Book Review: The Secret by Julie Garwood

Pages: 379

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: May 1, 1992

Publisher: Pocket

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Judith Hampton was as beautiful as she was proud, as purposeful as she was loyal. The dear Scottish friend of her childhood was about to give birth, and Judith had promised to be at her side. But there was another, private reason for the journey from her bleak English home to the Highlands: to meet the father she had never known, the Laird Maclean...Nothing prepared her for the sight of the Scottish barbarian who was to escort her into his land...Iain Maitland, Laird of his clan, a man more powerfully compelling than any she had ever encountered. In a clash of spirited wills and customs, Judith reveled in the melting bliss of Iain's searching kisses, his passionate caresses. Perplexed by her sprightly defiance, bemused by her tender nature, Iain felt his soul growing into the light and warmth of her love. Surely nothing would wrench her from the affection and trust of Iain and his clan...not even the truth about her father, a devastating secret that could shatter the boldest alliance, and the most glorious of loves!"

Judith Hampton first met Frances Catherine Kirkaldy at a summer festival at the border of England and Scotland when they were children. Judith is from England and Frances Catherine is from Scotland, but that didn't stop them from becoming fast friends.  Fast forward to adulthood and Judith has promised Frances that she would attend the birth of her first child. This is the 12th century and having babies is very dangerous.  But Judith is also going, because she is intrigued by her heritage as her father is the Laird Maclean, but this is a secret she has kept for years. She has never even met her father! While traveling to Scotland, Frances Catherine has a group escort her to the Highlands. Enter Laird Iain Maitland, who is one of her travel companions and also happens to be Frances Catherine's brother in law. The two definitely have sparks between them, but are both extremely willful and very different. Once Judith arrives at Frances Catherine's house, she finds out more about her situation. Frances Catherine still feels like an outsider amongst clan members and this is confusing to Judith. To make matters worse, the midwife in the town is the absolute worst. Nonetheless, Judith promises to help Frances Catherine with the birth of her child as she has studied up with another midwife prior to her trip to the Highlands.  Julie Garwood's historical romance, The Secret, is a nice escape for those who enjoy this genre as well as a Scottish setting.

One of the main things that I liked about The Secret was the strong friendship between Judith and Frances Catherine.  It was from childhood and spanned many years. I love a loyal female friendship and one that isn't toxic in anyway.  Even though Judith is well-off in England and France Catherine is, well, the opposite, it didn't deter their friendship in the least.  Once France Catherine is pregnant, she has her husband, Patrick, approach the council to ask permission to allow Judith to come from England. Frances Catherine's mother and her grandmother both died in childbirth and she wants support during the process and not the vile midwife from the village.  Friendship goals for sure. Plus, they know each other's deepest secrets (some that are truly life-altering if revealed), hence, the title of the book, but they never break each other's trust.

The setting of The Secret was great. Who doesn't love Scotland? While I am not sure it was entirely historically accurate, I could still appreciate it.  Garwood's descriptions of childbirth during this time period were eye-opening, especially with how the church got involved. Craziness!

The romance in The Secret was decent, although I was expecting a more swoon worthy love interest in Iain. I found him to be annoying at times with telling her what to do and how to think. I get this is part of the time period, but it got frustrating.  One thing I did appreciate is the fact that Judith never really listened to him.  Thank God. I didn't think the romance was too much like a "bodice ripper" romance novel (which I admit at first I was expecting), so I was pleasantly surprised by this as the traditional romance genre really isn't usually my favorite.

I'm glad I finally gave Julie Garwood's The Secret a try as I know she is a favorite of many historical romance readers. I definitely want to check out the other books in the Highlands' Lairds series, especially when I am looking to escape and read something light. 

Let me know if you have a favorite Garwood novel and which one I should read next!

*** The Kindle e-book version of The Secret is on sale for $1.99, which is a total steal! If you are like me and have been wanting to read Garwood for years, now is your chance to get it at a sale price!

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!)

