"Under a Painted Sky" - Stacey Lee

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Last week's Clean Slate Read-a-thon took its toll on me. So this week, I have been taking a little breather. Today's review for Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee is this month's book for my FYA book club. This is generally not a book I would pick up on my own, but one of the reasons I love book club! It forces me to get outside of my comfort zone and introduces me to new authors and genres I would normally pass over!

Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.
 
This beautifully written debut is an exciting adventure and heart-wrenching survival tale. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship.

I went into this book without knowing much about it beforehand. For me, it was a struggle to get into the story. I couldn't relate to any of the characters, everything came way too easy, a lot of cliche ideas that are typical for YA books, and not a time period I have much interest in. Understanding the themes and message the author was trying to get across was easy to get yet at the same time, they weren't prevalent enough for me personally to put too much thought into them. The writing wasn't amazing but it wasn't terrible either. A very easy, quick read. If asking what age group this book is best suited for, I would say young, middle school aged kids. It's a great book for girls that age to introduce to them ideas of race and the struggles girls in our past faced. It also does a great job at showing how race and gender don't matter. Anyone can do anything if you put your mind to it. Overall, it was a "meh" book. I think I just wasn't interested in the story itself. 

As always, feel free to share any thoughts, comments, or recommendations! 

Happy reading fools :) 

"The Sisters of Versailles" - Sally Christie

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I hope everyone was able to enjoy the three-day weekend and have a little time to relax and read. Today's review was the final book I finished as part of the Clean Slate Read-a-thon. And what a great book it was! I think I was most excited to find out that The Sisters of Versailles by Sally Christie is part of a trilogy, with books two and three coming out this year! Those have definitely been added to my TBR list. Who doesn't love a good French Court, 18th-century scandal :) Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

"A sumptuous and sensual tale of power, romance, family, and betrayal centered around four sisters and one King. Carefully researched and ornately detailed, The Sisters of Versailles is the first book in an exciting new historical fiction trilogy about King Louis XV, France's most "well-beloved" monarch, and the women who shared his heart and his bed.
 
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear.
 
Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters: Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne, four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
 
Court intriguers are beginning to sense that young King Louis XV, after seven years of marriage, is tiring of his Polish wife. The race is on to find a mistress for the royal bed as various factions put their best foot - and women - forward. The King's scheming ministers push Louise, the eldest of the aristocratic Nesle sisters, into the arms of the King. Over the following decade, the four sisters: sweet, naive Louise; ambitious Pauline; complacent Diane, and cunning Marie Anne, will conspire, betray, suffer, and triumph in a desperate fight for both love and power.
 
In the tradition of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Sisters of Versailles is a clever, intelligent, and absorbing novel that historical fiction fans will devour. Based on meticulous research on a group of women never before written about in English, Sally Christie's stunning debut is a complex exploration of power and sisterhood; of the admiration, competition, and even hatred that can coexist within a family when the stakes are high enough."

Five sisters all connected in some way to King Louis XV, fighting for power and to be his mistress?! How scandalous! And how intriguing! This book was pure gold. Christie banters back and forth between all the sisters, including both narrative and letters they wrote back and forth to each other. I loved seeing the story and struggle from each of their points-of-view! The story was full of drama, intrigue, power, and romance, romance for both the king and for each other as sisters. Positively thrilling! There are a lot of other characters throughout the book that sometimes I confused, but not enough that it had an effect on the story itself. Even better, the entire premise of the story is wrote based on actual facts. Yes, the book is historical fiction but the idea came from actual accounts. As a debut author, Christie is someone I am definitely looking forward to reading more from. She uses GREAT vocabulary. I'm all about the use of the word "pious." Don't ask. I have weird quirks :) I can't wait for books two and three, The Rivals of Versailles and The Enemies of Versailles, both due to be released this year, to complete the Mistresses of Versailles trilogy. My only fault, I wish I would have read this book sooner! As always, feel free to share any thoughts, comments, or recommendations.

