I Shall Be Near to You, by Erin Lindsay McCabe

Rosetta always preferred the more manly chores on her family's farm, being outdoors and doing physical work.  When her sweetheart decides to enlist in the Union army to fight in the Civil War, Rosetta convinces him to marry her before leaving.  She then disguises herself as a man, and enlists in the same unit as her husband.  Reinventing herself as Ross, she finds herself fighting as well as any man, for the sake of her country as well as her family.

I have been on a huge Civil War kick lately, ever since I visited Gettysburg this summer, so this book was right up my alley.  This book was really fascinating, not only thanks to the beautiful writing, but to the fact that this fictional story was based on actual women who fought in the Civil War.  The research behind the book was solid, and allowed me to be completely absorbed into the story.

I thought the writing in the book was just gorgeous.  I adored Rosetta as a character, and I admired her spirit.  I felt like I was able to connect to her adoration of her husband, and her desire to follow him to the ends of the world.  The book will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance, but I think that in all reality this is the kind of book that would still appeal to fans of general contemporary fiction who tend to shy away from historical books.  While the historical aspect is a huge part of the story, it does not overshadow the book.  One does not need to be a Civil War buff to appreciate the beauty of this book.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

The Hexed, by Heather Graham

In his youth, Rocky not only had to deal with the death of a friend, he was the one who found her body.  Now a member of an elite FBI team that deals with unusual situations, Rocky has returned to his hometown area of Salem to investigate a series of murders identical to that of his childhood friend.  Are the murders are related to each other, and to the witchy past of Salem?

I was absolutely fascinated by this book!  I love that the story centers around a real historic area, and weaves a lot of historic fact into the plot.  I also like that the story did not take the easy way out, making the culprit someone obvious or simply blaming the paranormal.  The plot was very strong, and well written.  I was engaged from the first page.

The character development was good, but I would have liked to either see a little bit more development, or a little less characters.  I know we needed a large cast, to serve as red herrings, but some of the people who were not obvious suspects just seemed to muddy things a little, and make it hard to keep people straight.  Also, I could have done without the romance aspect of the book.  I think the thriller and paranormal aspects of the plot were strong enough to carry the story, the romance seemed like it was an afterthought to try to appeal to romance fans.  

All in all, I found the book really well written, and very unique.  I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours, in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

The Girl Who Came Home, by Hazel Gaynor

Maggie Murphy is leaving everything she loves behind in her small town in Ireland.  She leaves her friends, her home, and her love Seamus, to travel to America on the Titanic.  We all know that tragedies befell the passengers of that ship, but we learn that Maggie survived, and many years later shares the story with her great granddaughter.

I am fascinated by the stories of the Titanic.  I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have lived at the time when this happened.  I cannot imagine how it would have felt as the nation mourned this tragedy.  As someone who has enjoyed other books and movies on the topic, I felt certain I would enjoy this book.  And I did, though it was uncertain for a while.

The book starts off with excellent character development of Maggie.  We learn her backstory, and why she is reluctant to read.  We also get to know some other minor characters from the past, as well as some characters from the future.  The thing that put me off, just the slightest bit, was the amount of narrative switching, between past, present, letter, journals, telegrams, and different characters.  It all got to be too much.  I was glad when things straightened out a little more, and there were less narrative devices and voices.

I think the story was an excellent concept, and the writing was mostly solid.  I just think the execution of the book was a just a tiny bit clumsy.  I am all for historical accuracy, but I could have done without a lot of the historical telegrams and such that really played no part in the story.  Had the story focused more on the actual boat and all its passengers and crew, this would have been necessary.  However, since it was mostly just about Maggie, it did not make sense to include those things.  Again, just too many different narrative devices; it chopped up the flow of the text.

In general, however, I found the book interesting.  I think it will appeal to fans of historical fiction, particularly readers looking for a nice, sweet romance story.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

Haven, by Laury Falter

Kennedy goes to school, like she would on any normal weekday.  Today, however, is anything but normal.  A global epidemic has struck, and Kennedy, along with several classmates, has found a haven inside the high school.  Outside, The Infected wander around seeking victims.  What has happened to the world, and how are they going to survive this mess?

