Title: Season for Desire

Author: Theresa Romain

Series: Holiday Pleasures, #4

Publisher: Kensington Books

Imprint: Zebra

Publication date: October 7th, 2014

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book read on September 29th-30th, 2014,  from the review copy received from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)  

Summary:

Properly Wicked

 

Like her four sisters, Lady Audrina Bradleigh is expected to marry a duke, lead fashion, and behave with propriety. Consequently, Audrina pursues mischief with gusto, attending scandalous parties and indulging in illicit affairs. But when an erstwhile lover threatens to ruin her reputation, Audrina has no choice but to find a respectable husband at once. 

 

Who would guess that her search would lead her to Giles Rutherford, a blunt-spoken American on a treasure hunt of his own? When a Christmas snowstorm strands the pair at a country inn, more secrets are traded than gifts--along with kisses that require no mistletoe--and Audrina discovers even proper gentlemen have their wicked side. . .

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

  

Season for Desire is the final book in the Holiday Pleasures series. I was sad that the series will be over, but it least the finale was absolutely amazing, and I loved seeing again the characters from the previous books, too!

Season for Desire is a historical romance novel, that was lovely, heartwarming, a little bit heartbreaking, but amazing, humorous, beautiful, entertaining & delightful - and the perfect read for the holiday season! I loved it so much! So, yes, another one for my all time favs pile!

I loved the multiple PoVs. That was unexpected, but they brought the story perfectly. And all the characters were so well-developed, and I loved getting to know them all. I think that each of them brought a charm to the story that made it what it is.

I loved the MCs as characters. Both Audrina & Giles were so interesting & witty, and nice & charming, and I loved following them on their adventure. I loved their interactions, and I loved the story of how they fell for each other. So sweet & beautiful, and romantic, and fun, and charming. For most of the book I was smiling & laughing out loud, and most definitely grinning like a loon. So, yes, this book made me happy & left me happy.

I also loved Richard - Giles' father. He's so sweet & fun, and amazing, and I loved him, and I especially loved his sense for adventure & his interactions with Estella. So amusing & fun! And Estella - at first I didn't remember who she is, because it's been so long since I read the 2nd book, but yes, I remembered later when Louisa was mentioned, and I loved seeing her happy. She was one interesting & quirky character.

I also loved most of the secondary characters, but most awesome among them was the Duke of Walpole. He had just a tiny role, but he's one amazing man, and I loved what he did for Charissa, and he could be one amazing hero, though of course since he already got his happy ending, we won't be seeing that, but still - he's amazing, and I loved seeing both him & her happy!

That being said, I also loved seeing Lord & Lady Xavier - the MCs from the 2nd book, and Julia & James - the MCs from the 1st book. I even loved the mention of the MCs from the 3rd book. So, yes, this was a delightful finale to the series, and I loved it so much!

As for the story, I won't go into details, but it was a lovely mix of banter, road trip, holiday cheer, humour, romance, treasure hunt & quest, and it was full of heart & soul!

So, if you're a fan of historical romances or just fan of stories set for the holidays, then I can't recommend enough Season for Desire!

 

 

 

Challenges: 

Summer Bookish Bingo

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

September is for Sequels Challenge

2014 Series Enders Reading Challenge

Title: The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

Authors: Bernie Su & Kate Rorick

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication date: June 24th, 2014

My rating: 3.5 of 5

(Book read on September 21st-22nd, 2014,  from the review copy received from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.) 

Summary:

Based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters — beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.
 
When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets — and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.
 
The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera — from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future — and whom she wants to share it with.
 
Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

First of all, I have to admit that I'm a big fan of Pride & Prejudice, and I always have fun watching & reading adaptations & retellings. Of course, not all of them are amazing or good, but mostly they're fun. And The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is one of the adaptations that stands out. From the way the story was retold, to the format & the characters (as well as the perfect cast) - it was almost perfect. And I loved every second of it, from the moment it started, until it was over. So, yes, I'm also a big fan of the web series. So, of course, I was excited about this book.

But, even though overall I liked a lot the book, and it's a nice companion to the web series, it just wasn't as good as the web series. I know it's from the same authors, but to me, it just didn't feel like the same Lizzie as the one from the web series. Similar, but not the same. Maybe it was the journal format, I don't know. Also, I don't know if this can stand alone without the web series, I think it should be definitely read along with the series. Probably, that was the idea. Yes, it goes in more details that are similar as the original novel, but also, a lot of the details that were in the web series, weren't in the book. That being said, I still enjoyed it. Some things I wasn't a big fan of, some I loved, but it was a nice addition for the fans.