Happy reading fools :)

"Coal River" - Ellen Marie Wiseman

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's review is the first book in conjunction with my "Clean Slate Read-a-thon." I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley so huge shout out to them! Thanks! Make sure to check out my progress for the read-a-thon on my progress post which can be found HERE. Coal River by Ellen Marie Wiseman was a great way to kick start the challenge. I picked this book up and did not put it down until I had finished it. So disappointed in myself for putting this book off!!

In this vibrant new historical novel, the acclaimed author of The Plum Tree and What She Left Behind explores one young woman's determination to put an end to child labor in a Pennsylvania mining town.

As a child, Emma Malloy left isolated Coal River, Pennsylvania, vowing never to return. Now, orphaned and penniless at nineteen, she accepts a train ticket from her aunt and uncle and travels back to the rough-hewn community. Treated like a servant by her relatives, Emma works for free in the company store. There, miners and their impoverished families must pay inflated prices for food, clothing, and tools, while those who owe money are turned away to starve. 

Most heartrending of all are the breaker boys Emma sees around the village--young children who toil all day sorting coal amid treacherous machinery. Their soot-stained faces remind Emma of the little brother she lost long ago, and she begins leaving stolen food on families' doorsteps, and marking the miners' bills as paid. 

Though Emma's actions draw ire from the mine owner and police captain, they lead to an alliance with a charismatic miner who offers to help her expose the truth. And as the lines blur between what is legal and what is just, Emma must risk everything to follow her conscience. 

An emotional, compelling novel that rings with authenticity--Coal River is a deft and honest portrait of resilience in the face of hardship, and of the simple acts of courage that can change everything.

This book was great. The writing was easy to follow, it had fantastic depictions of the scenes that were being described, and twists that I never saw coming! I really liked the historical aspect of the book. I  have not read other books about coal mining and did not know much about the effects it had on all aspects of the people and the towns the mills were in. Emma was a well-rounded character who had seen and suffered more than someone her age should have yet she had desire and hope, a longing for more that she never gave up on. I felt I was able to easily put myself into the scenes and see exactly what Wiseman was talking about. She had clear definitions for all the characters and their roles. I really liked the character, Clayton Nash. There could easily be a book on him alone. His dynamic with Emma seemed a little odd at times, but I liked how things came together in the end. What I liked best were the twist and turns. The book is suspenseful but not "sitting on the edge of your chair" suspenseful. It builds really well and then BAM! out of nowhere! If anything, read it just for that fact alone. Like I said, I did not put it down until I had finished. Great book! I'm kicking myself for putting off for so long. Once again, thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read it! As always, feel free to share any thoughts, comments, or recommendations!

Happy reading fools :) 

Reading struggles

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I don't know about all of you but today I woke up to snow on the ground.... I now want to hibernate until April. I absolutely HATE snow. Why I don't live in a warmer place, is a questions I ask myself every day!

Plus side of hibernation? READING! I was hoping to have a couple reviews for you today. Sadly, I am struggling to find "attention-grabbing" books. For the past two weeks, I have tried multiple times to pick up the following two books. Each time I have to push myself to keep reading and continually lose interest. I don't know if it's time for me to switch up my genres or what. It's very upsetting. All I want to do is curl up with a good book, make a delicious cup of coffee, and read my afternoon away. Over and over I've just been let down. So below I have listed the two books I have had to add to the "Did Not Finish" pile. I hate this pile. It makes me sad. Especially these two books. I have heard rave reviews and recommendations from others. Maybe they are good books. I'm going to try something new and maybe pick these books up at a later date and try again. Feel free to share with me any comments you have about either book. I'd love to hear your thoughts! I WANT them to be good books!! Convince me they are!


Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Recently I reviewed a couple different books by Rowell as preparation for my October book club meeting. Compared to her other books, Landline just falls short in my opinion. The characters didn't grab me. The story line itself confused me at times. I had trouble following the dialogue. Nothing against Rainbow Rowell. She's a great writer. That being said, I prefer her YA books better!


