Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

YA Fantasy/Fairy-tale Retellings, Published 2012

Challenges: YA Historical Fiction Challenge, Debut Author Challenge

❤ Team: Rob

Read: September 2012, 287 pp.

5/5 ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤❤

Book Blurb:

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.

Thoughts:

I loved the twist of the Robin Hood story that Gaughen brings.  Scarlet has secrets – secrets she won’t even tell Rob.  Rob gets Scar to join the Hood when she tried to steal from him.  I loved the relationships between the characters of the Hood.  I do wish Scar had stood up for herself more with John and would’ve loved to have seen more between Scar and Rob.  Scarlet is a likable heroine and brings a fresh take to an old story.  Her backstory was very interesting and could be a book in itself!

It does take a little time in the beginning to get into the vernacular of the story.  At first I found it annoying, but after awhile, I got into Scarlet’s character and didn’t notice it anymore and in fact, it brought a different richness to the story.

A great debut for A.C. Gaughen and I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

If you’ve ever loved the story of Robin Hood, you’re going to love Scarlet! 

Quotes:

No one really knows ’bout me.  I’m Rob’s secret, I’m his informant, I’m his shadow in dark places. -Opening line

Book Trailer:

I purchased my own copy for my shelves.

Read Full Post »

Review: Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

Legacy Trilogy #2

YA historical fantasy, Published 2012

Challenges: YA Historical Fiction, NetGalley Reading Challenge

Read May 2012, 490 pp.

4/5 Stars

#1: Legacy

Book Blurb:

“Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn’t help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.”

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUEEN IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY AS THEIR COUNTRIES PASS THE POINT OF NO RETURN…
Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….

Thoughts:

*Be aware that this may contain spoilers to Book 1 – Legacy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment of Cayla Kluver’s Legacy trilogy.  Her writing style has really improved and matured since Legacy and I liked that there was a lot more action in this one.  The book starts off right after Legacy ended with Alera’s wedding to Steldor.  Her father then hands over the reigns to the kingdom to them.

I really got to like ♥ Steldor in this book and over and over again I felt sorry for him and desperately wanted Alera to love him – or get out of the way so I could .  I actually liked him more in this book than Alera (!! and I couldn’t stand him in book 1). Alera seems to have a hard time growing up and making mature decisions.  She was so bratty that I couldn’t believe she was a queen.  I really thought the story would go a completely different direction and am still disappointed in the way some story lines went.  The love story between Alera and Narian seems almost forced and takes away from the many strong characters and world building of the book.

While Alera left much to be desired, there are a lot of great characters throughout the kingdom that I adored.  Canaan, Steldor’s father, and her longtime bodyguard London are among my favorites.

Then there was the end of this book…it definitely left me wanting more! I cannot wait to see what happens in Book 3 – Sacrifice slated to come out October 23, 2012.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarlequinTEEN for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Review: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Legacy by Cayla Kluver and Narrated by Anna Chlumsky

Legacy Trilogy #1

YA historical fantasy, Published 2009

Challenges: YA Historical Fiction, Audio Book Challenge, Mt. TBR

Shelf Life: 7 months – bought 9/20/11

Read April 2012, 12.5 hours unabridged

Story: 4/5

Narration: 5/5

Book Blurb:

I noticed his eyes. They were blue, sharp and intense. Despite the youthful glows of his suntanned face, his eyes were cold and unfriendly, suggesting he had great experience in the world and was now expecting the worst.In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father’s choice of suitor fills her with despair.When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom’s greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won’t be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

Thoughts:

I originally started this book back toward the end of last year, and ended up setting it aside for something else.  The story just never grabbed me, despite the fact that I really wanted it to.  When I saw that it had been narrated by Anna Chlumsky, I decided to give it another try and thoroughly enjoyed the story.  Anna really does a great job narrating the story.  Like many first books in a series like this, the plot did seem to drag for the first half of the book – I was dying to know if there was going to be any real action at all.  The beginning of the book did grab me, but it seemed to take forever for the next real thing to happen.

There is a great attention to detail, which I did enjoy, but was ready for something exciting to happen.  I was often disappointed by Alera’s actions because in Hytanican society, women have very limited roles and she has yet to defy her father, the king.  There were many twists and turns that happened that I was definitely not expecting.  I was expecting a little more romance or love triangle as well, but most of the storyline revolves around Alera being married off to someone who she despises.  By the end I just knew I had to know how Alera would deal with the consequences of her fate.  With Cayla being such a young writer, you just know her next works will only get better and better.

Read Full Post »

Sunday School Review: The Merchant’s Daughter

The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

YA Christian Historical Fiction/Romance, Published Dec 2011

Challenges: Christian Historical Fiction, NetGalley Month (Jan)

Read: January 2012, 288 pp

4/5 STARS – Highly Recommended!