If you are a fan of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, then I recommend this book.

 

 

Challenges: 

Summer Bookish Bingo

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

Title: The Frankenstein Journals

Author: Scott Sonneborn

Illustrator: Timothy Banks

Publisher: Stone Arch Books

Publication date: August 1st, 2014

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book read on September 29th, 2014,  from the review copy received from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)  

Summary:

Fourteen-year old J.D. discovers why he never fit in at the creepy orphanage--he's the son of Frankenstein's monster! The boy always wanted a big family. Now he's got a doozy: the donors of his jigsaw puzzle-papa!

Fans of adventure and classic monster movies will gasp with delight as they follow J.D. through this diary-style thriller. Old photos, maps, artifacts, and entries from the mad scientist's own journals will plunge the reader into J.D.'s quest to track down his Frankenstein family. But will he be in time? A shadowy stalker seeks the journals-and J.D.- to build a new, more powerful monster!

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

The Frankenstein Journals is a collection of two Frankenstein Journals stories: Feet First & I for an Eye. And I absolutely loved both, and I'm hoping there will be more to come.

Before this book was over, I loved J.D. as a character, and I'd love to go on more adventures with him. The book is in a journal format, and I loved J.D.'s voice - he's funny & quirky, and so sweet & amusing. That means, that the stories themselves were humorous, interesting, fun & entertaining, and the illustrations were amazing & lovely, and so fun & quirky, and they made me love this book even more. So, yes, both Scott Sonneborn & Timothy Banks had done an amazing job, and I'm left eager for more. More Frankenstein Journals please!!!

I highly recommend The Frankenstein Journals to pretty much everyone! It's definitely one of my favorites, and I'm so glad about the opportunity to discover how great this book is, and can't wait for more!

  

 

 

Challenges: 

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

Title: Evernight

Author: Kristen Callihan

Series: Darkest London, #5

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Imprint: Forever

Publication date: August 26th, 2014

My rating: 4 of 5

(Book read from September 27th to September 28th, 2014,  from an eARC received from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.) 

Summary:

Once the night comes . . . 

Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him — until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight. 

Love must cast aside the shadows . . . 

Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable — and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

As always, when it comes to this series, I've had mixed feelings. Some things I really liked, some I didn't, but overall, I enjoyed Evernight, and I liked a lot the main characters.

I must admit that I'm not too fond of the author's writing style & choice of words at times. But, she writes quite likable & interesting main characters, with great chemistry between them, so I pretend not to get too irritated by the few tiny details I'm not too fond of... It's a subjective thing. That being said, even though her world is interesting, it's another thing I can't say it quite works for me.

But, after the events in Shadowdance, I was really interested in reading Will & Holly's story. Evernight might not have been as great as Shadowdance, but it was still good, though mostly because the chemistry & interactions between the main characters worked. Will & Holly worked well together, the dialogues & banter between them was entertaining, the chemistry was sizzling, and I just wanted to see them happy together, especially after all they've been through...

The overall story was interesting enough, though nothing was surprising, but I liked the way Holly & Will's story ended, and I'm definitely interested in reading the following book. Also, I loved seeing Jack & Mary again (they're definitely my most fav couple in the series), and seeing Jack happy totally made my day.

If you enjoyed the previous books in the series, or you're fan of adult paranormal or historical romances, I recommend Evernight!

 

 

Challenges: 

Summer Bookish Bingo

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

September is for Sequels Challenge

The FrightFall Read-a-Thon is hosted by Michelle a.k.a The True Book Addict at her read-a-thon dedicated blog Seasons of Reading!
 
The read-a-thon starts on Monday, September 29th at midnight CST and ends on Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 pm CST.
   

For more info & to join the read-a-thon, visit the post HERE.

   

For me & my time zone, as always, that means it starts on Monday, September 29th at 7 am & ends on Monday, September 6th at 6:59 am.
    

 

On Twitter we (read-a-thoners) will use the hashtag #FrightFall.

  

To be honest, I have no idea what I'll read, though I'm hoping to read at least one of those translated popular thrillers that have been sitting on my shelf unread for a long, long time.

As always, I'll post my updates on this post as I read for the read-a-thon, and probably tweet now & then.

Wrap Up:

So, this read-a-thon didn't go as well as I hoped at first, because in the middle I couldn't get into any book. Probably I wasn't in the mood for the genres mystery, thriller of horror, but near the end of the read-a-thon, that changed, so I did read one horror & one ghostly paranormal mystery (loved the horror, didn't like the mystery). I also read one humorous children's book with monsters & one historical romance, and I loved both, so overall, it was a good read-a-thon.