There is so much about this novel that I really loved.  First off, yes, this is essentially a zombie story; however, just like the original Night of the Living Dead, the "z word" is never uttered.  Instead we are given a somewhat clinical explanation as to what is infecting people.  I like that, I felt like it stayed true to the history of the zombie genre.  The book struck me as The Walking Dead for the high school set; again, I think this is a good thing.  

I really liked the characters of Kennedy and Harrison.  I thought they were well developed and had a rich, dimensional role in the story.  I liked that Kennedy was a strong female character, in many ways equal, if not superior to, Harrison.  I also liked the romantic storyline between the two characters.  Even in a world full of chaos, love can bloom.

The story seems to be marketed to young adults; however, there is enough of a storyline to also engage adult readers.  The book ends a little abruptly, mostly to hook the reader for the next installment of the series.  All in all, I thought this was a good book, proving that there is still life (reanimated life at least) in the zombie genre.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

Holding On, by Jessica Degarmo

After a rough childhood, Caitlin is finally happy as an adult.  She is married to the love of her life, and gets to be a step mother to his son.  Just when Caitlyn has settled into her happy life, she is connected with her birth mother. Suddenly, Caitlin finds herself opening up, allowing herself to be vulnerable, and knowing she may be setting herself up for a fall.

This book is the sequel to Hooking Up, so many of the characters were familiar to me.  I still adore Caitlin as a character, and find myself relating to her very easily.  She tries to see the best in everyone, and hope for the best, which sometimes opens herself up to being badly hurt.  But the moments where she is open and makes a deep loving connection are worth the possibility of pain.  I feel like Caitln really matures as a character through this sequel.

There is a distinct shift away from romance to drama in terms of the storyline, and I, for one, really liked the shift.  Caitlin has her romance, and is still very much in love, but now she is exploring love within her family in a bigger sense.  I liked this, and felt like it made the book appealing to a wider audience than its predecessor.   The story kept me engaged, and I read it clear through in one sitting.  I, personally, would like to see what life has in store for Caitlin in the next phase of her life.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

Somewhere to Dream, by Genevieve Graham

When Adelaide and her sister Maggie are kidnapped by white men, then rescued by a group of Cherokee Indians, they have no idea the impact the ordeal will have on their lives.  Both girls are welcomed into the tribe, and both learn to cultivate their powers of prophecy through dreams.  Maggie leaves the tribe and begins her life as a wife and mother, while Adelaide stays with the tribe.  When a white man is brought into the fold by one of the Indians, claiming the man holds the spirit of his slain tribesman and brother, Adelaide realizes she must face her past, in order to have a real future.

Once again, Graham weaves magic in the form of a beautiful historical romance.  I absolutely loved the setting of early America, where the balance of peace between the Native Americans and the white men is always tenuous and dangerous.  I am simply fascinated with the customs and spirituality of native people, and I really enjoyed how that was woven into this story.

The idea of white people being accepted into an Indian tribe seems unusual to me, but when you read about it with these characters, it all seems to make sense.  The characters are deftly written, and one cannot help but love them.  I really loved seeing Jesse develop and grow throughout the course of the story.  There is a strong theme overcoming one's past and healing from wounds both physical and emotional.

The book will appeal to fans of historical romance, particularly those with interests in Native American spirituality.  Fans of Grahams past work will be happy to see her triumphant return with this novel.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

She Can Scream, by Melinda Leigh

Brooke is forever haunted by the murder of her roommate sixteen years ago.  She has made it her goal to help teach women how to protect themselves.  After one of her classes, she hears a scream, and upon investigation she finds a woman being attacked.  She saves the girl, but the attacker decides to target Brooke next.  Luckily, a friend of the family, Luke, can help keep an eye on Brooke.  But perhaps he wants to do more than just keep an eye on her.

Apparently this book is part of a series, but it is the first I have read by this author, and it functions well as a stand alone book.  I really enjoyed the blending of mystery, suspense, and romance.  I thought it was well done, and made the book appealing to a wide variety of readers.

I particularly liked Luke and Brooke as characters.  I thought their back stories were interesting, and lended extra depth to them as characters.  I liked the sub-story of the two of them together as well.  I felt like they were helping each other heal from the past.

I particularly liked the sections of the book written from the attacker's point of view, and was surprised to learn his identity at the end.  

All in all I think this is a solid story, appealing to fans of thriller, mystery, crime, and romance.