Book Review: Mariana by Susanna Kearsley

Pages: 382

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 1, 1995

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Winter Sea

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "From the winner of the Catherine Cookson Fiction Prize, this mesmerizing, suspenseful, and richly atmospheric tale of time travel draws us into the heart of a heroine we won't soon forget...  The first time Julia Beckett saw Greywethers she was only five, but she knew at once that it was her house. Now, twenty-five years later, by some strange chance, she has just become the new owner of the sixteenth-century Wilshire farmhouse. But Julia soon begins to suspect that more than coincidence has brought her there. As if Greywethers were a porthal between worlds, she finds herself abruptly transported back in time. Stepping into seventeenth-century England, Julia becomes Mariana, a beautiful young woman struggling against danger and treachery, and battling a forbidden love for Richard de Mornay, handsome forebear of the present squire of Crofton Hall. Each time Julia travels back, she becomes more enthralled with the past, falling ever deeper in love with Richard...until one day she realizes Mariana's life threatens to eclipse her own--and that she must find a way to lay the past to rest, or risk losing a chance for love in her own time."

Julia Beckett is leaving her London life behind for a quiet countryside existence in an old and very charming house called Greywethers.  But this isn't just any old house. She first laid eyes on this house when she was a young child and something made her declare it "her house."  Then many years later, she happens upon it again and knows that she must buy it since it is for sale.  At first she thinks it's a coincidence, but as time progresses, she realizes that there may be more to her feelings for the house than she originally thought.  In fact, since moving to Greywethers, she occasionally slips back in time to seventeenth century England where the plague is a very real threat, there's a dangerous relative up to no good, and even a forbidden romance.  She finds herself not as Julia, but as Mariana, a young beautiful woman who is living with her domineering uncle.  In the 17th century, she meets and falls in love with Richard de Mornay, the lord of Crofton Hall.  Due to their different stations in society, their love is forbidden, but the heart wants what the heart wants.  Meanwhile in present day, Julia is getting acclimated to country life and meeting a cast of characters.  Her neighbors tell her all about the history of her house and she even gets to know the current owner of Crofton Hall, who just so happens to be a descendant of Richard de Mornay.  Susanna Kearsley's Mariana is a charming historical novel that has everything fans of Diana Gabaldon's novels will enjoy.

When authors tell stories with parallel story lines I usually find myself drawn to a particular character's story over another and that is the case in Mariana.  While Julia's story was compelling enough, I was very interested in Mariana's.  It's Mariana's story that really kept me glued to the pages.  Her uncle is a true villain and I couldn't wait for her to escape his grasp along with her aunt Caroline whose life is miserable, thanks to him.  Her uncle is a crazy religious zealot with a dash of ignorance and side of violence. I truly loathed him and in turn, I was on the edge of my seat every time Mariana interacted with him.  I also enjoyed her forbidden romance with Richard despite her uncle's disapproval.

Also, I liked that Julia left her London life behind for a more quiet existence in the country and I enjoyed the details of village life in Mariana. I mean who doesn't dream of getting away from it all and living simply? The different characters she meets are all very interesting as well as the various locations, such as the pub, The Red Lion.

My only issue with Mariana was that I had to suspend my disbelief frequently throughout the novel. I wasn't as completely sold on things as I usually am when I read time slip/time travel novels. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it.

Kearsley's historical novels have proven to be very compelling, especially for fans of Diana Gabaldon. While I enjoyed The Winter Sea more than Mariana, I was still pleasantly surprised.  If you enjoy time travel/time slip novels, with romance and a touch of the paranormal along with some fantastic historical details, you should definitely give Mariana a try; it will sweep you away to a different time and place.

Book Review: Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts

Pages: 368

Genre:  Romance/Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: November 1, 1999

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "In her new trilogy, New York Times #1 Best Selling author, Nora Roberts returns to the lush, green hills of Ireland, where love is forever touched by magic - And where the Gallagher siblings explore the depth of their fiery hearts.   Determining to reevaluate her life, Jude Murray flees America to take refugee in Faerie Hill Cottage, immersing herself in the study of Irish Folk and discovers hope for the future of the magical past.  Finally back home in Ireland after years of traveling, Aidan Gallagher possesses an uncommon understanding of his country's haunting myths. Although he's devoted to managing the family pub, a hint of wildness still glints in his stormy eyes--and in Jude, he sees a woman who can both soothe his heart and stir his blood. And he begins to share the legends of the land with her--while they create a passionate history of their own.."

