February Confessions

I was hoping to read more books this month, especially because it's the winter and I don't have much going on, but The Bronze Horseman was an epic read and over eight hundred pages! So, that counts as two, possibly three books, right? 

Also, I was pretty sick this month as were my two boys. It was brutal! However, we are all on the mend and fingers crossed everyone stays healthy.  Spring is just around the corner, right? I couldn't be happier about that. 

Books Read in February:
1.  Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas (YA Fantasy) - 3.5 out of 5 stars
2.  The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons (Adult Historical Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars
3.  Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (YA Fantasy) - 3.5 out of 5 stars
4.  The Hollywood Daughter by Kate Alcott (Adult Historical Fiction) - 3.5 out of 5 stars (Review to come!) 
5.  The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel (Adult Fiction)  3.5 out of 5 stars (Review to come!)
6.  Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse (YA Realistic Fiction) - 3.5 out of 5 stars (Review to come!)

1.  Favorite Book:  The Bronze Horseman was such an epic read and the right balance of a steamy romance and history. 

2.  Biggest Surprise: The Roanoke Girls is such a dark and twisty novel. So many times I wanted to put it down, because I thought it was freaky and disturbing. But I couldn't.stop.reading.it.  Despite some major cringe-worthy moments, it is definitely a compelling read.

3.  Biggest Disappointment:  The Hollywood Daughter was a good read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as Alcott's A Touch of Stardust.  

4.  Favorite Post from February:   My Latest Obsession: The Crown 

5.  Favorite Part of February:   We had a seventy degree day this month and it was glorious. I spent most of the day outside with my family and it was just what we needed.

So, what was your favorite book you read this month? What have you guys been up to?  Let me know in the comments below.

Book Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Pages: 320

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: February 28, 2017

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "A 17-year-old pirate captain intentionally allows herself to get captured by enemy pirates in this thrilling YA adventure.  If you want something done right . . .  When the ruthless pirate king learns of a legendary treasure map hidden on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows there's only one pirate for the job—herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her passage on the ship, confident in her ability to overcome any obstacle. After all, who's going to suspect a seventeen-year-old girl locked in a cell? Then she meets the (surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive) first mate, Riden, who is charged with finding out all her secrets. Now it's down to a battle of wits and will . . . . Can Alosa find the map and escape before Riden figures out her plan?  Debut author Tricia Levenseller blends action, adventure, romance, and a little bit of magic into a thrilling YA pirate tale."

Alosa is a pirate princess and a force to be reckoned with.  She is not only the captain of her very own crew, but her father is a legendary pirate king.  He has part of a treasure map, but obviously needs the other part of it to obtain the treasure.  The only problem is that a rival pirate, Captain Draxen, has the other part of the map.  So, in order to get said map, Alosa has volunteered to retrieve it through a sneaky plan in which she allows herself to be kidnapped by the rival crew and then once aboard their ship, she will attempt to get the map. Meanwhile Captain Draxen thinks he has captured the daughter of the notorious pirate king and will hopefully get a ransom making it all worth it.  But things aren't easy for Alosa once aboard the rival pirate's ship. Draxen's brother, Riden, is charged with keeping a very close eye on her and finding the map isn't going to be as easy as she thought.  While Alosa is just as tough, if not tougher, than some of the male pirates, she also has a secret hidden up her sleeve that will help her obtain the map if all else fails.  Tricia Levenseller's novel, Daughter of the Pirate King, is a swashbuckling good time. If you like adventure, strong heroines, and of course pirates, you must check out this YA debut.

Alosa is such a fun heroine in Daughter of the Pirate King. I knew instantly that I would enjoy her. She's tough, determined, full of secrets, and despite being a female pirate in what is traditionally a male world, she is a formidable opponent.  It's not just the fact that her father is the pirate king; Alosa can truly hold her own.

Alosa meets her match in Riden in Daughter of the Pirate King.  The slow burn between the two is a delight and a relationship I thoroughly enjoyed.  Their antics definitely kept me on my toes. Who doesn't love an unlikely romance?

Pirates! I can't tell you how much I love pirates, so I was thrilled to read a YA pirate adventure that is engaging and fun.  I love Black Sails and I was so happy that this book had a similar vibe. In fact, Alosa reminded me a bit of the tough Anne Bonny (also a real-life pirate!) from the show.

