Book Review: The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

Pages: 432 

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 14, 2012

Source: Publisher for Review

Other Books in Series: The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Lady of the Rivers

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The Kingmaker’s Daughter is the gripping story of the daughters of the man known as the “Kingmaker,” Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick: the most powerful magnate in fifteenth-century England. Without a son and heir, he uses his daughters Anne and Isabel as pawns in his political games, and they grow up to be influential players in their own right. In this novel, her first sister story since The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory explores the lives of two fascinating young women.  At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Married at age fourteen, she is soon left widowed and fatherless, her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Anne manages her own escape by marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but her choice will set her on a collision course with the overwhelming power of the royal family and will cost the lives of those she loves most in the world, including her precious only son, Prince Edward. Ultimately, the kingmaker’s daughter will achieve her father’s greatest ambition."

Anne and Isabel Neville's father is the person that they call "The Kingmaker" or the Earl of Warwick.  He is one of the most powerful men in England and he uses his daughters in his political games hoping that one of them will end up as the Queen of England.  The story follows Anne starting at her childhood and all the way through her death.  Her first marriage is to her former enemy's son and she is only fourteen years old. There are many ups and downs with this marriage and before she knows it, she is left a widow and abandoned by her family.  Just when she thinks it is over for her, she ends up in a relationship with Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and that's when things start to change.  Philippa Gregory's latest addition to the Cousins' War series is extremely entertaining, well researched, and an edge of your seat read.  I highly recommend The Kingmaker's Daughter to fans of Gregory and historical novels.

As always, when reading Gregory's books, I am enthralled. I can barely put the book down and am always questioning whether this actually happened, because The Real Housewives have nothing on Edward IV's court.  Talk about drama! There's always conspiracies, political intrigue, and of course, desperate I-will-do-anything-at-all-costs maneuvers to get to the throne.  Anne's father is one of the slickest and determined characters. His eye is on the prize and it never waivers, even if it should as he risked the life of many a family member for his "cause."  Anne and Isabel's relationship was interesting. They obviously love each other, but are highly competitive sisters.  Isabel was especially cold at times and I wasn't a fan of her underhandedness. It reminded me a bit of Anne and Mary Boleyn in The Other Boleyn Girl.  

The turn of events in Anne's life are unbelievable. One minute she is at the bottom and it appears she's done and the next minute, she's back up on top.  As The Kingmaker's Daughter progressed, it was actually quite sad what happened to Anne's family.  This is definitely a depressing story when you think about what happened to the Neville family and at what cost.  

I found The Kingmaker's Daughter to be especially intriguing if you've read The White Queen and sided with Elizabeth Woodville. Since this novel is from Anne's point of view, readers will see Elizabeth in a whole new (and not so admirable) light.  It was interesting to get a different take on the many controversies surrounding the War of the Roses, such as the Princes in the Tower.

I never thought I would love a historical read as much as some of Gregory's Tudor Court books, but the Cousins' War series is just as captivating, if not more as there is SO much intense scheming and plotting. There are so many moments where you think to yourself, "Oh-my-god. Did this really happen? That's nuts!" Fans of Gregory won't be disappointed by The Kingmaker's Daughter.  Needless to say, I already cannot wait for Gregory's next book in this series, The White Princess, which focuses on Elizabeth of York. I'll read anything that Gregory writes; she's simply the best at what she does!

Waiting on Wednesday: Going Vintage

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Pub. Date: March 26, 2013

Goodreads says, "When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow. Lindsey Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel."

*I love the sound of this one! It's definitely a cool premise and it reminds me of Back to the Future (one of my favorite movies!)  I can't believe we have to wait till March though.  What do you guys think?

Giveaway: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Media Masters Publicity, I am hosting a giveaway for Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. If you missed my review, you can check it out here. I really enjoyed this one. It's definitely one of my favorite contemporary novels of the year! 

To learn more about Pushing the Limits, be sure to check out Katie McGarry's website, the book trailer, and below you'll find an interview with Katie McGarry.

A Q&A With Katie McGarry

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?

A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Q: Which character is the most “like” you?

A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?

A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?

A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

Want to win a copy of Pushing the Limits? This giveaway is open to US/Canadian residents. Be sure to check out my giveaway rules.  The deadline is September 8th.  Good luck!

Fill in this form in order to enter

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pages: 384

Pub. Date: July 31, 2012

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "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."

Echo used to be part of the popular crowd until something horrible happened to her and she ended up with scars up and down her arms.  She can't remember what happened to her that fateful night and in turn, it has made her a loner at school. She no longer hangs out with the "cool" group and doesn't date the star basketball player anymore.  The school's clinical social worker recommends that Echo take a job tutoring and she ends up tutoring Noah Hutchins, who has a reputation at school as a pot head that is infamous for going through girls.  Echo doesn't get along with Noah, but she needs the money and as time goes on, Noah and Echo realize that they have a lot in common regarding their pasts.  To top it off, they are undeniably attracted to each other despite that fact that Echo is trying to regain her old life back and hanging out with Noah would be social suicide.  Katie McGarry's debut, Pushing the Limits, is a sizzling contemporary read that fans of Simone Elkeles will devour.