Book Blurb:

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff-a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Thoughts:

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie, so as soon as I saw this was a retelling of that story, I knew I wanted to read it. Annabel is sentenced to work for the new Lord of the town.  Her family was once wealthy when her father was alive, but he lost all his money with the loss of his shipping business and he soon died thereafter.  Annabel’s mother and brothers are portrayed as useless louts who refuse to pay their taxes or work the yearly wheat crops with the rest of the town.  When Lord Ranulf comes to town and takes over, Annabel’s family is sentenced for their negligence.  Annabel is the one to take this responsibility on, working in the wheat fields.  But when Lord Ranulf notices that she is having such a hard time with the work and that she is being bullied by his own bailiff, he sends Annabel to work in the kitchens. Her troubles don’t end there, however, and her only respite is finding the one thing her heart truly desires – to read the Bible for herself, not believing her God, a loving God, would teach the hellfire and damnation that their local priest preaches.  Along the way, her heart is opened to the one person she never saw before.

There are a lot of characters to dislike in this book, but I can’t imagine living in 1352 was an easy life for most. I enjoyed Annabel’s relationships with her friend Stephen, the head maid – Eustacia, and with, of course, Lord Ranulf.  The historical setting of England in 1352 is beautifully written.  I wanted to go there and see the new castle, or “manor” as it is called, being constructed.

I really enjoyed Annabel’s enthusiasm for wanting to read the Bible for herself.  Often times I think that nonbelievers and even believers can  misconstrue the teachings of God and I think reading the Bible for yourself can help you understand and strengthen your faith in Him.  After reading this book, I just happened to read the book of Ruth and enjoyed seeing the parallels with the part of the story where Annabel is working in the wheat fields to Ruth and Boaz’s story in the Bible.  This was my first time to read Melanie Dickerson and it won’t be my last!

Quotes:

He surveyed the undulating countryside, green and lush along the river bank, despite the lack of summer rain.  The river shimmered and tripped over short, rocky falls and wound around the bends and through bogs where bluebells bloomed on the banks.  He couldn’t have chosen a more picturesque village for his new home.

Glynval was the location he had run to, an area where he intended to live at low ebb, flow with the simple rhythm of village life, breathe fresh air, and keep aloof.  His peace would come from the natural beauty of the countryside, from his own independence and freedom.

As he entered, she once again caught sight of the sky behind him, which had bruised blue and purple with clouds and threatened rain.

Book Trailer:

For another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, check out Beauty by Robin McKinley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Review: May B.

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

Children’s Historical Verse Novel, Published January 10, 2012

Challenges: YA Historical Fiction, NetGalley Month (Jan), Debut Authors 2012

Read: January 2012, 240 pp.

4.5/5

Book Blurb:

I’ve known it since last night:
It’s been too long to expect them to return.
Something’s happened.

May is helping out on a neighbor’s Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it’s hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May’s memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she’s determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose’s fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

Absolutely Gorgeous Trailer (LOVE the music):

Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed May B. and can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy of this book because one thing with the ARC version is I think you lose the syntax and structure of each verse on the separate pages.  May does not want to leave home to “help out;” she really just wants to go to school so she can become a teacher some day, but she has a hard time at school, especially in reading and hates that everyone talks to her like she’s stupid because she knows she is definitely not.  I thought it very sad that for someone like May who might have struggled in school, it was thought pointless so you might as well get good at house work.  When Pa drops May off at the Oblingers, she soon learns what it means to be truly alone.  She makes all the meals, gets the water, scrubs the pots and stokes the fire, but what is it that Mrs. Oblinger is doing?  Nothing!  She just sits and stares out the window. 

Then the unthinkablehappens and May is left completely alone to fend for herself on the prairie with the arrival of winter.  At first, she is overjoyed to finally be free!  But then the rush of freedom ends and she must prepare for the oncoming snow storms.  I liked that May grew up in this story and learned to depend on her own strengths – remembering all the lessons she learned from her parents and from school.  With hard work and determination, May can battle any storm.  The story is very reminiscent of any Laura Ingalls Wilder tale and my favorite, Caddie Woodlawn.  I know I would have devoured this book in grade school just as much as I did now!

Look for May B. by Caroline Rose Starr – January 10th.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Review: Pirate of My Heart

Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie

Fiction – Historical, Christian, Published Sept. 1, 2011

ARC received from netGalley.com

Challenges: YA Historical Fiction

Read: August 2011, 320 pages

4/5

Book Blurb:

When her doting father dies, Lady Kendra Townsend is given a choice: marry the horrid man of her cold, money-grubbing uncle’s choosing or leave England to risk a new life in America with unknown relatives. Armed with the faith that God has a plan for her, Kendra boards a cargo ship and meets American sea captain Dorian Colburn. But the captain has been wounded by a woman before and guards his independent life. A swashbuckling man doesn’t need an English heiress to make him slow down, feel again, or be challenged with questions about his faith-or so he thinks. It is not until Dorian must save Kendra from the dark forces surrounding her that he decides she may be worth the risk.