There's sword fights, adventure, secrets, treasure, a romance, plot twists and so much more in Daughter of the Pirate King.  If this is your kind of thing, definitely check out this debut. It made me want to binge-watch Black Sails and Pirates of the Caribbean all weekend and if you know me, that's a good thing!

The Sunday Post (21)

If You Love Downton Abbey

Giveaway: The Lost Girl of Astor Street 

Waiting on Wednesday: Unearthly Things

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love Way More Than I Thought I Would

Book Review: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons 

Coming up on the blog, I'll be sharing my thoughts on Daughter of a Pirate King, which was so much fun. If you love pirates (like me!), you'll enjoy it.  I will also be wrapping-up February, which has me excited since spring is right around the corner! I will also be reviewing The Hollywood Daughter by Kate Alcott. Fans of Old Hollywood will appreciate this book.  

Duels and Deception by Cindy Anstey - Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan

Belle's Library - Thanks to Disney-Hyperion

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly - Thanks to Disney-Hyperion

Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts! Thanks for visiting. This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

If You Love Downton Abbey

Ever since Downton Abbey ended, there's been a bit of a hole left behind. No show has really filled the void, but I have found some books as well as other TV shows that have a similar vibe.  Here are a few of my favorites with links to my reviews:

Adult Fiction:

Lady Catherine, the Earl and the Real Downton Abbey by the Countess of Carnarvon

Rutherford Park by Elizabeth Cooke

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

The Girl in the Castle by Santa Montefiore

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes (or any of the other TV show inspired books)

Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford

An American Duchess by Sharon Page

YA Novels:

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame

Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

The Heiresses by Alison Rushby

To Be Read Pile:

(I have many of these Downton Abbey-esqe books on my TBR list!)

Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by the Countess of Carnarvon

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Below Stairs by Margaret Powell

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Longbourn by Jo Baker

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

Habits of the House by Fay Weldon

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonsson

TV Shows That Are Similar: 

Upstairs, Downstairs

Mr. Selfridge

War & Peace

Doctor Thorne

Poldark

Have you read any of these books or watched these shows? What are some of your favorite novels or shows that are in the same vein as Downton Abbey? Be sure to let me know in the comments below. 

Giveaway: The Lost Girl of Astor Street

Thanks to Blink YA Books, I have an extra finished copy of The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill to give away to one lucky reader.  People are saying this novel is Veronica Mars meets the Roaring Twenties. I have even heard fans of Downton Abbey will enjoy this historical mystery set in Chicago.

Goodreads says, "Lydia has vanished.  Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said good-bye.  Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost.  When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth."

Please refer to my giveaway rules.  The deadline is March 5th and open to US only.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: Unearthly Things

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

Unearthly Things by Michelle Gagnon

Pub. Date: April 11, 2017

Goodreads says, "After losing her parents in a tragic accident, surfer girl Janie Mason is forced to trade the sunny beaches of Hawaii for the cold fog of San Francisco. She’s never even met her new guardians, the Rochesters—an old money family who relish being pillars of high society. Janie feels hopelessly out of place in their world of Napa weekends, fancy prep schools, and cotillions. Nicholas is the only Rochester who treats her with anything resembling kindness—but he’s only six. When she strikes up a friendship with Daniel, a fellow surfer, it feels like things might finally be improving.  But something isn’t right in the Rochester mansion. There are noises—screams—coming from the attic nearly every night. Noises everyone else claims they can’t hear. Then John, the black sheep of the family, returns after getting kicked out of yet another boarding school. Soon Janie finds herself torn between this new “brother” and Daniel, who has secrets of his own. Just when she thinks her life can’t get any worse, she learns the truth about the Rochesters: what they’re hiding, what they want from Janie, and how far they’ll go to get it."

I am definitely intrigued by this YA retelling of Jane Eyre set in San Francisco.  What do you guys think? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Loved More Than I Thought I Would

This Top Ten Tuesday is all about books that I enjoyed way more than I thought I would and by the way, I love when this happens. It's one of my favorite things about reading and trying things outside of your comfort zone. Also, if you are interested, my reviews for most of these novels can be found here. 

 

1.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer - I put off reading this book for quite sometime, because the fact that it was a Cinderella sci-fi retelling made me sort of cringe. But I was wrong.  This book and the series is stellar.  

2.  Pushing the Limits   by Katie McGarry - I thought this book was going to be a bit too gritty for me (I like my contemporary reads to be a bit more fluffy), but I really enjoyed this opposites-attract story.