The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert
I have been hearing great things about this book. It's right in my alley genre wise. I have read more books than count or remember on WW2 and the Holocaust. I find it fascinating in a historical context. I have now tried starting this book 3 times. I can't seem to get farther than about a third of the way through. This really makes me sad. I want this book to be good. Not just good, but GREAT. I promise to try again at a later date. Maybe I just need to set it aside and pick it up another time. Please read this book. Tell me how it is. I need to hear how great it is. I know it has to be. I know it has huge potential. Someone fulfill this need!!

As always, feel free to share any comments, recommendations, and suggestions. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Next up, Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich! 

"Until We Meet Again" - Renee Collins

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Huge shout out to NetGalley for an advanced copy of today's book! Can you believe Thanksgiving is just 12 days away! Where has this year gone?! It feels like Fall was barely here. I love fall. Cool weather, sweaters, football. What's not to love! So while today's review is not a fall themed book, it is a sappy, young adult romance. Think Lake House but with teenagers. Ah, teen love :)

"They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time. 

Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachuttes town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own -- that the year is 1925 -- she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making. 

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandre discovers a truth that puts their growing love -- and Lawrence's life -- into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history ... or risk losing Lawrence forever."

I had a hard time putting this book down. Renee Collins wrote a beautiful, touching, "pull-on-the-heartstrings," teen romance. Until We Meet Again is written from both Cassandra and Lawrence's points-of-view, back and forth between 1925 and present day. Not only is the reader experiencing the love and relationship between Lawrence and Cassandra but also their own struggles and stories outside of their summer romance with each other. I loved the romance mixed with time travel and history. There are some "cheesy" moments, but I mean, come on. Would you expect anything less? I also felt that both character's acceptance of the entire "spacetime continuum" was a little rushed. I know I would have a hard time accepting it and not thinking I'm going insane! Great book for young adult readers, high school age and above. I highly recommend it. Thanks again NetGalley! As always, feel free to share any comments suggestions or recommendations!

Happy reading fools :)

"Twain's End" - Lynn Cullen

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's e-ARC was made possible thanks to Netgalley! Thank you!! Twain's End by Lynn Cullen was interesting. Viewing a life from someone else's perspective always adds an intriguing dynamic to what you know about a person.

In March of 1909, Mark Twain cheerfully blessed the wedding of his private secretary, Isabel V Lyon, and his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft. One month later, he fired both. He proceeded to write a ferocious 429-page rant about the pair, calling Isabel 'a liar, a forger, a thief, a hypocrite, a drunkard, a sneak, a humbug, a traitor, a conspirator, a filthy-minded and salacious slut pining for seduction.' Twain and his daughter, Clara Clemens, then slandered Isabel in the newspapers, erasing her nearly seven years of devoted service to their family. How did Lyon go from being the beloved secretary who ran Twain's life to a woman he was determined to destroy?

In Twain's End, Lynn Cullen reimagines the tangled relationships between Twain, Lyon, and Ashcroft, as well as the little-known love triangle between Hellen Keller, her teacher Anne Sullivan Macy, and Anne's husband, John Macy, which comes to light during their visit to Twain's Connecticut home in 1909. Add to the party a furious Clara Clemens, smarting from her own failed love affair, and carefully kept veneers shatter. 

Based on Isabel Lyon's extant diary, Twain's writing and letters, and events in Twain's boyhood that may have altered his ability to love, Twain's End explores this real-life tale of doomed love."

Lynn Cullen is a great writer. She took information gained through research from Lyon's personal diary, Clara Clemen's biography of her father, and many other works depicting Sam Clemen's life to narrate a great historical fiction novel based on his real-life events. While the book is mostly narrated from Isabel's point-of-view, there are times when the reader is seeing things from Mrs. Lyons or Clara's viewpoint. The beginning of the book was a little hard for me to follow as I know nothing about Sam Clemens or Mark Twain. I had trouble following things chronologically (I need to pay better attention to dates when reading!) as well as the flow of the writing until I got the hang of Cullen's style.