I received a review copy courtesy of Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.

Wait for You, by J. Lynn

Avery hopes that by moving from Texas to West Virginia for college, she will be escaping her troubled past.  She quickly makes a few close friends, including her handsome neighbor Cam, who persistently asks her out.  Avery is not ready to deal with her past, and as a result, she cannot form a relationship with Cam.  As time goes by, Avery is forced to face up to the truth of what she has been through, and what direction she wants her life to take.

I am not a big fan of romance novels, so I went into this with low expectations.  I thought, there is no way a romance novel focusing on college kids is ever going to entertain me.  Boy, was I dead wrong.  I absolutely loved this book.  I started reading it at 8:30 last night, and could not put it down; I stayed up until 1:30 so I could finish it.  It totally sucked me in.  I think what hooked me was the great character development.  I really felt for Avery a lot, even before I knew her full story.  And Cam, well, he is the kind of character that gives single women hope.  He is wonderful, but not perfect, so he helps reinforce realistic expectations.  And their story is also not, perfect, there are bumps along the way.  

In my opinion, the story just felt real.  It sounded like real college kids talking, they acted like real college kids, the problems were realistic.  It just seemed very believable and relatable.

I also liked the way the sexuality was handled in the book.  It was sexy, but not trashy, and unlike most romance novels, there actually was some romance to the whole thing.

All in all a great book that fans of romance will be sure to love.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

Big Girl Panties, by Stephanie Evanovich

Holly was never a thin girl, and after dealing with the death of her husband, she has put on more weight than ever.  When she bumps into Logan, a personal trainer, on an airplane, they strike up a camaraderie, and he offers to train her.  After months of hard work, Holly has transformed, blossomed.  Will Logan notice the change, and will love blossom as well?

I wanted to like this book, really I did.  I wanted it to be a story about a normal sized woman owning her looks and finding the love she deserves.  Sadly, it was not exactly what I wanted.  When Holly is introduced to us, the first impression we get of her is a big, fat, mess.  I think this is the impression a lot of people have of overweight people, even overweight people who are meticulously groomed and well put together.  So, right away, the author feeds into fat stereotypes.  Holly was never worthy of love, and only settled on her husband, because that is what a fat girl is supposed to do.  She is supposed to feel grateful for any attention thrown her way.  Which is also why Holly jumps at the chance for a handsome man to become her trainer. Logan is, in short, a pig.  In fact, the book is pretty full of misogyny that is thinly veiled as sexy fetishism.  

There is a lot of sex in this story.  I am hardly what I would call a prude, but I am not a huge fan of words like "moist mound" and "throbbing member" in a romance book.  A talented writer can do much better than the standard Harlequin novel fare.  Between the language and the spanking, this is like a watered down version of the 50 Shades books.  

I am really not sure who the target audience is here.  Not feminists, that is for sure.  And not anyone comfortable with their body, since all the women (no matter what they weigh) in the book are incredibly insecure about their looks.  

The book is a fast easy read, and at times fun and playful.  But in the end, my heart hurt for every woman who has ever felt like Holly.

I received a review copy courtesy of Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.

 

The Curiosity, by Stephen Kiernan

Dr. Kate Philo is on a mission with a research team to find life preserved in ice, with the hopes of reanimating it.  The team hopes, if they are lucky, to find small fish, maybe even a mammal.  When the team finds a man in the ice, the research project reaches a fever pitch.  The man, Jeremiah Rice, is removed from the ice, reanimated, and thrust into a time and place he never imagined.  Kate helps Jeremiah navigate this strange new world, and finds herself deeply connected to him.

I was really enchanted by this book.  I thought the storyline was really unique and inventive.  I loved the idea of a man from another time visiting our world, and this certainly is a fresh spin on the time traveler idea.  I thought Jeremiah was a wonderful character.  My heart really broke for him, being thrust into a world without any control over his own life, knowing no one, and not even understanding the very basics of his environment.  The whole scenario calls into question the idea of man versus science, and man playing God.  With all the controversy over things like stem cell research and cloning in the past few decades, I found this to be a pertinent topic for literary exploration.