Jude Murray's marriage crumbles and she decides to reset her life by visiting her ancestor's cottage in Ireland. It is there where she will get back to the basics, do a little research on folklore, and figure out what she wants out of life. She has even left her job, which she is no longer inspired by and where better to find herself than spend six months at the gorgeous Irish countryside?  Aidan Gallagher owns the local pub that has been in his family for generations.  After traveling the world, he has returned home to manage the pub and when he meets Jude sparks fly.  Maybe Aidan is just what Jude needs to heal her broken heart and perhaps Jude will finally inspire Aidan to settle down.  Nora Robert's Jewels of the Sun is a charming romance novel with touches of fantasy and folklore woven into it.  

How could you not feel for Jude in Jewels of the Sun? She's pretty much at her lowest point when readers meet her. She has left her job, her marriage is over, and she is lost.  Going to Ireland to figure things out is the best thing she could have done for herself. While there she is researching local folklore and mythology; perhaps she will write a book.  She consults the locals regarding these myths, and especially feels chemistry with the brooding and handsome Aidan Gallagher.  I loved their relationship from the start.

Aidan is exactly the kind of love interest you'd want in a romance novel. He's good looking, smart, and very charming.  While I didn't necessarily buy his interest in Jude right away, I did appreciate the slow burn of their romance and watching it evolve in Jewels of the Sun.  I also appreciated Aidan's siblings. Roberts does a good job even making the secondary characters compelling so much so that they are the focus of the rest of the Gallaghers of Ardmore series. 

What I really enjoyed about Jewels of the Sun was the setting of Ardmore, Ireland. I absolutely loved Robert's depictions of the countryside and its beauty.  Her descriptions of the local pub, Gallaghers, was fantastic. I wanted to spend the day there sipping a beer and listening to traditional Irish music.  The details she included of the Irish countryside were so spot on. It had me reminiscing of my own trip to Ireland.

The fantasy elements Roberts wove into the plot, while were cheesy at points, worked in the sense that Jude is here to study local folklore and is living at a cottage called Faerie Hill.  So, it seemed  only fitting that there may be something supernatural about.  Plus, the presence of ghosts only added to the atmosphere of the story. 

All in all, if you want something fluffy, romantic and with an absolutely beautiful setting, you should check out this series.  I'm glad I found it sitting in the back of my bookshelf; it was just what I needed. I plan on checking out the rest of the series as well. I have a feeling this trilogy, Gallaghers of Ardmore, would be like wearing your favorite sweats and drinking a warm cup of tea by the fire on a damp day. Comforting and cozy.

Book Review: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Pages: 527

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: December 10, 2010

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth-the ultimate betrayal-that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her."

Carrie McClelland is a successfully historical fiction author and her latest book is about Scotland in the 1700s. She even rents a cottage near Slains Castle in Scotland which is the location that inspired her story. Carrie names the heroine of her novel, Sophie, after one of Scottish ancestors.  As she is writing this tale, she realizes that her story may not be based on fiction after all. Carrie is starting to "remember" various things that happened to Sophie and she starts to wonder if it is some type of ancestral memory.  Readers get to experience what happened to Sophie as Carrie writes the story as well as Carrie's journey of writing the book and living in Scotland. Kearsley weaves a magical and smart tale that I loved to be lost in. Fans of historical fiction as well as Diana Gabaldon will Susanna Kearsley's The Winter Sea.

Carrie is someone I was instantly fascinated with due to her occupation as a historical writer. I loved to learn how she was inspired by Scotland as well as her research methods. The more she learned about Slains Castle and the history, the more I was captivated. As she writes Sophie, her ancestor's story, I became invested in not only Carrie's quest to bring this story to life, but also Sophie's story.  I am very much into genealogy, so that was fun to ponder the idea of ancestral memory.  

The Winter Sea is not just about Sophie's story though. Kearsley expertly switches to Carrie's perspective and readers get glimpses into her life in Scotland. As Carrie writes her book, she meets new people and her own life is filled with some romance as well.

