Publisher: HarperCollins

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk | Book Review

Posted January 27, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 6 Comments

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk | Book ReviewOn a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
Published by HarperCollins on January 18, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

It only takes one night to fall in love…

Within days of wishing she could change her life, Fran Cooper is acting assistant to a celebrity, on a yacht in the Mediterranean, and en route to a tiny Italian island and the glittering Crystal Ball, along with the world’s rich and famous.

When she – quite literally – bumps into a handsome American called Evan, a man able to keep his cool in the face of chaos, the magic really begins.

Evan makes her a promise: no last names, no life stories, just one unforgettable night. Yet Evan belongs at the Crystal Ball and Fran is a gatecrasher. They may be soulmates, but their homes are an ocean apart, and their lives a world apart. They’ll never meet again – unless, on a night like this, everything can change forever…

On a Night Like This is my first book by Lindsey Kelk, yet she’s been on my radar for years now! I’ve been intrigued by her Heart series for quite some time, and some of her other titles look really cute as well. When the opportunity arose for me to review On a Night Like This, which I quickly learned is a modern-day Cinderella retelling, I jumped at the chance and came away with a new favorite! On a Night Like This is magical and sweet, funny in places, filled with friendship and romance, and center around a woman who chooses to believe in magic. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Fran Cooper is such a relatable character. I immediately empathized with her and, to some extent, understood what she was going through. She’s a bit self-deprecating and she’s stuck in a life she doesn’t really want to be living. She sacrificed her dreams and her career to move where her fiancé, Stew, wanted to live and has been out of work for a long time because of it. The fact that it wasn’t even worth it because Stew majorly sucks doesn’t make it any better, but she’s with him because she doesn’t know who she is without him. Christmas is coming, and Fran is willing to take nearly any job, even a temporary one, so she calls up her employment agency contact to see if they have anything available since they last spoke. Things move quickly, and before she knows it she’s signed an NDA and is swept off to London for an interview and an immediate job offer. A quick hop, skip, and a jump later and she’s aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean as the assistant to a pop star named Juliette. She can’t believe the crazy changes that have happened in her life. Before, she was living with her cheating, deadbeat fiancé and now she’s wearing designer clothes, and traveling in style to the Crystal Ball, which is the event of the year.

2. This yacht sounds pretty amazing, and I love it when books include travel. Especially if the journey is by water. Fran’s room sound stunning, the outdoor decks are heated so you don’t even need a coat outside in November, and the food sounds pretty delicious. It’s a dream!

3. Juliette appears to be your typical spoiled celebrity who has the world handed to her and it’s still not enough, but she’s not. She and Fran spend a night drinking and having fun on the yacht, and you see a very vulnerable side of Juliette. Fran has always prided herself on remaining professional, but she lets that slip and I enjoyed the friendship that blooms from this. I really liked Juliette. She’s misunderstood, lonely, and so very human. She also has this zest for life and very playful personality. She wiggled her way into my heart, even though I did want to smack her a couple times.

4. For reasons I won’t spoil, Fran finds herself stranded on Panarea (the Italian island where the Crystal Ball takes place) alone without her personal phone, identification, or even a change of clothes. She finds an ally in a woman named Rachel, who helps her choose a designer gown, get ready, and sneak into the Crystal Ball for a once in a lifetime opportunity. This ball is opulent and mysterious and extravagant. It takes up the bottom two floors and outdoor space of the exclusive resort there. It has a ballroom, stage, jewelry boutique, cinema, outdoor carnival, live entertainment, and a charity auction among other things. I loved reading the descriptions of the ball itself, but also the clothes the guests were wearing, the outdoor gardens, and the other scenery around Panarea.

5. While at the ball Fran stumbles across Evan for the second time (their first meeting earlier on was hilarious). He’s a total sexy dreamboat, with a successful livelihood and the sweetest, most caring personality. He’s straight out a fairytale! Their attraction is more than magnetic, but since Fran is engaged they decide to share no personal information with each other and just hang out together as friends. This is not even close to Evan’s first ball, so he shows her around and tries to make sure she has the most fun possible. I had so much fun reading about everything they did!

6. All the supporting characters are amazing! I mentioned Rachel already, but Fran’s best friend, Jess, is wonderful too. She’s very supportive and subtly nudges Fran to do what’s best for herself. There’s also Sarah, the person who hired Fran as Juliette’s assistant. I really liked her a lot, even though she’s a bit firm and cold sometimes.

7. I know cheating stories are often dealbreakers for readers, so I think it’s important that I mention this. I am not kidding when I say that Evan and Fran hang out together as friends. There is no infidelity.

8. Fran’s personal journey of changing her life and crafting the life she wants is center stage, whereas the romantic elements are more understated. And I loved it. As Fran talks to Juliette, Evan, Jess, and even Rachel about her life they all, in separate conversations, say things that make her realize she wants more. They help her realize she deserves more. The life she always thought she would live begins to fall apart at the seams. This journey to happiness filled me with hope and optimism for my own future.