Book Trailer:

My Thoughts:

1796 – Lady Kendra is her father’s love and joy, the Earl of Arundel, but when a tragic accident leaves her parentless, her father’s twin brother takes over the estate.  He is the one that has greedily gambled away most of the Townsend money and possessions and insists that his niece marry a wealthy man of his choosing.  When she refuses, her uncle sends her away to America on a boat to live with her mother’s only relatives whom she had never met.

Dorian has finally become captain of his own cargo ship and is very perturbed to discover that one of his officers has accepted payment for the boarding of a woman.  Not knowing what to do with her, he allows her to stay in his own quarters and bids her to stay put.  It doesn’t take long for Dorian to really enjoy Kendra’s company and promises to escort her to her aunt and uncle’s place.

The only thing I found annoying was that Lady Kendra really puts the phrase damsel in distress to work! I think Dorian literally saved her life at least 5 times.  I really enjoyed all the plot elements, but toward the end, it seemed a bit farfetched and on the side of ridiculous. So many were out to get Kendra, but with her ever faith in God’s will, Kendra seems to find a way.

From pirates trying to board Dorian’s ship, to a woman who won’t leave him alone, to finding Kendra’s aunt and uncle, the action is nonstop.  Even though she was raised in privileged circumstances, she is not above working for her keep and always believes that God has a plan for her life.  How will Lady Kendra be received once she meets her long lost relatives?  Will they love her or use her?  And how will Dorian use her social stature to rescue her will she allow her “pirate” to capture her heart after all?

Quotes:

(quoted from ARC, will double check against hard copy when I get one!)

The grey clouds of dawn shivered against the paned glass of the castle, shrouding the three figures at the side of the four-poster bed in an eerie light.  The raging storm of the night before had settled into a dreary misting rain though an occasional jagged flash of lightning flaunted its power, not yet ready to relinquish its right to ravish the leaden sky.

The leaves had turned into a crimson, sunny yellow and carroty riot of color, as if a magician had waved a wand during the night and created a new world.

Thanks to netGalley and B&H Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Poisoned House

The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

YA Fiction – Horror & Ghost Stories, Published August 2011

ARC Received from netGalley (Albert Whitman & Company)

YA Historical Fiction Challenge (YA Bliss & Books Are A Girl’s Best Friends)

3/5

Book Blurb:

Life can be cruel for a servant girl in 1850s London. After her mother’s death, fifteen-years-old Abi is a scullery maid in Greave Hall, an elegant but troubled household. The widowed master of the house is slowly slipping into madness, and the tyrannical housekeeper, Mrs. Cotton punishes Abi without mercy. But there’s something else going on in Greave Hall, too. An otherworldly presence is making itself known, and soon a deadly secret begins to reveal itself—–a secret that will shatter everything Abi knows.

Book Trailer:

First Impressions (Out of all the books I have to read, why this one?):

I was really looking forward to this ghost story.  I’m really a sucker for books with this type of framing – it’s a true account, really!!, and we even found a diary! I love it! PS – the trailer is pretty awesome.

Thoughts:

The story started out great with a lot of action with Abi trying to run away.  We, the reader, didn’t know what or who she was running from or where she was going.  I felt that after she is caught and brought back to Greave Hall, Abi’s sense of adventure and rebellion really took a back seat in the plot.  I would have loved to see her rebel against the HORRIBLE Mrs. Cotton.  The author spends a lot of time setting up Abi’s background story and how she came to live in Greave Hall as a scullery maid.

Then things at Greave Hall start to go awry, first with little things moving around or missing altogether.  Abi is usually the one to be blamed for these acts.  The hauntings escalate with the pacing of the plot.  Overall, I liked the writing style and loved that Greave Hall is truly a character in itself (a creepy one at that!)  I also liked that the author framed the novel to be read like a true story account, with the beginning reporting the finding of diary papers found in an estate’s renovation and ending with (SPOILER ALERT!) an obituary clipping.  I felt the turns and twists were pretty predictable and didn’t really see the need for Mrs. Cotton’s character to be so horrible (especially the Rowena incident – was that really necessary to the story, I’m really unsure as to why this had to be included), but despite that, I did continually want to find out if what I thought was going to happen really happened (it did).  I think the younger crowds will really enjoy the creepiness factor of this horror story, but the overall Victorian scandal of the novel may not impress everyone.

Sidenote: I actually listened to this entire book using the text-to-speech feature on my kindle.  I used the female voice and sloowwwed her down and I swear at times she was really getting into the story. I will definitely be using her again!:)

Quotes:

The boundaries between this world and the next are like oil and water.  They cannot exist together, but pools can form, pockets where one exists inside the other.  If they have left something unsaid or undone in life, it’s through these pockets that they come back to haunt us.

Read Full Post »