Echo is such a complex character. I loved learning more about her and her troubled past.  Readers slowly piece together what happened to Echo and it was one mystery that I was totally absorbed in, but there's no denying that it is down right heartbreaking.  Echo is a troubled soul and finds herself attracted to Noah, who also has a difficult past.  His story is another one that left me flipping pages way into the night.  His familial situation also brought a tear to my eye and I found myself eventually rooting for him.  There is more to him that than the typical bad guy. There's no denying that McGarry really does a great job making Echo and Noah's relationship steamy. I love the whole idea of opposites attract, so I was a sucker for this plot line in Pushing the Limits.  It reminded me a lot of Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry, which also plays up the whole opposites attract plot line.

Pushing the Limits isn't just about forbidden love; it also deals with complex issues, such as mental health, death, and the challenges of being a foster child.  Obviously, McGarry covers some deep issues, which tugged on my heartstrings.  I think that is what made this book so enjoyable though.  It's a nice blend of romance, but also addresses some major real life issues.

The only thing that I found slightly irritating was the dialogue between Noah and Echo.  It tended to be a bit too cheesy at times.  However, it didn't bother me tremendously and I was able to overlook the super sweet toothache inducing comments.

I highly recommend Pushing the Limits, especially for fans of gritty realistic fiction and opposites attract storyline.  I know I'll be keeping my eye out for anything that McGarry writes in the future.

Thanks to Harlequin and Media Master Publicity, I will be giving away one copy of Pushing the Limits, so check back tomorrow for the giveaway and an interview with Katie McGarry.

It's Not You, It's Me (2)

"It's not you, it's me. I just want to be friends."  I'm sure some of us have heard those dreaded words uttered before and the same saying can be applied to books.  Some books just don't work for me, whereas other readers may have really enjoyed them.  This new feature will be showcasing books that I never finished or reviewed.

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Goodreads says, "On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings--and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment.  Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love."

My thoughts:

I love the cover and the premise, but the writing style was just too much for me and the initial plot was a bit slow.  I recognize that Lanagan's writing style is elegant, poetic, and beautiful, but for some reason, I couldn't get into it. It just seemed too wordy and drawn out. Plus, there's multiple points of view, which I struggled with.  

Speaking of struggling....I have noticed that lately I struggle with fairy tale retellings and other types of fantasy novels that include selkies or mermaids.   Maybe I have some sort of mental block towards these mythical creatures? Either way, The Brides of Rollrock Island wasn't for me.  If you have read it, let me know what do you think.

Waiting on Wednesday: Hemingway's Girl

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck

Pub. Date: September 4, 2012

Goodreads says, "In Depression-era Key West, Mariella Bennet, the daughter of an American fisherman and a Cuban woman, knows hunger. Her struggle to support her family following her father’s death leads her to a bar and bordello, where she bets on a risky boxing match...and attracts the interest of two men: world-famous writer, Ernest Hemingway, and Gavin Murray, one of the WWI veterans who are laboring to build the Overseas Highway. When Mariella is hired as a maid by Hemingway’s second wife, Pauline, she enters a rarified world of lavish, celebrity-filled dinner parties and elaborate off-island excursions. As she becomes caught up in the tensions and excesses of the Hemingway household, the attentions of the larger-than-life writer become a dangerous temptation...even as the reliable Gavin Murray draws her back to what matters most. Will she cross an invisible line with the volatile Hemingway, or find a way to claim her own dreams? As a massive hurricane bears down on Key West, Mariella faces some harsh truths...and the possibility of losing everything she loves."

*I am obsessed with all things Key West and Hemingway, so as soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.  Hemingway is one of my favorite authors! Plus, I am a sucker for a good historical read.  What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  I'm excited to participate; after all, I make lists FOR EVERYTHING!  This week we are to discuss our favorite reads, but it's limited to the lifespan of our blog only.  I started blogging December of 2009 and since then I've read some incredible books.  Let me know what you think! And in no particular order.......

1.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- This book was so addictive. I can't wait to read the sequel.

2.  The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen- I love Dessen and this book is one of my favorites. It's a great summer read, too.

3.  Summer series by Jenny Han- This is by far my favorite contemporary series. I'm obsessed. Most of you are probably tired of hearing me talk about my love for this story.

4.  The White Queen by Philippa Gregory- I love historical fiction and Gregory never lets me down. This is my favorite out of the Cousins' War series.

5.  Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready- This book took me by surprise and easily became one of my favorite paranormal reads. It's unique and unlike other books in its genre.

6. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - I LOVED this series and am still mourning its end. 

7.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- This book made me want to visit Paris. It's an awesome contemporary read and Perkins easily became one of my favorite authors.

8.  Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare- I have only read the first three in the series, but I really enjoyed them.  They are highly addictive and suspenseful. I need to get caught up with the other books in the series. I also hear there is going to be a movie based on the first book, City of Bones. Yes, please!

9.  The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting- This book is one of the first ARCs I ever reviewed here at the blog and I fell in love with Derting's story.  It's gripping and had me on the edge of my seat, but there's also some very sweet romance. Sigh....Jay!