 
 
Books I read for the read-a-thon: 
  

I couldn't make it to the Twitter Chat, it was too late for me. Or should I say it was too early? 4-5 am ;) Anyway, I knew that will probably be the case, so it was fine, and I wasn't around too much, so I probably still wouldn't have made it. Still, I had fun, and of course I'll participate again. These horror read-a-thons are the ones I haven't missed yet. 

So, thank you Michelle for hosting it!!!

Title: The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures

Author: Sebastian Gregory

Publisher: Carina

Publication date: June 27th, 2014

My rating: 5 of 5

(Read on September 14th, from the review copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)

Summary:

Once upon a nightmare…
 
Long ago, in a land where imagination meets the darkest nightmares, they built the asylum. Surrounded by a forest of thorns, it holds the most twisted minds in the fairy tale kingdom: a terrible collection of evil creatures and forgotten souls. Imprisoned within its walls, they are doomed to spend forever after telling their tales… and serving as a warning to others.
 
Now, you are invited to accompany Blood Red Riding Hood into the depths of this strange place – where you will meet its even stranger inhabitants. But be warned: walls this thick were built to withstand the darkest magic… so once you’re inside, you might just find yourself living horribly ever after… and wishing you were indeed in a land far, far away.  

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures is a different kind of fairy tale retelling. Just like the original Grimm fairy tales, it's actually quite dark, yet also quite logical when you think about it, because an asylum for most of the fairy tale creatures & everything they've been through - that would be definitely necessary.

So, I loved the idea. I think it was quite imaginative. Also, I loved the writing style. There's something about Sebastian Gregory's writing that was beautiful & fairy-tale-like, yet also quite eerie, and I loved it. That being said, I have to admit that at first I wasn't sure about the story. It starts with Red Riding Hood, and even though it was interesting, I needed time to warm up to the story, but slowly I started to enjoy it more & more, until I got sucked in & I didn't want it to end.

In this book, we follow 3 fairy tale characters & their stories of how they end up in the Asylum: Blood Red Riding Hood, The Thread Bear & Thumbeana. Their stories were interesting, heartbreaking, gory, and so dark & twisted, and I pretty much loved every second of it. To be honest, I don't know if I would give this book to a child to read, but an adult - yes! I also loved seeing & learning about the Asylum, I loved the twist with the brothers Grimm ;) and I loved that the stories of Rapunzel, Cinderella & Beauty were included, too. And the ending was full of awesomeness, as well as the story itself.

The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures is a book I recommend to every fan of the dark & twisted side of the fairy tales & their retellings, because it was brilliant & amazing, and you wouldn't want to miss it.

 

 

 

Challenges: 

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

Title: The Never War

Author: D. J. MacHale

Series: Pendragon, #3

  

My rating: 4 of 5

 

 

(Book read from September 24th to September 26th, 2014.)

 

 

 Summary:

Fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon is a loyal friend, sports star, devoted pet owner -- and Traveler. Along with his uncle Press, Bobby has visited the alternate dimension of Denduron and participated in a civil war. He's also waded through the endangered underwater territory of Cloral. Now Bobby once again finds himself thrust beyond the boundaries of time and space into a place that seems somewhat familiar: First Earth.

 
Bobby and the Traveler from Cloral -- Spader -- have flumed to New York City, 1937. Against a backdrop of gangsters, swing music, and the distant sound of a brewing war, the two must uncover the evil Saint Dane's newest plot. But is Bobby ready for the difficult choices ahead?

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

The adventures of Bobby Pendragon as a Traveler continue in the third Pendragon book - The Never War. And believe me, it was a good one. Once again, I was totally wrapped up in the story, and I knew there were some difficult choices before Bobby, and I was pretty sure what they'll be quite early on, and even though I was right, that didn't diminish my enjoyment. My heart was actually breaking for Bobby, for Spader. And that villain Saint Dane - he's so villainous & I hate him for what he tried to do &/or did to Bobby. I'm not saying which was it...

There were a few new characters a.k.a Travelers, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the future books, but the one we saw most of was Gunny - and I adored him as a character!

This story was fast-paced, funny, highly entertaining, full of danger, and so heartbreaking, and quite the adventure in time & space. I loved the whole timey-wimey aspect. Then again - I have a thing about stories like that.