The book is not without its flaws, however.  The science behind the storyline seems flawed.  Yes, I realize a reader needs to suspend disbelief for a book like this, but the story pushes it a bit far without good solid sounding theory to back it up, in my opinion.  Also, I found Kate a bit stiff as a character.  She just did not connect with me that well.  I found myself much more interested in some of the smaller, supporting characters.  

Despite the flaws, I think the book is really well written.  It certainly captured me, and help my attention.  I think this is a great book for people who swear they hate science fiction but have never really given it a chance because they think it is all like Star Trek.  This is sci-fi for people who like emotional, romantic stories.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Freud's Mistress, by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman

As an unmarried woman of a certain age, Minna needed to earn a living as a ladies' companion or some similar occupation, but when she is relieved of her post, she has no choice but to go live with her sister, Martha, and her brother in law, Sigmund.  As in, Sigmund Freud.  As Herr Doctor Freud is in the midst of his life's work, he begins a passionate affair with his sister in law.  Is Martha aware of this affair?  If Minna must choose between her sister and her lover, who will she choose?

I have to admit, I was completely swept up in this book.  While Freudian theories are no longer in vogue, I have always found them fascinating, and wondered how much of Freud's personal life factored into his work.  I was fascinated by the descriptions of various medical treatments, both for physical ailments and mental health issues, used during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  It really makes you appreciate how far medical science has come, but also how much we were aware of, even so long ago.  I had to giggle at the scenes about cocaine use, particularly how Freud called it harmless and impossible to become addicted.  

I really loved the writing in this book.  As with all historical fiction, a lot of liberty was taken with the storyline, I am sure, but I was really enraptured with Minna and Sigmund's characters.  Freud was really written exactly as I would have imagined he would be, and even though he was infuriating, I was really drawn to him.  But I was really enamorate of Minna as a character.  I love that she really pushes back against Victorian female stereotypes.  She refuses to marry out of necessity.  She drinks.  She is an intellectual.  I would bet anything that she would have been a feminist, despite the fact that she falls prey to Freud's spell.

The book does a great job of weaving both fact and fiction into the overall tapestry of the story.  It will appeal to fans of historical fiction, but also to students of psychology, to learn a bit more about Freud from a human perspective, even if it is fictional.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest review.

A Half Forgotten Song, by Katherine Webb

Zach has spent his life becoming an expert in the life and work of artist Charles Aubrey.  He goes to the Dorset coastal village where Aubrey spent three summers with his mistress and children.  There, Zach finds that one of the women who would pose for Aubrey, Mitzy, is still alive and can shed some light on the mystery of Charles Aubrey's life.

It is really rare that a book can completely change my initial reaction, but this one certainly did.  When I first began reading this novel, I found it incredibly dull.  The first hundred pages really seem to plod on.  It takes quite a long time to set up the backstory and explain the story world.  But once that happens, and the story can start in earnest, the book gets so much better.  I thought I was going to hate the book, based on those first 100 pages, but in the end I really liked it.

I think the author painted some really rich characters, particularly in Mitzy.  We are never entirely sure how accurate Mitzy's version of events is, even when the story is fully revealed.  I liked the way the past and present unfold simultaneously, I feel like it gave us a much richer view of the story and the characters.  They story itself is quite unique, and I certainly did not predict the many twists and turns.

My biggest complaint was those first 100 pages, setting up the story.  It was just too much.  By eliminating a couple of aspects (like Zach's ex-wife and daughter), the fat could have been trimmed a little, giving the reader a more engaging story.  I could see some readers giving up within those first 100 pages.  Fans of romance and of mystery will appreciate this book, since both genres are artfully intertwined.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Fairchild's Lady, by Roseanna M. White

Isaac Fairchild has traveled to France to find a countess and her daughter, and assist them in escaping to England.  When he finds the pair, the countess is not eager to leave, since her daughter is in line to wed the
 duc.  When it becomes clear that the duc is not the loving man he appeared to be, however, the mother and daughter decide to flee, with the help of Fairchild.

What a nice little novella this is!  From the first pages, I was completely entranced with the character of Julienne.  So many women in royal courts have so little say over their lives, particularly pre- French Revolution, that I was happy to see a woman make decisions for herself regarding matters of the heart.  I have no illusions that many women in those days were able to marry for love, nor were many interested in marrying for love.  However, it is always nice to read a story where real love does conquer all.