3.  Embrace by Jessica Shirvington - Another series about angels? Not again! However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this series.

4.  Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles - Here's another gritty realistic fiction that features an opposites-attract storyline that sucked me in completely. A very compelling read!

5.  The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki - I wasn't sure I would be interested in the Habsburgs or the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, but Sisi's story is just as compelling as England's Tudor Court.

6.  Lady Catherine, the Earl, and The Real Downton Abbey by Fiona Carnarvon - I adore Downton Abbey, but would I enjoy a biography about the real-life former residents of Highclere Castle?  Yes. Definitely, yes.

7.  The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith - I tend to have to be in the mood for a darker contemporary read, especially if it deals with tough subjects, but I'm glad I picked up this book. It was powerful and important!

8.  Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean - I have, surprisingly, never really read a traditional romance novel before reading this book. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved it! I have yet to read another one, but I think if I do, I would pick up another by MacLean. Any recommendations for me? 

9.   Georgina: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman - Can nonfiction be as compelling as a historical fiction novel? In this case, yes. I was obsessed with this book and was pleasantly surprised by all of the drama and ups and downs in Georgina's life.

10.  The Maze Runner by James Dashner - I thought I was over dystopias, but I was thoroughly impressed when I read this book a few years back. One of my favorites for sure and it kept me on the edge of my seat.


So, what books have you recently read that you thought were going to be boring or simply not for you, but instead ended up being an enjoyable read or, better yet, one of your favorites? Let me know in the comments.  This meme is hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish.

Book Review: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Pages: 810

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: April 2001

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, " The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.  Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever."

The story opens up during WWII Russia with siblings Tatiana, Dasha, and their brother living in close quarters along with their parents and grandparents.  Russia is on the brink of war, so to keep Pasha, Tatiana's twin brother, safe as he is old enough to be in the Red Army, they send him to summer camp away from the city of Leningrad with the hopes that he would avoid the war.  Dasha, Tatiana's oldest sister still is unmarried and lives at home.  However, her very full social life keeps her out late; in fact, she has met someone special. Hitler has broken the nonaggression pact with Stalin and has invaded Russia, which obviously means war is even closer on the horizon now.  Tatiana is only sixteen years old, but one night when she is out getting ice cream she can't help but notice a solider in the Red Army and he can't help but notice her as well.  They hit it off despite the fact that he is older and to complicate matters further, she finds out that this is the guy Dasha has been seeing.  Things start to get really tough for the Metanov family as there are food rations and more upsetting complications from war to come. Paullina Simons' sweeping saga, The Bronze Horseman, is about family, love, survival, and war.  It is a page turner not only filled with a lot of historical details, but a lot of romance as well.

Tatiana really grew on me as she got older and more mature in The Bronze Horseman. At first her naivety was troublesome as well as her forgetfulness, but as the story progressed, I really enjoyed her journey.  My heart went out to her countless times and although I didn't always agree with her choices, I still cared a lot about her plight.  Dasha, on the other hand, was a tough pill to swallow. At times, I felt badly for her, because the readers know that her boyfriend likes her younger sister. Yikes. But even before she comes to realize this, she treats Tatiana horribly. In fact, Tatiana's entire family treats her poorly to the point where she's like Cinderella doing anything and everything for them.  This irked me to no end.

Alexander, the solider that Tatiana feels a strong connection with, is also a compelling character in The Bronze Horseman. He isn't just your average Red Army solider. His back story is really intriguing and like Tatiana, I didn't always agree with his choices, but I sure did care about his story. I wanted him to come clean to Dasha about his feelings for Tatiana, but of course there were some major complications. The course of true love never did run smooth, right?

The war was like a character in and of itself in The Bronze Horseman. Simons did a great job creating a sense of place and the complications that WWII brought to many people in Leningrad. I had no idea how badly the city suffered. It brought tears to my eyes to think of what the people had to endure. Between the rations, the starvation, and the bombing it was all heart wrenching. Often when we think of the horrors of WWII, we think of the Holocaust and Pearl Harbor, and while that is obviously horrific, I wish more people would talk about the Siege of Leningrad. It lasted two and half years and caused the greatest destruction as well as the largest loss of life in a modern city! I was horrified and so deeply saddened as Simons made it feel very real.

Now The Bronze Horseman isn't just all about history.  There are some major swoon-worthy and steamy moments in this novel. If you don't like a lot of romance in your historical fiction, this one may not be for you, but I, on the other hand, thought it was a nice compliment to such a serious story.  I adored the romance between Tatiana and Alexander - truly an epic love story.