Now in terms of the storyline itself, let me be upfront with you. I'm not a fan of the classics. AH, I know, shame on me! That's not to say that they are not great. They just don't interest me. If you were to ask me about The Odesessy or Huckleberry Finn, I would have nothing to say. I'll admit it. I skated by in school by reading the spark notes versions. They're just not my thing. That being said, overall this is a good book. I'm still torn between whether I enjoyed the book, but that goes towards my interest in Mark Twain and nothing at fault of the author. If you like Twain, then I'm sure you will love this book! Thanks again NetGalley! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations! I'd love to hear what you think of the book!

Happy reading fools :)

Follow Lynn Cullen on Twitter: @LynnCullenBooks or check out her website and other books at www.lynncullen.com !

"The Other Daughter" - Lauren Willig

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's book, The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig, was possible thanks to NetGalley. Thank you! First off, if you read one of my recent post, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (found here), you will understand my feelings towards Willig. I have thoroughly enjoyed her books both series and non series books. I have also wrote a review on one of her other books, The Last Summer, which can be found here! I have never read a book of her's that I did not like. That said, I had some pretty high standards and hopes for this book. Here's a brief summary:

A governess in France who receives word that her mother has fallen ill, Rachel Woodley flees back home to England. Upon arrival, Rachel finds out that her mother has already passed and is now left on her own, penniless and jobless. While cleaning out her mother's room, Rachel discovers a society news clipping of what appears to be her father dated only a few months before. But how can that be? Her father died when she was very young. Rachel sets out to find out who this man is and if he really is her father. If so, that would mean her whole was a sham. In order to discover the truth, Rachel sets out to immerse herself into the high society England, new identity in tow. Will the truth set her free or will it ruin not only her life but the family of the man she believes is her father?

What I found difficult when reading this book was the writing itself. From the beginning it moves through each scene very quickly, often darting and taking leaps that just happen to pop up at the right time. The book only scraped on the surface of having depth and the ending was rushed along, basically leaving you hanging out to dry. Yes questions were answered but then nothing more. Compared to Willig's other books, this was a huge let down. I was very disappointed. Maybe my standards were just too high. I would have liked more into the ending of the story and less of the middle. But once again, that's just my opinion. As always, feel free to share any recommendations, suggestions, or comments!

Happy reading fools :)

"The Secret History of the Pink Carnation" - Lauren Willig

Hello fellow bibliophiles! For this post, I have a throwback to the first book in one of my favorite series! The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig is the first of twelve books in this same titled series. I have an itch to go back and reread the complete series as the last, and final, book will be coming out this fall. I love this series for many reasons. I'll list a few of them for you :)

1. The story is wrote from two different perspectives. Present day Eloise, the scholar who is desperately trying to complete her dissertation on aristocratic spies during the late 1700's, and the spies themselves. If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know I love a good past and present story line!

2. Spies. Spies who name themselves after different flowers. Spies who wear masks and dash around in tights and capes in 18th century England. Dashingly handsome, witty, and clever spies. Spies with titles who write their messages in code and seal the envelopes with wax and a seal. Did I mention spies?

3. Letter writing. Stage coaches. Manors in the country. Balls and masquerades.

4. Present day relatives of these dashing spies who are trying to hold their families secrets of these spies.

5. A wonderful woman named Mrs. Arabelle Selwick-Alderly and her charming, handsome, and sometimes rude,grandson Colin.

I could go on and on! Short version: Elosie, down on her luck, goes to England to finish researching the spies for her dissertation. Mrs. Selwick-Alderly holds these secrets, and their stories. Through them both, the reader is transported back to 18th century England on a whirlwind of espionage. And what kind of story would this be without a little bit of romance?! Don't worry. You don't have to fret. There's romance and plenty of it. Ball gowns and corsets. Men in tights. These books are fantastic. Willig is a great writer. She's descriptive, but not overly descriptive. Historical yet comical. I often find myself laughing out loud throughout the story. The reader is on a fast-paced struggle of wanting to know how the story comes together yet covering the next page to prevent yourself from jumping ahead. I highly recommend this series to all fans of historicall intrigue, mystery, and a little bit of romance. I cannot wait for the final book in the series!