For a story that is novella length, it certainly is packed with intrigue, romance, and action.  You have the mystery of who Julianne really is, as well as who Isaac really is.  How fitting that the story opens at a masquerade, since so many of the characters wear their own figurative masks throughout the story.

This book makes me eager to see what else is in store for the Culper Ring series.  Fans of historical romance are sure to love this story.

This book is from my own library, which I have chosen to review; all opinions are entirely honest and original.

Sight Reading, by Daphne Kalotay

Hazel is out running errands, when she unexpectedly runs into Remy, the woman who stole her husband Nicholas many years ago.  After all these years, the wound no longer stings; Remy and Hazel have come to terms with each other, mostly due to their parts in raising Hazel and Nicholas' daughter.  Both women reflect on their past, the decisions that led them to the present, and the meaning of their lives as they are now.

I really wanted to love this book.  As a lover of music, the idea of a romance, even a love triangle, wrapped up in the magical world of music was intriguing.  But, once again, I have come to realize why I dislike stories that involve love triangles: they are predictable.  Do not get me wrong, the writing in the book is very good.  I liked the way the drama was juxtaposed with musical aspects.  As someone who has studied music, it made a great deal of sense to me.  

I really liked Hazel as a character, and felt that most aspects of her story were unjust.  This, in turn, made me dislike Remy, and most especially Nicholas.  I felt as if this was just another story of a man trying to justify his inability to keep his penis in check.  And I really, really hate that particular literary plot device.  I felt there was very little about either Remy or Nicholas that was redeemable, and am not surprised as the choices they make later on in their relationship.

All in all, this is not a bad book.  To me, it was simply a little too vanilla.  Nothing remarkable or extraordinary.  If this book were an actual piece of music, it would be a cover song.  Fans of the love triangle will like the book, as will readers with musical knowledge.  For people completely unschooled in music, this book may not be a good fit, due to musical vocabulary and allusions.

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope, by Rhonda Riley

As a teenager, Evelyn takes over her aunt's farm.  One day, she pulls a mysterious person from the mud, thinking it a wounded soldier.  The person begins healing at a rapid pace, and takes on Evelyn's own image, and is called Addie.  A strong bond is created, and eventually Addie transforms into a man, now called Adam.  Adam and Evelyn marry, and begin a lifelong love affair.  When heartache and tragedy threaten their happiness, the family flees to Florida, in the hopes of finding peace once again.

What a unique, captivating novel this is.  I cannot believe, with the sophistication of the writing, that this is a debut novel.  Obviously, this is a tremendous love story, but to me it is so much more.  In an age where we are debating the rights of same sex couples, and transgendered individuals, this book kind of hammers home the point that, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, everyone is entitled to a life filled with love and happiness.  

I felt like the characters were incredibly developed.  I immediately connected to Evelyn, and felt like she and Adam made a complete, perfect picture.  While they connect passionately on a physical level, their love is about so much more than just sexuality.  To me, this is a story about soul mates.  It is impossible to not be totally enamored with Adam.  

I thought the writing was simply delicious, and really pulled in all your senses.  I absolutely could not put this book down, and although it is over 400 pages, I finished it in less than a day.  Fans of fantasy, romance, and contemporary literature will all appreciate this groundbreaking story.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours, in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Ring of Secrets, by Roseanna M. White

It is America in the 1770s, and Winter Reeves is leading a double life.  She appears to be a member of an aristocratic family, loyal to England, and intellectually vapid.  In reality, she is a Patriot, loyal to George Washington's cause, and a highly intelligent spy.  As Winter attempts to aid the cause, she gets tangled in a web of intrigue, romance, and danger.  The only thing holding her afloat is her faith.

This is one of those books that has something for everyone; historical context, romance, intrigue, danger, and  faith.  It sounds like a bit of a hodge podge, but this author totally makes it work.  Having read some other books about Revolutionary War espionage, I have to say, the book is incredibly well researched from a historical perspective.  Knowing this author, I would have expected nothing less.  I was fascinated with the techniques used to pass secret messages.  In the context of today's electrical encryption and such, it may seem rudimentary, but in historical context, these spy methods were quite ingenious.  I felt like the historical aspects of the story were woven into the plot seamlessly.  The history did not overshadow the story; instead, it perfectly enhanced it.

