Month: March 2012

That’s Totally the Same Cover! (#1)

Posted March 29, 2012 by Jana in Discussion / 26 Comments

Hi! So, I’m kind of a book cover person. I remember covers, which is usually how I can tell if I’ve read a book or not. Haha. And it’s always funny to me when I come across two book covers that are either identical or very similar. Of all the images and photographs in the world, why use the same one for two different books, right? Especially if one is super popular and nobody has even heard of the other one. Yeah… I know… stock images. I’m a graphic designer, and use stock images too. But with a book cover, you need to be super careful! I always feel bad for the worse of the two covers. It’s like being an ugly stepsister, or something.

 

 

Mermaids of Venice by Silas Knight
Breathless by Cole Gibsen (The better cover)

 

 

 

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison (The better cover)
For Pete’s Sake by Linda Windsor

 

 

 

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Bewitching Love Potions & Charms by Raven Tempest

Which covers do you like better? Do you ever notice copy cat covers in bookstores or online? How do you feel about cover images being reused, especially on really popular books?

(This blog post is the first of several that will appear over the next few months!)

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (Book Review)

Posted March 27, 2012 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 11 Comments

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (Book Review)Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin #1
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on April 3, 2012
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Pages: 549
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Oh, the buzz around the blogosphere regarding this book is so loud that one can hardly focus on anything else!  I have read amazing reviews for this book, and when Netgalley had an exclusive promo going for it, I snatched it up without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, my review will not match the bulk of the reviews out there for Grave Mercy. I was a little disappointed in it, and it took me forever to read it. As always, my main points are bolded to accommodate the skimmers out there like me!

1. I loved the idea of this book! Ismae, a daughter of Death, was saved from the attempt on her life while she was still in her mother and has now grown up to be one of his (Death’s) assassins. And she lives in a convent of nuns who are “called” to do the same thing! She gets trained to kill in numerous different ways (and in “womanly arts”… seriously? Hilarious term.) and is then sent out on missions to serve his will. I’d never heard of anything like this, so I was incredibly excited. I am always gobbling up unique subject matter. I definitely respect the imagination and creativity that the author has. The magical/fantasy elements of this book were really enthralling. I just with there had been more time for that, rather than sitting around discussing politics and “state of the union” type stuff.

2. The writing style is pretty. I can see why many people love the book so much, as I’m sure this is one of the drawing forces for Grave Mercy.

3. I’m not a huge fan of straight historical fiction. I enjoy romance and adventure more than politics and facts. This book was full of a ton of political discussions and explanations. I really had no desire to read all of this, and wished that more room was left for the adventure. I mean, Ismae is DEATH’S assassin! I expected so much adventure and suspense, which did not happen. On and on and on the politics went. This book is 564 pages!

4. It was really hard to keep up with all the politics, locations, and characters. There were SO many people to try and remember, all with names that don’t come easily to me and intricate webs of craziness in each of their pasts. Because there were so many people and so many stories, I had a hard time connecting with any of them enough to care about what they had to say. I only finished this book a few days ago, and I can’t remember most of them.

5. Ismae was flat and boring. She had no personality or likeable qualities. Throughout the whole story, she acted like she was brainwashed to have no conscience, independent thoughts, or a sense of humor. I mean we meet “Death” at one point and he seems much more tender and compassionate than Ismae ever does. It seems weird that the “master” is so much more likeable than the “servants”. Isame was a machine, and I’m having a hard time figuring out how the dude (I seriously can’t remember his name) fell for her. How can you fall in love with someone about as interesting and loving as my stainless steel refrigerator? And seriously. I don’t get it when a heroine does not understand what she’s feeling regarding a man. She has no idea that she’s physically attracted to him, and has inner dialogues wondering why she’s trembling, why she has this burning in her chest, why she’s blushing, why her heart races when he’s near, why she startles every time he touches her elbow or brushes her hand. Does she not even know she’s a woman? She’s pretty clueless throughout the entire book, and I was getting frustrated with her lack of common sense. She does have some awesome weaponry, though. I’ll give her that.

6. I loved Beast, the big guy who was supposed to be scary, but was actually more friendly and warm hearted than any of the characters combined. He was funny and sweet, and I really liked him. He was definitely my favorite character in the book.

7. I appreciate the fact that this was not insta-love. Although… authors seem to have caught on that people are getting tired of insta-love, so they are all making their main characters hate each other for the bulk of the book. Whatever happened to just liking someone? It seems to be either hate or love these days. Why can’t people meet, become friends/casual acquaintances, and then fall in love? I’ve never hated anyone I barely knew, so why are all the heroines/heroes feeling this way all of a sudden?

