and Mary Stewart.

When did I first read it?
About a year ago.

Why did I first read it?
I think I saw it recommended on someone’s blog. I must have, actually, because it’s not really the type of book I’d usually pick up without a recommendation.

What did I think about it then?
I didn’t know what to expect going in, seeing as how I’m not habitually a fan of historical fiction. But I got sucked in almost from the start—mostly because there are two stories (one that takes place modernly and one that takes place in 18th century Scotland) and BOTH of them have totally hot Scottish guys in them. Seriously, what else would I have needed to love this book? But I think what really pushed this book into the favorites category for me was the ending of the historical storyline. I literally squealed when I read it because it was unexpected but so totally perfect.

What do I think about it now?
Admittedly, I haven’t had time to reread this one yet, but I swear I have every intention of doing so. It’s a fairly long book, so it takes a little more of a time commitment than I’m used to. But even though I haven’t reread it all the way through yet, I HAVE reread my favorite bits—because there are some parts of this book that are so perfectly wonderful I couldn't stay away.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Friday Favorites: Best Laid Schemes

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some not necessarily YA books I love.

Which book?
Best Laid Schemes, by Emma Jensen

Genre?
Regency romance

Summary? (From GoodReads)
"Girls grow into ladies, dearest. It happens all the time."
"That is not a lady, madam. That is Sibyl Cameron."

So says Tarquin Rome, a rather stiff, superbly handsome earl who has been harassed by this irrepressible mishap-prone chit since boyhood. Why then would his mother invite Sibyl to his artfully planned house party?

Why, indeed. The lofty earl is hardly likely to notice that the beautiful Sibyl is no longer in pinafores and pigtails--especially since he has invited three Incomparables from which he will choose his bride. But when embarrassing and awkward moments transpire at his gathering, Tarquin can only blame Sibyl. Which hardly explains his increasing desire for her company--and her affection. . . .

When did I first read it?
Probably around age 14 or so

Why did I first read it?
I used to bug one of my older sisters all the time for books to read, and this was one of the ones she handed me.

What did I think about it then?
I’m pretty sure this was the first romance novel I’d ever read. It’s very PG and there’s nothing racy in it, but still, since I’d never read a book where the entire point was the characters’ romance, it was a new experience for me. Obviously, it was an experience I enjoyed because I borrowed the book from my sister all the time until I finally bought my own copy. Plus, the book is just so hilarious. It made me bust up laughing all the way through. And I really adored the characters—even the ones that aren’t supposed to be likeable still manage to be lovable.

What do I think about it now?
This book holds a place in my heart for introducing me to the genre, and I still enjoy a good romance novel every once in a while. I’m a sucker for a good love story, and this remains one of the books I turn to when I need a little vicarious romance.

Have you read any Regency romances? What did you think? What are your go-to romances?

Friday Favorites: Jane Eyre

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some non-YA books I love.

Which book?
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Genre?
Classic

Summary? (from GoodReads)
Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed. With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers...

When did I first read it?
High school

Why did I first read it?
I was on a classics kick in high school, so I worked my way through the classics section at my local library. Thus, I discovered Jane Eyre.

What did I think about it then?
I thought it was sooooo romantic. I hadn’t read a romance like it before--it was darker and more serious than Jane Austen and infinitely more challenging than the crappy selection of YA my library had. Plus, I really connected to Jane. She’s just an ordinary person, but she always does what she thinks is right no matter how hard it is.

What do I think about it now?
Now I think Mr. Rochester is a total jerk. Seriously. But I still love him, because Jane loves him. And I still adore this story--I adore it in all its forms: the book, the movies, the musical, the spin-offs . . . they’re all lovely. I just . . . really like Jane. She’s kinda one of my literary heroes. And I still think the romance is swoony. And the crazy wife in the attic only makes the book even better.

Friday Favorites: Sarah Addison Allen

On Fridays I post a little shout out to one of my favorite books and explain why I love it so much. It gives me the chance to fangirl over books I never reviewed on this blog and lets me post about some non-YA books I love.

Yes, I realize that today's favorite "book" is actually an author. But since I hands-down wholeheartedly adore every single book she's written, I decided to post about them together.

Which book?
"Garden Secrets," "The Sugar Queen," "The Girl Who Chased the Moon," "The Peach Keeper"--all by Sarah Addison Allen

Genre?
Contemporary women's fiction

When did I first read it?
The first Sarah Addison Allen book I read was "The Sugar Queen." I read it in 2010. After I finished that one, I went back and read "Garden Secrets" almost immediately. Then I read "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" and "The Peach Keeper" as they were released (2010 and 2011, I think).

Why did I first read it?
I was introduced to Sarah Addison Allen's books by a review of "The Sugar Queen" on Angieville. She just made it sound so good that I knew I had to read it. Then once I read "The Sugar Queen," I was thoroughly addicted, and I knew, come hell or high water, I would be reading her other books.

What did I think about it then?
When I finished "The Sugar Queen," I knew I was in love. Allen's just such a talented writer, and her stories are these perfect blends of magical realism, Southern charm, and gentle romance that made me smile and swoon as I read them. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading each book.

What do I think about it now?
I still love these books as much now as I did when I first read them. I think they top my list of comfort reads that I go back to again and again. And I've gotten a bunch of other people addicted to them too, because I recommend them all the time. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably go with "The Girl Who Chased the Moon," but they're all perfectly lovely.

Have you read anything by Sarah Addison Allen? What did you think?

A parade of books

Just a quick review of some of the books I've read lately that I wanted to mention but didn't feel like writing a whole post about.