9. The romance that is there is intoxicating. Every Cinderella story needs a happily ever after, and this one gets a beautiful one that had me swooning.

I wholeheartedly recommend On a Night Like This. It was everything I needed from a book. It felt like a warm, magical hig and it made me smile so many times. I will definitely not be waiting any longer before diving into Lindsey Kelk’s other books!


Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter by Diane Stanley | Children’s Book Review

Posted September 15, 2017 by Jana in Children's Book Review, Inner Child / 0 Comments

Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter by Diane Stanley | Children’s Book ReviewRumpelstiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley
Published by HarperCollins on May 28, 2002
Genres: Fairy Tale, Retelling
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Add to Goodreads

Once upon a time a miller's daughter was given an impossible task by a cruel and greedy king. She had to spin straw into gold. And who should show up to help her but an odd little man named Rumpelstiltskin.

According to tradition, the gold-bedazzled king and the miller's daughter are wed. But wait just a minute! This king is definitely not husband material, and there's someone else who is -- a hardworking guy who's supportive and nice looking, and who really comes through in a pinch.

Why not marry Rumpelstiltskin?

In Diane Stanley's merry rethinking of the traditional tale, Rumpelstiltskin and the miller's daughter are wed...and then sixteen years later their only daughter is stuck in the same dilemma: She's been locked in a room full of straw to spin for a greedy king! She could call for help from her father, but this fairy-tale heroine has some canny plans of her own.

How Rumpelstiltskin's daughter sets things to rights in the troubled kingdom, while achieving a unique place for herself, makes for a wise and witty tale of kindness and cleverness rewarded. Diane Stanley's wickedly funny text and zesty illustrations put a delightful new spin on a classic fairy tale.

Rumpelstiltskin's daughter may not be able to spin straw into gold, but she is more than a match for a monarch whose greed has blighted an entire kingdom.

We learn that Rumpelstiltskin’s daughter’s name is Hope, which is such a fitting name for her because of what she does for the kingdom. She brings them hope in the form of golden coins so that they can make their own living. When Hope is kidnapped by the king and forced to turn straw into gold in her mother’s old tower, she decides to be smart instead. She knows the kingdom is poor and struggling, so she tricks the king into hiring the townspeople to “grow” or “knit” gold for him. The fields fill up with wheat and the townspeople end up bundled up in golden clothing. These people end up loving the king so much that he discovers that is better than gold. He tears down the protective wall around the castle and builds houses for the poor. All of a sudden, the kingdom is prospering. The king is so happy that he decides to make Hope his wife. She suggests the alternative of becoming Prime Minister instead, so that she can keep an eye on everyone. A feminist fairytale, indeed.

The illustrations are very fun, and sometimes even funny. I really enjoyed read this story, and love the unique spin that was placed on it. I’ve never been much of a fan of the traditional tale of Rumpelstiltskin, but I did find this fractured version to be fresh and fun, with teachable moments and good messages. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fresh spin on an old classic.


Nimona by Noelle Stevenson | Mini Book Review

Posted July 3, 2017 by Jana in Book Review, Graphic Novel, Young Adult Fiction / 1 Comment

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson | Mini Book ReviewNimona by Noelle Stevenson
Published by HarperCollins on May 12, 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Gift
Add to Goodreads
Buy on AmazonBarnes & Noble

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

I’d never ever been interested in graphic novels. Sadly, I fell prey to the assumptions that come with the word “graphic”. Instead of pictorial representations of stories, I was thinking “graphic” in the negative context, so I never felt inclined to pick one up. I was also convinced that there was no way I’d be reading an actual story with any depth to it. I’ve always assumed that stories took back seats to the illustrations as far as graphic novels are concerned. I’d been seeing so many friends fall in love with spunky heroine Nimona, however, that I decided I’d trust them and give it a go!  Nimona may have been my first graphic novel, but it certainly will not be my last!

Nimona was a fast and entertaining read. I really liked the illustrations for the most part, and Nimona’s snarky, take-no-crap attitude was very refreshing and also hilarious. I liked her a lot. The story, which centers on villainous shenanigans, was deep enough that I felt like it was an actual story and not a series of pow!s, bam!s, and zap!s, but not so deep that it was too complicated to illustrate. You can’t expect the amount of depth from a graphic novel that you can from a 500-page fantasy, but I did feel like this story had enough meat to it that it will stick with me.

I’m so glad I gave Nimona a try! I can tell that I will never prefer graphic novels to traditional novels, but it’s so nice to add some variety to my to-be-read list. Sometimes I like something a little fluffier or something that can distract me for a day, and that’s why I’ve come to appreciate graphic novels. It also helps that I’m artsy. lol. I think Nimona was a great gateway graphic novel for me. I enjoyed the characters, the story, the storytelling, the illustrations, and the kind of book I could read very quickly and enjoy over the course of a few hours. It reminded me of watching a movie, and that was very fun for me.