I adored Winter as a character.  I loved her fierce spirit, and the tremendous loyalty she possessed.  It always makes me happy to see a female protagonist who is strong and independant, without being harsh and cold.  That is exactly what I saw in Winter.  And while part of her story does involve romance, she always stays true to herself, and her beliefs.  

This is a work of Christian fiction, but the faith aspect is subtle.  There are many mentions of God, and Providence, as Winter prays throughout the book.  There are also discussions of various religious beliefs at that time in history.  Rather than using the book as a bullhorn for preaching faith, however, the author chose to use it as an example of a person using faith to guide their life.  I think it is beautiful.  And because it is a Christian book, there are no issues with explicit language, sexuality, or blatant violence.  The book is totally suitable for adults, as well as for older teen readers.  And because it covers many genre's, it has real potential for mass appeal.  

Yet another brilliant book by this author.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Roses Have Thorns, by Sandra Byrd

Elin is leaving her home in Sweden, and her unfaithful fiance, to head to England,  and the court of Queen Elizabeth.  Through marriage, Elin gains rank, and changes her name to Helena, embracing her new identity as a British woman.  Helena develops a close relationship with the Queen, seeing her through perilous interactions with Mary, Queen of Scots.  Throughout the years, Helena learns much about love, loyalty, and what it is that she holds most dear.

Sandra Byrd never fails to bewitch readers with her historical fictional accounts of life in the Tudor court.  I really fell in love with Elin/Helena as a character.  It was interesting to see the perspective of an outsider coming into court life, making choices regarding her loyalty to a country that was not the one of her birth.  I loved watching Elin grow throughout the years, and see the different roles she took on.  I particularly loved watching her relationship with the Queen.  While there was still the appropriate royal etiquette in place, Elin helped the Queen appear as more than just a monarch, but also a real woman, with heartaches, desires, and disappointments.

The Tudor dynasty is fascinating to a great many readers, both British and American.  I really love the way the author weaves small historical details into the larger historical fiction picture.  When historical fiction is done well, it allows history to really come alive, and that certainly happened for me with this book.  I knew very little about the conflict between Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots, so watching it unfold through Elin's eyes really helped me connect to that aspect of the story in a way that no history book ever could.  When I read a book like this, my first instinct is to then research the actual history records to learn more.  I think that is a tremendous compliment to an author of historical fiction, because clearly, the story connected pretty deeply.

Fans of historical fiction will adore this, particularly Anglophiles.  This book is a must read for anyone who is fascinated with the Tudor monarchy.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists, by Liesel Schwarz

Elle Chance is a strong woman, in a time when women are rarely seen as strong.  A female air captain in the Golden Age of steam powered cars and machinery, Elle has no concept of her own power within a world divided into Light and Shadow.  She becomes entangled in a dangerous caper thanks to some mysterious cargo she was hired to transport, and it turns out she plays a much bigger role in the world than she ever imagined.

I quite enjoyed the premise of this book.  It was sort of a steampunk paranormal romance mashup.  But not your typical steampunk, and not your typical paranormal.  The steampunk aspects were pretty subtle, as far as steampunk goes, and sprinkled throughout the book.  And the paranormal aspects, while much more prevalent, were different than any I have encountered in other books.  The world is divided into Light and Shadow, and the Shadow side is rife with warlocks, vampires, and fairies.  Yet, as with all things, some Shadow dwellers are good, and some are evil.  It was interesting to see this dichotomy within a dichotomy.  I felt like the story world was complex, and richly developed.

I liked Elle as a character, but never felt as if I got to know her as well as I would have liked.  I appreciated that she was a strong female protagonist, and while her story had an aspect of romance, it was not the weak willed do-anything-for-a-man type of romance that is so prevalent in paranormal romances.  Elle has real power and strength.  I also liked the voice of the fairy, which we see sprinkled throughout the book.  It took me a bit to realize it was the fairy's point of view in these passages, but once I did, I really felt it added a unique, whimsical air to the book.

All in all, I found the book interesting and engaging.  The story has a lot of fast moving action, so it held my attention well.  It will appeal to fans of steampunk, paranormal, and romance genres, as it sits in a sweet spot where all three meet.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

The Dark Heroine, by Abigail Gibbs

Violet stumbles upon a massacre in Trafalgar Square, and is immediately caught up in a world she of which she was previously unaware.  Vampires are real, and the government is aware of their presence.  When the vampires realize Violet has witnessed their violence, they kidnap her, only to find out she is the daughter of an important political figure.  Using Violet as pawn, the vampires try to protect their realm, all the while advancing the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy.