That's all I'm going to say about this book. It was such a good sequel, and I love Bobby Pendragon as a character even more now. I love how much he grew up in this book, yet I'm still heartbroken over it. That's what happens when a character sneaks into my heart. 

That being said, I'm so excited about what comes next! Obviously, I was going to continue with the series because I love it, but after reading the description of The Reality Bug - I'm barely managing to stop myself from starting it, because I have some other books I need to read first, and I think (and have a feeling) it just might be the best Pendragon book so far...

I highly recommend the Pendragon series to every fan of adventure, fantasy, science fiction & time travel - and if you're a fan of all of them, then the Pendragon adventures are a must-read!

 

 

 

Challenges: 

 

September is for Sequels Challenge

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Title: All's Fair in Love and Weddings

Author: Christine S. Feldman

Publication date: September 30th, 2014

My rating: 4 of 5

(Book read on September 23rd, 2014,  from the review copy received from the author, in exchange of an honest review.) 

Summary:

Prudence Collier spent the better part of her reckless youth proving that she was not aptly named, and unfortunately she burned a few bridges in the process, including where her family is concerned. So when her long-estranged sister invites her to her destination wedding in the Virgin Islands, Prue leaps at the chance to mend at least one broken family relationship and prove that she’s a changed person.

Tucker Davies, on the other hand, has come to the islands for a very different reason: to stop the wedding. As a childhood friend of the groom, he has reason to believe that his friend is about to make a huge mistake and is intent on not letting that happen. One thing he didn’t count on, though, was going up against Prue.

Determined to make up for the past, Prue resolves to keep Tucker from interfering with her sister’s happiness in the present and is willing to go to any lengths necessary to do so. Any. And if that requires a few tiny deceptions here and there, the occasional brush with the local authorities, and perhaps even instigating a barroom brawl, so be it. A sister has to do what a sister has to do.

But so does a friend, and Tucker has no intention of backing down, no matter how aggravating or even — to his surprise — appealing Prudence Collier can be.
 The war is on, and neither side believes they can afford to surrender.
 
Which is a shame, because they’re both beginning to suspect surrendering would be a lot of fun…

 

 

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

All's Fair in Love and Weddings is one entertaining, fun-filled, laugh-out-loud story, full of mischief, humour & banter. It's also quite cute & sweet, but also full of heart.

From the moment I started reading All's Fair in Love and Weddings, I had a smile plastered on my face. Yes, I found myself laughing out loud over & over again at Prue's determination & skills at keeping Tucker from ruining her sister's wedding. It was almost crazy, definitely messy, but I loved every second of it. I loved Prue's resourcefulness, and I really liked her as a character. She's funny, smart, witty, and would do everything for her sister - so yes, loyal, too.

As for Tucker - poor, Tucker. If he only knew what's in store for him. Then again, I'm pretty sure he would've done it all all over again. He's definitely loyal friend, and he's doing the right thing, even though it might not seem like it at first. And I loved his interactions with Prue. They were hilarious, and the situations that came out of trying to outwit each other were just precious. And I loved how he handled his friend, and I think he's amazing, both for what he did for Shawn and Julia, and what he did for Prue & Natalie.

That being said, the story was also just a tiny bit sad, but I didn't mind, because that added to the heart & soul of the story & especially to the development of the characters.

As for the ending, it was great, and it left me with a smile on my face. I would've loved just a tiny, tiny bit of romance more, but then again, I think it was probably because I didn't want the story end.

 

If you enjoy sweet & fun romantic stories, or just looking for the perfect summer read - then All's Fair in Love and Weddings is the read for you & I highly recommend it!

 

 

Challenges: 

Summer Bookish Bingo

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

The Write On review-a-thon is a monthly event created and hosted by Brianna @ The Book Vixen. It’s 2 days dedicated to getting reviews done, whether you have one review to write or 30+. This edition of the review-a-thon takes place all day Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th . Let’s get those reviews done!

 
I was actually hoping & planning to tackle the reviews I had piled up this weekend, so this review-a-thon was perfect to make me stick to my plans.
 

Reviews I plan to write & post or schedule are:

1. All's Fair in Love and Weddings by Christine S. Feldman

2. The Never War by D. J. MacHale

3. The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures by Sebastian Gregory

4. Aces Wild by Amanda Carlson

5. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su & Kate Rorick

6. One in a Million by Jill Shalvis

7. My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

8. Evernight by Kristen Callihan 

That's it! Good luck everyone!

Wrap Up:

Ok, so I didn't review all of them, but at least I reviewed half of them, and that was a success for me, especially because I've been participating in a read-a-thon, too!