I am thrilled The Bronze Horseman is part of a series and I look forward to checking out the next installment. Be forewarned though. This book is a huge undertaking and takes some commitment. I promise though that you will be absorbed in this engrossing tale about life, loss, and love. (And at the time I write this review, it's on sale for 1.99 as an ebook! An incredible deal!)

Sunday Post (20)

Friday Five (37)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lake Effect

Happy Valentine's Day

Book Review: Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

Guys, I finally read The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. Wow. It was a really lengthy undertaking, sort of like the Outlander series, but I have been meaning to read it for years, so I am glad I finally tackled it. It was a really great book, especially if you like romance in your historical reads. So, keep your eye out for my review this week! I will also be sharing a new Top Ten Tuesday focusing on books that I loved way more than I thought I would --- don't you just love when that happens? And coming up in the next week or two my thoughts on Daughter of the Pirate King, a new YA debut that is so much fun! 

Secrets in Summer by Nancy Thayer - Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine

Trusting You and Other Lies by Nicole Williams - Thanks to NetGalley and Random House

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord - Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury

Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts! Thanks for visiting! This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Friday Five (37)

Happy Friday! Sometimes I like to talk about what I am currently into that is not necessarily book related. Here's what I have been up to/thinking about/enjoying lately. Let me know what you think!

1. DoTerra Essential Oils - My son has started preschool this year and although he has a great immune system and rarely needs to take antibiotics, he has been bringing home colds. A lot of them.  I know this is bound to happen, but it has taken its toll on my youngest son and even myself! We seem to be catching every cold. Anyway, my friend recommended DoTerra's OnGuard essential oil to boost our immune system. I have a sample of OnGuard and I bought a diffuser, so I am ready to go. Anyone else a fan of essential oils? I love the concept and I could use some calming ones as well.

2.  Reign - So, Reign is back on! Anyone else a fan? They didn't even advertise (to the best of my knowledge) its return very well. All of a sudden I saw it on my DVR. What's the deal? Either way, I am glad that it has returned despite its glaring historical inaccuracies.

3.  The White Princess - I am so excited that this show will be coming to Starz in April. Did you guys see the trailer? I think it looks awesome. The Cousins' War series by Philippa Gregory is one of my favorites. I am sure this show will do the book justice. So far the casting looks spot on. What do you guys think?

4. This Weekend - The weather this weekend is going to be around 60 degrees!  For February in Pennsylvania, this is pretty much a heat wave. I can't wait to soak up all the sunshine and spend some time outdoors. Who is with me?

Source

5.   Valentine's Day Trifle - I made this with my oldest son on Valentine's Day.  We wanted to do something somewhat healthy and quick for a week night.  This was so easy and a lot of fun to make. A perfect Valentine's Day Treat!


I hope you all have a great weekend. Let me know what you are all up to and what you're reading. I finished up Daughter of Pirate King, which was so much fun and has a Black Sails vibe to it. I am currently reading The Hollywood Daughter --love anything Old Hollywood! Happy Friday!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lake Effect

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

The Lake Effect by Erin McCahan

Pub. Date: July 11, 2017

Goodreads says, "Fans of Nick Hornby, Huntley Fitzpatrick, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl will love this smart, funny, poignant YA romance and coming-of-age story—from the boy’s perspective  - lake effect | n.  The effect of any lake, especially the Great Lakes, in modifying the weather in nearby areas.  It’s the summer after his senior year, and driven, focused Briggs Henry is ready to leave behind his ex-girlfriend, his comically aggressive grandmother, and his parents’ money troubles for Lake Michigan and its miles of sandy beaches. He’s lined up a summer job working as a personal assistant and living in a gorgeous Victorian on the water—exactly the kind of house Briggs plans to buy his parents once he’s a multi-millionaire. But when he arrives, his boss, the eccentric Mrs. Bosic, tells him to get dressed for her funeral. Uh . . . It’s the first of many funerals they’ll attend this summer—to hilarious and eye-opening effect. Add to this a new set of friends-enemies - friends-again, and Abigail, the mysterious girl next door on whom Briggs’s charms repeatedly fail, and “the lake effect” is beginning to take on a whole new meaning." 

This is a beach bag must have for summer of 2017.  Also, the author wrote one of my favorite novels, Love and Other Foreign Words, so I am excited to check this one out.  What do you guys think?