Happy reading fools :)

"That Summer" - Lauren Willig

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Second review for the day is ready to go! This week in addition to Yes Please by Amy Poehler, I also finished a book by one of my favorite authors, Lauren Willig. I have been a fan of Willig's ever since I randomly picked up The Secret History of the Pink Carnation while perusing the bargain books at Barnes and Noble. I was instantly enthralled with the series and have been a diligent reader since. As that series has been coming to an end, Willig has been branching out and writing stand alone fiction books that are just as amazing. I love her writing! I am constantly recommending her books to friends, colleagues, random strangers :)  If you have read any of my previous reviews, you know I am a fan of books that tell two, entertwining stories between the past and present. Willig is the queen of this. She also writes strong, female main characters which is always a positive in my opinion!

That Summer by Lauren Willig tells the story of present day Julia, living in NYC, who inherits a house in Herne Hill, England, a place she has not been to since her mother died when she was 5. The other half of the story is set in the 1840's with Imogen Grantham who lives at Herne Hill, dealing with decisions that have not always ending the way she was hoping. While Julia is trying to remember the past she has worked so hard to forget, Imogen is struggling to deal with right, wrong, and virtues with the hear. The whole book also has a center around art. Artists, paintings, mysterious pictures, and lives as art historians in both the past and the present. The reader is lead on a journey of self discovery, love, and trust through twists and turns that leave the you wanting for more. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Another home run for Lauren Willig! Make sure to check out her other books. I will be posting a throwback review for you later this week about her Pink Carnation series!

As always, feel free to share any recommendations, opinions, or suggestions! I'd love to hear from you!

Happy reading fools :)

"All the Light We Cannot See" - Anthony Doerr

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Happy Early Birthday to America! While I am sure many of you will be out celebrating on what looks like will be a nice weekend, I will be here, sending you reviews upon reviews! I'm sure you are all looking forward to BBQ's, fireworks, and a few tasty adult beverages but I happily have NO work and NO plans for once! I am perfectly content with this and plan to spend majority of it on a blanket in the park reading the large stack of books awaiting on my coffee table!

First up is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr which has been a huge hit since its release and was a Goodreads choice winner in 2014. I was finally able to get my hands on a copy from my local library and it did not disappoint! I was transfixed by page 11 and did not put it down until I finished. The story follows two main characters throughout the latter half of WW2 in Germany and France. Marie-Laure is a blind girl living with her father in Paris who's world is turned upside down when they have to flee to the seaside town of Saint-Malo to live with her great-uncle. The other main character is Werner, an orphan in a German mining town who is transfixed by radios and becomes a self taught fixer/builder of said radios leading him to an academy for Hitler Youth and eventual a soldier in the war. The very short chapters go back and forth between their lives in both past and present until they eventually converge in Saint-Malo.

Other smaller characters also are followed throughout the book and play important parts from start to end which I really liked. If you have read of my previous reviews, you will know that I am a fan of books that go back and forth between time periods. That said, I did not think it was necessary in this book. If the story was wrote in chronological order, I think it would have had the same affect and meaning. I find books wrote during this time period enchanting. There is always another side to see, another view point to take, and more to learn. For Marie-Laure, she struggles to trust what she cannot see while Werner struggles to trust what he can see. The way they both think is so similar yet completely different and still they are drawn together in a way neither could see coming. I did really like this book and do recommend it. That said, I don't think it is as great as everyone has been saying. Maybe it is because I have recently read the Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (see review here) which is set in the same time period. That book was UNBELIEVABLE and it can be hard to not compare books with similar premises. Still, two completely different books, both great in their own right. Check out both books. You won't be disappointed! As always, feel free to share any comments, recommendations, or suggestions! Check back this weekend as I have 5-6 more reviews to post!

Happy reading fools :)