The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty & the Beast Tale by Laurence Yep | Children’s Book Review

Posted March 16, 2017 by Jana in Children's Book Review, Inner Child / 4 Comments

The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty & the Beast Tale by Laurence Yep | Children’s Book ReviewThe Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty & the Beast Tale by Laurence Yep
Published by HarperCollins on January 9, 1999
Genres: Classic Novel, Fairy Tale, Retelling
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Add to Goodreads

When a poor farmer falls into the clutches of a dragon, only Seven, his youngest daughter, will save him—by marrying the beast.

Publishers Weekly praised "Yep's elegant, carefully crafted storytelling" and Mak's "skillfully and radiantly rendered illustrations" in this captivating and luminous Chinese variation of the beauty and the beast tale.

The Dragon Prince by Laurence Yep is the Chinese version of Beauty and the Beast, and is so rich in culture. Inside the book the author includes his source notes, explaining that this tale is a Southern Chinese version of the classic. He also thanks Truly Shay for helping him translate several tales for him. Immediately, I felt confident that this book would be of very high quality because of the proof of research.

This tale is written in a way that sounds natural when read aloud, and the text is very traditional and stylistically magical. The story includes cultural elements that seem true to the area in which it takes place, including the fact that it’s about a rice farmer and his daughters, a serpent for a beast (that becomes a dragon), the term bride prince is used, and the palace is located in an underwater garden under the ocean’s surface. The story takes an interesting spin, and Seven’s (the Beauty equivalent) sister attempts to drown her and take her place. The prince can tell, though, and searches to find his lost Seven. They live happily ever after.

Elegant silk robes, jade cups, and gold plates are illustrated. The illustrations themselves are reminiscent of Chinese style, with bright colors, Chinese architecture and clothing, and a stylized dragon. The prince speaks of the traditional Chinese custom of brides visiting their families after their wedding.

 

Oh my goodness, I love this version of Beauty and the Beast so much. The Chinese culture, colors, and design influences make it not only entertaining, but a rich, educational, vibrant tale that anyone would love. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves China, Beauty and the Beast, beautiful illustrations, and learning about other cultures!


Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little | Book Review

Posted November 17, 2014 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 1 Comment

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little | Book ReviewForbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Series: Forbidden #1
Published by HarperCollins on November 4, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 397
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart.

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying.

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

As soon as I saw “Mesopotamian desert” I was sold. I have never read a book that takes place there, and I was super excited about it! Tribes and a shadowy boy and a forbidden romance were just icing on the cake! As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. Things started out a little slow for me, and I actually almost quit about a quarter of the way through. I’m really glad I hung in there, though, because I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.

2. Forbidden love stories are pretty common in YA literature, considering the fact that young people usually have a lot pulling them away from romance altogether. It’s easy to read the same story over and over again, but the additions of tribal life, arranged marriages, and cultural divides made this one unique and interesting to read about.

3. Griffiths Little did a great job of writing about the desert. Deserts are not the most gloriously beautiful landscapes. There’s sand and dunes and the occasional camel. The author much to work with, but she brought life to the desert and painted a lovely picture in my mind.

4. The world is very intriguing and exciting to read about. I liked reading about the tribal customs, rituals, and culture. They have legends and a kind of religious connection with life. At the same time, the world is brutal and dark and dangerous. People murder to get ahead, they take freedoms away from others to show dominance, and they belittle the less fortunate. I would hate living in this time and in this place.

5. Jayden’s life is pretty much the worst! She’s being forced to marry a man she does not love, the man she does love is in danger of losing his life for loving her, she is never safe, nobody believes a lowly woman, and she holds her family’s lives in her hands. I felt horrible for her!

6. Kadesh, the shadowy boy, is mysterious and very interesting. We do not learn much about him, but I’m assuming we will as the series progresses. He seems very honorable and protective, though, not to mention respectful of women. His views of life are more modern than the men of Jayden’s tribe, so he was a breath of fresh air. I’m eager to see what happens between these two.

7. Horeb, Jayden’s betrothed, is your typical historical villain. He has no regard for what Jayden wants or how she feels, and he has a handle on her that is dangerous and hard to escape. Plus, women are pretty much useless to him. He’s evil, evil, evil. I don’t like him at all, and feel like he does not really stand out from other evil characters.

8. My main complaint is that this book was LONG. It started out slow for me, and it dragged in other places. I feel like it took a long time for things to happen, and if things weren’t happening then we were following the tribe’s migration through the desert. I would have really liked more action or fewer pages.

All in all, this book was ok for me. I’m intrigued enough to read book 2, but I’m not dying for it. I’d like to see how things turn out for Jayden and Kadesh, and I’m interested in reading more about this world. I hope book 2 contains more substance, though, and holds my attention more.