8. To avoid any spoilers, I’ll just mention one word and those of you who have read it will know exactly what I mean: Antidote. Seriously? Kinda anti-climatic, if you ask me.

9. Even with all my complaints, I’m very slightly interested in book #2. So… I don’t even know how that happened. Haha! We’ll see.

Oh, I finally remembered the dude’s name: Gavriel. Phew! Oh, and another random thing to mention… This book does not read like a YA. Yes, Ismae is young, but her voice is too mature, her purpose is too mature, and there was a bit more steam to this book, even though no sex scenes are described.

While I did not love this book, I can see why others did. It’s unique, well-written, and sometimes it was interesting. I would recommend it to people who enjoy historical fiction with a little bit of romance and fantasy mixed in.


Top Ten Books On My List this Spring

Posted March 20, 2012 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 31 Comments

So, apparently today is the first day of spring. Seeing as how it snowed all day yesterday, and has been all cold and wet outside today, I’m not buying it! That does not mean I’m not in the mood, though! I can’t wait for sunshine, warm weather, and flowers. It’s also during this part of the year that I start craving cute contemporary romances and books about people going on vacations to the beach or a cabin. Anywhere, really. So, here we have my top ten books for springtime! Some of them are new releases, and some are ones I’ve been trying to get to for quite a while.

The Fine Art of Truth of Dare by Melissa Jensen
Everyone I know has read this already! I’ve been dying for it since the day I found out it was being published eons ago. It sounds adorable, and just like the kind of book to brighten my wintery mood.

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs (and the sequel, Tempest Unleashed. I got both from Netgalley, so thanks!)
Hello, young adult mermaid romance novel! I am SO excited. Mermaids are my FAVORITE! And seriously, do mermaids not scream warm weather, white sand beaches, and undersea fun?

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Duh. I’ll just leave it at that. I loved Delirium so much. I actually read it while I was on a cruise, and the ending ripped me apart so much that I almost threw myself overboard. This has to be read really soon. REALLY soon.

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Yes, please! A girl on a Mediterranean cruise? The title sold me, and Maureen is one of my favorite authors! I have a wonderful feeling that this book is going to be amazing.

Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight
This sounds like a fun little contemporary romance set in Austin, Texas with a Jane Austen spin! I love Jane Austen spin-offs, but me recent encounters with them have left me disappointed. I hope this one is amazing, and reminds me of why I love books like this so much.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
This title gets me every time! It’s so adorable and looooooong. And a romance in an airport? YES. (I know. How have I not read this already?) I am really excited for it!

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Again, duh. Seriously? I can’t believe this one is still unread. Insurgent is coming out really soon also, so I need to have this read before that one hits the shelves. I want to be cool and read book #2 when everyone else is reading it!

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
I have not read a book of hers yet, and this sounds like so much fun! Another plane romance. I hate planes, but love where they take you!

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Ok, another one I should have read months ago. I’ve heard amazing things about it, and it sounds so cute!

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen
“High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to “Seventeen” wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she’s stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood.”

Haha! Sounds interesting, and fun!

So, there you have it! Have you read any of these and loved/hated them? What’s on your list?


Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly (Book Review)

Posted March 19, 2012 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly (Book Review)Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly
Series: Austen Addicts #3
Also in this series: Dreaming of Mr. Darcy
Published by Sourcebooks Landmark on April 1, 2012
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

Sisters are forever...

Sisters Sarah and Mia Castle haven't spoken for three years but they're about to meet again at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath. But what was it that drove them apart and can the magic of Jane Austen help bring them back together again?

(While this is book #3 in a series, I contacted the author and she said each novel is a standalone, and they can be read out of order.)

I love, love, love Jane Austen spin-offs. I’ve read quite a few, including book #2 in this series, Dreaming of Mr. Darcy. While it was not my favorite book, it was definitely cute and worth the read. I was excited to read this next book. And look at that darling cover! While I did not enjoy it as much as Dreaming of Mr. Darcy, and it bothered me in a few places, this book ended up leaving me with a few warm fuzzies and a smile. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. The story is actually kind of boring until about 60% of the way through the book, when things pick up and really get interesting. We’ve got flashbacks to when the sisters parted ways mixed in with the present day at a Jane Austen festival in Bath. Most of the present-day scenes are combinations of 2 or 3 people talking about stuff, but it all happens in different places and at different times. I felt like I was reading the same story multiple times: Sarah talking to Lloyd, Mia talking to Gabe, and Mia talking to Shelley, not to mention what is going on in Sarah and Mia’s minds.Plus, we see it all happen in the flashback as well. It was a bit overkill for me. But then at 60%, things pick up and progress is made. The characters begin to open up and move forward, whereas before it was all talk of the past. The mood gets a bit lighter, and more enjoyable… even funny in some places.