I absolutely loved how Kearsley weaved The Winter Sea. Carrie would be inspired to write about Sophie and then we were taken back in time to 1700s Scotland, but then the narration would easily jump back to present day Carrie working hard writing her story and her adventures in Scotland.  So, The Winter Sea isn't exactly time travel per se, but it involves a type of flashback to the past as we live through Sophie's story. The back and forth method Kearsley employed was well done and not confusing in the least.

Fans of Diana Gabladon's Outlander will enjoy The Winter Sea; however, this story is a little more quiet than Outlander. The action scenes aren't as gruesome and the romantic scenes aren't as scandalous nor as detailed. However, if you can appreciate Scotland in the 1700s, you'll love to be transported back and be completely intrigued by Sophie's story. I am very happy that I decided to dust this one off my shelf and finally read it; in fact, I plan on checking out more of Kearsley's novels in the future.

"Dust Off the Shelves" Feature: An Update

In 2014, I swore I would read all the books on my shelves. You know the ones. The ones that are collecting dust. The ones that you insisted on buying and couldn't wait to read, but then they sort of sat there, neglected for years. My goal in 2014 was to read one of these books at least every two months and the book had to have a 2010 publication date or older.

I read three books (that fit those requirements) from my dusty bookshelf the entire year.

Three.

Seriously?

The worst part is that the three books that I did read were fantastic, with one (Looking for Alaska) making my favorite books I read in 2014 list.  I really need to try harder in 2015.

So, maybe I set too lofty a goal in 2014 and I am hoping if I make it a little more reasonable it will happen?

Here are some of the book that are collecting dust that I'd like to tackle this year:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - I man this HAS to happen, right? I may be the last person on the planet who hasn't read this.

Soulless by Gail Carriger - I am afraid to start another series (I am already behind on so many that I love. I'm looking at you, Diana Gabaldon.)  But I hear that I would love this book.

Shadows and Strongholds or The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick - I love historical fiction and I have heard her books are definitely something I'd enjoy.

Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead  - Again, a little nervous to start a new series, but I love Richelle Mead and I hear this series is just as good as Vampire Academy, which I adored.

Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty- I need to just finish this series already. What am I waiting for? I think I am a little nervous.

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - This book has everything that I love (historical fiction, time travel, romance, etc) and I even made it a goal in my Top Ten Tuesday post to read this book this winter. Maybe I will start with this one first?

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - I know this one has an earlier pub date than 2010, but still. I love Dessen and have read most of her books, so I need to make this one a priority.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - Again, this has an earlier than 2010 pub date, but I am tired of looking at this one on my shelf. I think I would love it!

So, my goal is to maybe read five or more of these books in 2015. What do you think? Where should I start? Do you recommend any of these books?

Book Review: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Pages: 383

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: April 6, 2006

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" — at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends."

Annabel and her two sisters are models and are known in their suburban town for their good looks, along with living in a glass house designed by their architect father.  Annabel is the youngest in the family and spends her free time modeling even though her heart isn't in it; after all, she doesn't want to disappoint her mother.  Her older sister, Kirsten, has moved to New York City and the middle sister, Whitney, has also followed Kirsten in order to pursue her modeling career further.  While Kirsten and Whitney are living in the big city, Whitney suffers from anorexia and Kirsten tries to warn her parents how serious of an issue this is for Whitney, but their mother sort of brushes it off and makes excuses.  Meanwhile, Annabel is your average high school student except she starts off her junior year without Sophie, her best friend, who won't speak to her due to a fight they had over summer break.  In fact, Sophie has become a bit of a bully at school and Annabel is feeling even more isolated. That is until she meets Owen at lunch who also is a bit of a loner and they bond over his love for eccentric music.  One thing is for sure: Annabel's junior year is going to be an interesting one.  Sarah Dessen's Just Listen is an enjoyable novel that made me think, laugh, and cry.  Although it wasn't my favorite of her books, I still found it entertaining and Dessen balanced serious issues with some lighthearted moments very well.

Annabel is the type of all-American girl that could live next door to you. She is pretty nice, good looking, from a nice family, does well in school, etc, but behind the walls of her glass house is a family that is struggling.  Her mother doesn't want to address the real issues in the family (her sister's anorexia) and instead wants to sweep everything under the rug, which makes things complicated for the sisters.  Annabel, being the type of girl who wants to please her mom, can't even tell her mother she doesn't want to model anymore for fear of upsetting her. So, needless to say, the family dynamic isn't perfect, but instead was flawed and very realistic as only Dessen can expertly portray.