"Amy & Roger's Epic Detour," by Morgan Matson
Amy, who's having trouble dealing with her father's recent death, is asked by her mother (who's already at their new home in Connecticut) to bring their car from California to Connecticut. Only Amy doesn't drive. So enter Roger, a family friend, who's going to do the driving. Pretty much right from the start they deviate from Amy's mother's careful plan and go all sorts of places that end up helping both of them with their issues.

This a solid YA romance/dealing-with-issues book. I think if I read it at almost any other time, I would've been 100 percent in love with it and raved about it at length, but for some reason, it didn't hit the spot for me this time. Maybe in a couple months I'll try it again and see how it goes.

"Dreamland Social Club," by Tara Altebrando
Jane moves with her father and brother to Coney Island, where they have inherited a house from her grandfather. Quite, plain Jane meets all sorts of crazy/interesting people at her school but has some issues with her new friends when they discover that her father might be in charge of building the new contested roller coaster. At the same time, Jane is also finding out things about her mother, who grew up on Coney and who died when Jane was six.

So on the one hand, I loved this book, because I thought Coney Island made an awesome setting. Most contemporary YA's don't have much of a setting; they tend to take place in these nondescript towns, because it's the plot that's important not the place. But the setting in this book is practically it's own character, and it gives the book this really funky atmosphere that's easy to lose yourself in. However, other elements of this book I didn't love quite so much. One was Jane herself, she just faded into the background too much. I understand that she's supposed be shy and unassuming, but she's the main character, for pete's sake. She should stand out at least a little. And the other thing the annoyed me was the whole romance she has with Leo. It left me completely unsatisfied--and that's all I'm going to say so I don't ruin anything.

"Delirium," by Lauren Oliver
Lena lives in a world where love has been declared a disease, and everyone must take the cure when they turn 18. Lena is excited to be cured--she's looking forward to the calm and security that comes with it. But then, a couple months before she's scheduled to be cured, she falls in love--and of course, that changes her whole perspective.

I was really looking forward to this book, and as a result it let me down a little. I mean, it was an interesting read, for sure. But I found myself skimming and wondering how much longer it was until the end. I don't know why. I think it was partly because I never connected to Lena, and partly because the story got pretty predictable pretty fast. Overall, I did enjoy it, but I doubt I'm going to read the sequel.

"Divergent," by Veronica Roth
Beatrice lives in a city controlled by five factions: Abnegation (selflessness), Amity (kindness), Dauntless (courageous), Candor (honesty), and Erudition (intelligence). When they're 16, each person must take a test that tells them which faction they're best suited for, then the person can choose either that faction or the faction they grew up in. When Beatrice is tested, it turns out she's Divergent--she fits in more than one faction--which is dangerous in that society, so she can't tell anyone about it. At her choosing ceremony Beatrice joins Dauntless over Abnegation, her home faction, surprising everyone. But once she joins Dauntless she has to undergo really intense initiation training, and she begins to discover that all is not right in the relationship between the factions.

I totally love this book! Really. I basically couldn't put it down. I loved Tris (the name Beatrice chooses for herself when she joins Dauntless) so much--it's been a long time since I've found such a likable character in a action-based book. Tris isn't too tough, but she isn't too whiny either. Plus, she totally kicks some serious butt. The fact that Four (Tris's love interest) is completely awesome probably helped my infatuation with the book too. And the plot was totally engrossing--like I said, I couldn't put it down. I definitely recommend this one. Bring on the sequel!

"Just Like Heaven," by Julia Quinn
I don't really remember enough about this book to summarize it, to be honest. But it's basically a fluffy romance that's along the same lines as all of Julia Quinn's recent books. Aka, it was fun and enjoyable, but it didn't have much substance. Don't get me wrong, it was funny and I liked it, but it was also pretty forgettable.

Christmas break: A summary in books

I went home for two weeks for Christmas, and although we had some fun adventures (e.g., the zoo, Bate's Nut Farm, a winter solstice party, the dentist, Lake Miramar, game nights, friends' houses, "Tangled," movie nights--and days--at home, Night in Bethlehem, Christmas, YSA New Year's dance, etc.), per usual, there was a lot of down time when I could read. So believe me, I did. Here's what I read over break (at least, the ones I remember):

-"Anna and the French Kiss," by Stephanie Perkins (A nearly perfect YA romance. Seriously though. Of course they end up together, but Perkins makes you work for it. This one will make you want to go to France. And meet a hot English guy.)

-"How to Hook a Hottie" and "Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress," by Tina Ferraro (Two quick-read YAs. Fluffy, but enjoyable.)

-"Before I Fall," by Lauren Oliver (You'll hate Samantha at the beginning, but by the end, you'll be cheering for her. Shock and horror, a book with actual character growth.)

-"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," by J.K. Rowling (A re-read. As a result of my sisters watching the HP movies, I realized I had zero recollection of how it all ended. So I read book 7 again and remembered how well done the series is.)

-"Fire" and "Water," by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson (I LOVE McKinley, but for some reason I hadn't read these short story collections by her and her husband. I definitely preferred the stories written by McKinley, and there were some that I loved so much I wished they were full-length books--"Water Horse" and "A Pool in the Desert" in "Water," and "Hellhound" and "First Flight" in "Fire.")

-"Seer of Sevenwaters," by Juliet Marillier (Book 5 in the Sevenwaters series and not as good as some of the others, but still enjoyable.)

-"The Lady Most Likely," Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway (Three short romance stories by three authors, tied together by a house party. The first story, by Julia Quinn, was my favorite.

-"Nothing Like You," by Lauren Strasnick (I'm still not sure whether or not I like that the ending was honest, but overall, a good read.)

-"What My Mother Doesn't Know," by Sonya Sones (This book is in verse, so it's a quick read, but it still manages to be an emotional love-life roller coaster.

Overall, a good break, eh?