2. Sarah bothers me a bit. She has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which is totally fine. I have it… my sister has it. It’s fine. But seriously. There is SO much OCD talk. Sarah and her love interest bond and essentially fall in love because they both have it. Everything Sarah does is “because of OCD.” It is talked about so much, that it ends up being another character in the book. We had Sarah, Lloyd, Mia, Shelley, Gabe, and Sarah’s OCD. I got tired of hearing about it.

The matter-of-fact, and sometimes sarcastic way that OCD was discussed made me feel like the disorder was made out to be something funny and quirky, not a serious thing. This story is written as if Sarah enjoys having it. She sits and talks about it, and laughs. She’s happy she has found someone else who suffers from it too. I was really bothered by it, and got to the point where I skimmed over all mentions of OCD. Maybe I’m just extra sensitive because I have struggled with this same thing for most of my life, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

3. I really disliked Sarah’s sister, Mia, and Mia’s friend, Shelley, in the beginning. They were obnoxious, self-centered and immature, throwing themselves at whoever, whenever they please. If someone is married, who cares? If someone is not interested, who cares? And then if they happen to see someone they dislike, they either hide in plain sight and act completely amazed when they are spotted, or they run away through the streets crying their eyes out and mentally channeling some Jane Austen character, asking for advice. Drama. Over the top drama. However, towards the end they both seem to grow up all of a sudden. We are given insights into Mia’s past, and we get to see Shelley as a very nurturing and concerned best friend. I ended up really liking both of them by the end. And Shelley’s dog, Bingley, is hilarious. I really love that dog, and his silly mannerisms and habits.

4. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the cute town of Bath. I would love to visit someday. The author put me right there in the middle of it all.

5. The present-day romance that both sisters experience after so much pain in their past is refreshing and sweet. Both girls have been through a lot, so I enjoyed reading about them falling in love. And I really like both guys, and kind of wish I had one too!

Overall, this was a cute little contemporary, sometimes cheesy, romance that took a while to get going, but ended up warming my heart. I did not love it as much as Dreaming of Mr. Darcy, but I still enjoyed it and think it was worth the read. This book focuses on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, so don’t be expecting a P&P spin-off based on the title! Now I need to go read the first one, A Weekend with Mr. Darcy!


The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum (Mini Book Review)

Posted March 18, 2012 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 4 Comments

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum (Mini Book Review)The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum
Series: The Hourglass Door #1
Published by Shadow Mountain on May 1, 2009
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Time Travel
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

Abby's senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

Wow! I loved this book so much that I finished it in less than 24 hours. Lisa Mangum’s writing style is beautiful. I found myself re-reading passages because they were incredibly captivating and magical. She described everything in such intricate detail and left me feeling like I was actually there. The plot is extremely interesting and mysterious. It had the potential of being extremely confusing, but Lisa wrote it in a way that every detail was explained, leaving no stone left unturned. And her take on time and time travel is original and exciting. I loved reading about it.

Dante is a swoon-worthy love interest. I mean, he’s Italian… and he’s romantic, and he’s been around for quite a while. He’s got a very interesting past, including being Leonardo Da Vinci’s apprentice. His concern for Abby is sweet, not obsessive or stalkerish. The love story between the two of them is slow and believable, and beautiful. You can just feel them fall in love, and I savored every minute of it.

I really only have one complaint: several of the characters speak to Abby in Italian and there’s no translation anywhere. I had to have my laptop with me so I could translate the lines. Let me just say right now free internet translations frequently make no sense.

I read this series as the books came out. I was one of the first in line for this book, and each one in the series ends in quite a cliffhanger! Well, except for the last. Haha. All three books are out now, though, and all three are favorites of mine. This is one of my very favorite romance stories, and I definitely think you should read it if you’re looking for an exciting, romantic, time traveling story with a mysterious Italian inventor and the modern-day girl he sweeps off her feet. The world they explore together is unique, intriguing, a little dangerous, and utterly magical.