10.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman- I went through a box of tissues reading this powerful book.  It's incredible and so very moving.

Book Review: Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Pages: 325

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: July 10, 2012

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "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."

Leah isn't your average girl next door. She lives in a trailer park adjacent a small airport and her mom is never around.  Even when her mom is around, she isn't reliable, but Leah is determined to not end up like her.  Leah gets a job at the nearby airport working for Mr. Hall, who is the owner of a banner advertising business.  He takes Leah under his wings and teaches her everything she needs to know about being a pilot.  As the years go by, Mr. Hall offers Leah a legitimate job as a pilot working for him and things start to come together for Leah.  However, Mr. Hall unexpectedly dies and the company falls into the hands of his two teenage sons, Grayson and Alec.  This becomes an awkward situation because Leah has had a crush on Grayson for years.  Things start to become very complicated.  Jennifer Echol's Such a Rush is the perfect summertime read. It's edgy, it's sexy, it's romantic and undeniably real.  

Jennifer Echols is one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her novels are always my go-to summertime reads that always maintain a good blend of everything that readers love about contemporary fiction.  This is also the case in Such a Rush.  Fans of Echols won't be disappointed!

Echols created such a unique character in Leah.  She is fiercely independent, determined, and the classic underdog.  She really grew on me and I felt such sympathy for her as she situation is not easy for a high school student.  Echols also created a dreamy love interest in Grayson.  He's definitely one of my favorite characters that Echols has created to date and I loved to hate him!  The chemistry between Leah and Grayson is undeniable and I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between the two. It definitely sizzled!

Another thing that I loved about this book was all the details about being a pilot.  I've never read a book about planes and I found it to be so interesting, mostly because who doesn't love the planes that fly by at the beach with fun advertisements flapping in the wind behind them?  The sound of the planes at the beach are so comforting and definitely part of my childhood, so I was able to relate to that aspect of Such a Rush.  Plus, being a pilot is downright sexy (Top Gun, anyone?) and Echols really makes this aspect of the novel red-hot.

Lastly, there's a lot of drama in Such a Rush, which I loved.  Leah is bullied by many mean girls at her school quite since she lives on the "wrong side of the tracks."  I loathed these mean girls and I loved how Leah would give it right back to them.  Thankfully, she has one good friend that makes for a total opposites attract relationship; however, their friendship includes some girl drama as well.  Echols does drama better than most contemporary authors; it's brilliant and perfect mind candy.

If you are a fan of Echols, you'll love her latest novel, Such a Rush, and if you have never read Echols before, you must pick up Such a Rush this summer.  I highly recommend it!

In My Mailbox #78

This week I am sharing two books that I received for review.  If you want to learn more about these books, click the title and it will take you to the Goodreads page.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Thanks to Harlequin Teen for sending me this book for review.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

Thanks to Simon & Schuster! I love Gregory and can't wait to read this!


The White Forest by Adam McOmber

Thank you, Simon and Schuster 

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.   

Winner of Populazzi

And the winner of Populazzi by Elise Allen is........

#24  Susan C

Congrats, Susan! I hope you enjoy the book.  

Thanks to Book Sparks PR for allowing me to host such a great giveaway.  

June/July Confessions

This has been an incredible summer for me.  I recently had a baby (DYLAN!) and have been busy taking care of him and enjoying every moment.  I spent a lot of June at the shore soaking up as much sun as possible and reading some great books.  Here are the books I read in June and July:

Books Read in June and July:
1.  Star Shack by Lila Castle (3.5 stars)
2.  Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (3 stars)
3.  Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick (4 stars)
4.  My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (4 stars)
5.  Burn for Burn by Jenny Han by Siobhan Vivian (4 stars)
6.  Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook (3.5 stars)
7.  Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (4.5 stars)
8.  Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson (4.5 stars)
9.  Forgotten by Cat Patrick (4 stars)
10.  Underworld (Abandon #2) by Meg Cabot (3.5 stars)
11.  Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols (4 stars) - Review to come!

June/July Top Five:

1.  Favorite Book:  Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson- I found this book to be such a nice blend of a serious, yet perfect for summertime read.

2.  Biggest Surprise: I would have to say that Sweet Evil took me by surprise.  I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.  

3.  Biggest Letdown:  Dearly, Departed didn't work for me.  I guess I am just NOT a fan of zombies.

4.  Favorite Post: Taking a mini vacation at the beach

5.  Favorite Part of June/July: The birth of my son!

My posts are going to be rather sporadic for sometime until I get used to my new schedule as a mom, but I'll be back before you know it!

Welcome to the World, Baby Dylan!

He's finally here!  I'm excited to share with you the arrival of Dylan Michael. 

He was born on July 27, 2012 and 12:29am. 

He weighs 6 pounds and is 19.5 inches long.  We are overjoyed and so excited to show him the world.  He's such a little peanut; I've already started putting some meat on those bones!

I'll be back to blogging once things setting down, but for now, I am knee deep in burp cloths, spit up and late night feeding sessions.  I'm trying to enjoy every moment. :)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Populazzi by Elise Allen.  It ends August 12th! Good luck!