Dessen does a really good job in all of her novels demonstrating the ups and downs of friendship, especially between females, and that is also the case in Just Listen. Her complex friendship with Sophie was very realistic and also troubling. I think many teenagers can relate to Annabel's struggle to fit in and become friends with "popular" Sophie.  Readers will wonder why Sophie and Annabel don't get along anymore and slowly Dessen plants clues and uses foreshadowing for readers to figure out what exactly sparked this huge fight.  

Once Annabel meets Owen in Just Listen, she starts to learn more about herself and about true friendship, because Owen is the type of guy who speaks his mind and keeps it real.  Through him Annabel gains self-confidence as well as the ability to stand up for herself and speak her truth. I loved this about their relationship and was a fan of Owen from the beginning. Also, through music, he teaches her to be more open-minded and not judge and instead just listen.  I love that.

As I mentioned before, Just Listen wasn't my favorite of Dessen's novels, but I still really enjoyed Annabel's journey. Just Listen was a bit darker than I was expecting, but I think Dessen handled the subject matter very well and the tone of the overall novel wasn't overly morose; there were definitely moments that made me smile and laugh.  So, if you are a fan of Dessen and have overlooked this novel, I urge you to check it out, especially if you like realistic books, because Dessen has created characters here that are truly authentic and you feel like you know them.

Book Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green

Pages: 221
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Pub. Date: March 3, 2005
Source: Personal Copy
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same."

Miles, or Pudge as his friends call him, decides to take a chance by going to a boarding school in Alabama; it happens to be the same boarding school where his father went and he's hoping it will be the right fit for him.  At his old school, he dissolved into the background and pretty much had no friends. He spent most of his time learning the last words of famous people.  At his new school, he is off to a good start, because he is rooming with Chip or "the Colonel" who is super smart and loves pranks.  Also, he starts hanging out with the elusive and charismatic Alaska.  Alaska is everything that scares him; she's a bit of a free spirit, sexual, eloquent, impulsive and along with the Colonel, likes to live dangerously from time to time.  Pudge starts morphing into someone he never thought he would be and is actually enjoying himself.  This award winning debut from John Green is a memorable one.  In true Green fashion, there are moments that made me laugh uncontrollably, moments that made me sob like a baby, and other moments that made me want to stop and marinate in his beautiful writing.  In sum, Looking for Alaska is an outstanding contemporary read that shouldn't be missed.

Pudge feels similar to many of Green's other protagonists, but I kind of like the whole geeky and intellectual vibe that they all emit.  Pudge and his group of friends are awesome and their antics are even better.  I loved reading about his transformation, his desire to fit in, and his growth as a person.  He decided to go to boarding school to see what Rabelais (the famous poet) refers to as the "Great Perhaps" and it's everything he had hoped for and more. His time at boarding school requires him to stretch outside of his comfort zone, live a little and form friendships.  Speaking of friendships, the Colonel is downright awesome and he made for an interesting roommate for Pudge. Alaska is the enigmatic girl down the hall who holds many secrets and as I learned more and more about her, I found myself, like Pudge, even more interested in her.  Let's just say all of the characters in Looking for Alaska were so very memorable and larger than life.

What is so unforgettable about Looking for Alaska is the fact that it is so darn smart. It makes you think.  For example, Pudge's obsessions with famous people's last words is the opposite of morbid; instead, I found it to be extremely captivating. It made me ponder things. Plus, let's talk about Pudge's religion teacher. BRILLIANT! Can I please be in that class?  The questions that they discussed, the essay topics, the lectures were so incredibly thought provoking.  I simply loved it and somehow wanted to be transported to Pudge's school in Looking for Alaska.  

I can't say enough about Green's writing. I am such a huge fan; there's something about it that really reaches the reader. His dialogue is snappy, funny, and real. I felt like I was living within the story and when the inevitable moment comes when I shed a tear, it felt so emotional….like I really knew the characters.  That's the power of John Green.