In the post-Twilight hysteria, we saw a boon of vampire books.  Some were really great, some were really awful, but most fell somewhere in between, and that is where I personally would place this book.  Among fans of young adult literature, this book is burning up the charts; readers seem to love it.  I am glad the author is being so successful, as I hope it will encourage more young authors to take risks with their work.  However, I have found myself unable to connect with the book with such fervor.

I found the story for the majority of the book to be pretty standard fare, and slightly predictable.  It is only the last third of the book, which delves further into the different realms, the prophecy, and the nine heroines, that seemed truly unique to me.  This makes me hopeful for the rest of the series.

I did enjoy Violet's character, but I was disappointed that the entire story depends on her submitting to the violent masculine vampire world.  I am also disappointed that the book seems so sexually violent, with frequent sexual threats and attempted assaults.  Yes, vampires are highly sexual beings, but their sexual and sensual nature does not necessarily need to be depicted in such violent ways, particularly in books aimed at teenagers.  I am not sure I would encourage a teenage girl to read books that contain violent sexual assault.  I think the fact that Kaspar is highly sexual, in and of itself, is fine, but it is when he wields his sexuality as a weapon that I am troubled.

I certainly do not think this is a terrible book.  It simply was not to my taste.  Thousands of readers love it.  I suppose you will need to read it for yourself to decide if you are among those thousands.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

Straightjacket, by Meredith Towbin

Caleb is convinced he is an angel, sent into the world to rescue Anna, an 18 year old girl who has suffered abuse at the hands of her parents.  The pair meet in a mental hospital, where the doctors and staff chalk Caleb's heavenly beliefs up to delusion.  He slips into periods of deep catatonia during which he meets his guide, Sam, in heaven.  Anna is touched by Caleb's tender, artistic nature, and slowly begins to believe he actually is an angel, sent to change her life, and not merely the troubled young man the doctors claim he is.  What if she is wrong?

This book had a truly mystical feeling about it, one which drew me in from the very beginning.  From the moment we are first introduced to Caleb as a character, it is implied that he is an angel, and he has times where his spirit transcends Earth to Heaven, leaving his physical body trapped in a somewhat frozen state, much to the dismay of those in his presence.  We get two views of Caleb, his own and Anna's.  Similarly we learn of Anna from both her own view and Caleb's, though Anna has up a lot of protective walls as a result of the abuse she has suffered.  These dual views of both main characters allow them to be richly developed; we see their flaws and their emotional depth.  Both characters are strong, but of the two, I found myself much more drawn to Caleb.

I like that the writing leaves much open to reader interpretation.  Is Caleb really an angel, or merely a disturbed teenager?  Does he have views of heaven, or just powerful delusions and hallucinations?  The book really made me reflect.  As someone who worked in the mental health system, I strongly believe that treatment for mental illness can allow individuals to live happier, healthier lives.  However, many are quick to diagnose anyone who is a little different (creative, artistic, free spirited) as mentally ill, and I wonder if this is accurate.  Consider the lives of the saints, and mystics from all the major religions in the world.  Often they went into fugue-like states, but instead of calling it mental illness, we called it religious ecstasy.  Instead of a curse, it was a blessing.  Were these same saints and mystics to come into the world today (or prophets, sages, and philosophers) would they be put in mental hospitals and filled with drugs?

The enigmatic nature of the writing intentionally draws the reader deeper and deeper into the story.  I became incredibly invested in Caleb and Anna's story, and found myself rooting for their success.  I wanted Caleb to be an angel.  I wanted Anna to get rescued.  The story seemed mythological in a way, prophetic even.  I am a person who believes angels come in many forms, and often walk among us unknown.  The story is dreamy, and romantic, but also incredibly thought provoking.  While this is a young adult book, it has mass appeal for adult readers as well, particularly fans of paranormal romance and mystical stories.  As a debut novel, this is simply stunning and gorgeous.  I am excited to see what this author will continue to bring to the table.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author and publisher in exchange for my honest review.