Of course tragedy strikes in Looking for Alaska and I could feel it coming, but I didn't mind, because that's life.  Things don't always end perfectly and life can be messy.  You can't always expect Green's novels to include unicorns and butterflies, but you can expect them to make you feel things, think about life, and appreciate a good story.  In the end, Looking for Alaska concluded the way that it should and I felt simultaneously heartbroken and happy, but more importantly, I was sad that I had reached the book's final page.  And that is the mark of an impressive and haunting read and one that I highly recommend.

Book Review: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Pages: 422

Genre: Adult Historical Romance

Pub. Date: March 30, 2010

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing. But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile. If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love."

Lady Calpurnia, or Callie, is only twenty eight years old, but according to Regency England's expectations  that puts her in full blown spinsterhood status.  For years, she has admired Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston, from afar and has never acted on her crush as he is known as a notorious womanizer or rake.  Frustrated with her life, she makes a list of things that she would like to do that break the conventions of society, like gamble in a men's club, attend a duel, and go to a bar. One night she finds herself at Gabriel St. John's door throwing herself at him.  He, of course, finds her amusing and thinks that they can have an agreement between them as Callie might be a good chaperone for his half-sister who is entering society soon.  As they spend more and more time together, the two form an undeniable connection.  But could this libertine actually fall for a wallflower?  Sarah MacLean's Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is hilarious, escapist, sexy and a deliciously fun read.

Before reading Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, I had never read a historical romance in my life. Actually, I was sort of a book snob and judged romance novels as being super creepy and pure smut.  I always imagined older women reading these types of books by the pool on vacation and manipulating the paperback in order to hide the embarrassing covers from their children. I mean look at some of the covers; can you blame them?  However, many bloggers that I trust rated this book highly and I thought, why not? I like historical fiction (Regency England!) and I like romance, so I tried it with an open mind.  I am so glad I did! 

Lady Calpurnia is a seriously fun heroine. Essentially, she has given up on herself and succumbed to spinsterhood. She doesn't even really try anymore and just admires her crush, Gabriel St. John or Ralston, from afar.  When she finds herself chaperoning his wild-child half-sister, Callie finds herself in close quarters with him.  Sparks ignite between the couple and I absolutely adored their witty banter, hilarious antics, laugh out loud situations, and of course, the steamy sexytimes.

Gabriel St. John was like a brooding and naughty Mr. Darcy in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. I was definitely a fan of him and although he made some frustrating decisions throughout the novel, I felt that it only added to his bad-boy persona.  

Yes, there were some cheesy moments in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and some too-good-to-be-true situations, but I expected that in a romance novel; after all, we can trust that the characters get together, right? I read this novel with an open mind and with the sole purpose of having fun, so I let those minor irritations fall to the wayside.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is a fantastic book to read if you need something fun and light.  Sometimes you just want to escape the daily grind and where better to do that than in Regency England following Callie's adventures.  Also, if you were like me and you never read a historical romance, I highly recommend Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake as your first.  

New Feature: Dust Off the Shelves

I don't know about you, but I have a ton of books that sit sadly unread on my bookshelf.  If you are bookish, like me, then I'm sure you know what I am talking about.  The books you just HAD to buy and then they sit on your shelf collecting dust.  Well, 2014 is the year that I am going to do something about it!

I have made an executive decision. I am going to be more picky when it comes to review copies that I accept and read more of the books that I do have, specifically, the ones that are collecting dust on my shelf as we speak.  Hence my new feature, "Dust Off the Shelves." I plan to read one or two of these lovely books a month, but the only catch is that the book's publication date must be 2010 or older.  So, keep your eye out in 2014 for my new feature.

With that said, here are a few of the books I'm thinking of dusting off:

• Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales
• Boys, Girls, and Other Hazerdous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
• The Hollow by Jessica Verday
• Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
• The Season by Sarah MacLean
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
• Soulless by Gail Carriger
• Shadows and Strongholds by Elizabeth Chadwick
• Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick
• Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
• Looking For Alaska by John Green
• Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

So, what do you think? Are you like me and have a bunch of books that sit unread on your bookshelf? From my list, which books must I read first? Let me know!