The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was very entertaining! Lauren Willig's sense of humor is delightful. I could see the scenes in this novel being acted out in my mind. All of her books have elements that are so comical, but this one is the best I've read so far. And making Arabella friends with Jane Austen was a great addition. I caught the references to characters in Austen's books - I haven't read all of them, but I did recognize the ones mentioned. I loved the character of Arabella and Turnip was just fabulous. I feel as though I'm gushing, but I really enjoyed this book. What a great way to spend the Christmas season - reading a Christmas book in the Pink Carnation series. Thank you, Lauren Willig for writing such an entertaining one!

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Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, I listened to the audiobook which is always a good idea with Jane Austen novels in my opinion. I love listening to the accents of the narrators. Catherine is portrayed as a 17-year-old girl who doesn't really think for herself - although she did make it all the way home from Northanger Abbey on her own. She goes to Bath with a neighbor couple as a companion to the wife. They meet up with an aquaintance from this woman's girlhood and Catherine makes friends with her daughter. Their son, James Thorpe, beoomes interested in Catherine, but she becomes interested in another - Henry Tilney. James exaggerates Catherine's family's wealth to Henry's father, General Tilney, to make her appear more worthy of James' interest. The General wants Catherine for Henry, so he invites her to Northanger Abbey for a visit. Henry, Catherine and Eleanor - Henry's sister, spend happy times together for about 3 weeks. Then overnight, The General sends Catherine home and forbids Henry to pursue her because he has heard from James Thorpe another exaggeration of Catherine's family's financial status - her being poor. Henry, probably the most stable character in the novel, proves himself chivalrous and goes against his father's wishes and travels to Catherine to ask her to marry him. Catherine's parents are in favor of the match, but only if they can convince Henry's father to give his consent. Henry's sister, Eleanor, comes to the rescue by spontaneously (at least in the novel - apparently not in the novelist's mind) marrying a man of means, a Viscount, and making her father very happy. In his happiness, he forgives Henry and grants his consent. This novel was only 179 pages long, but it took me a while to get through it because Catherine did so much imagining and sighing, etc. This novel is meant to be a parody of the Gothic novels of Jane Austen's time. It was amusing, but I wouldn't really recommend it.

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A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was the first book I read in the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge this year. It is one of the continuing stories of the O'Brien family who built and live in a town called Chesapeake Shores. Megan married Mick O'Brien, the builder of the town, but left him when their 5 children were young because she thought he loved his work more than his family. She made a place for her children to be with her in New York, but their father convinced them to stay with him. After many years, Megan and Mick reconciled and all of their children accepted her back in the family except Connor, their son. He was now a successful divorce lawyer and didn't believe in marriage. But, this is a Christmas novel, so all worked out in the end, but I only gave it 3 stars because the first half of the book was full of arguments and tension. There were many stubborn men and a few stubborn women involved. The resolution was rather ironic which I did enjoy, but I didn't like the fighting and manipulation (the characters didn't either). As I said, it is a Christmas novel, so there was a happy ending which I really like even though it was a tad unrealistic. But I've never been accused of being a realist, so Merry Christmas!

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April Lady by Georgette Heyer

April Lady by Georgette Heyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I expected this book to be a light, Victorian-style romance novel. It was light and it was Victorian - the ton and everything, but it wasn't exactly your typical romance novel. The heroine was sought out when she was a young thing by an older, wealthy, well-established man, Giles Cardross. According to her mother, she was to be his "show" wife because he had a mistress. So, Nell, the young wife, went about doing all the things a young wife was supposed to do in Victorian England - she went to parties and bought expensive gowns for each one, etc., etc. In due course, she racked up extensive debts. Nell's brother, Dysart, was a dandy and gambled to excess. Nell lent him some money which she did not want Cardross to find out about. When Nell's debts were brought to his attention, he reprimanded her a little, then paid them all, or so he thought. Nell got a letter from her dressmaker asking for payment of yet another bill. Since she had lent Dysart money, she didn't have any more funds to pay the bill and she didn't want to tell her husband because she didn't want him to think she married him for his money because she really did love him. The rest of the novel is about how Nell and Dysart go about coming up with a scheme to pay the dressmaker's bill without Cardross finding out about it. Also, Nell's sister-in-law, Letty, lives with them and contributes her own part to this comedy. She is young and in love with a man with no position who is about to go off to Brazil to work for the ambassador. Letty wants to marry him in the worst way, but Cardross won't hear of it. She whines and cries and has hyterics which has no affect on Cardross. Then she comes up with a fantastic scheme at the climax of the book. I enjoyed this book very much. It was a nice change to read something funny and entertaining, but light.

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2012

 

Of course, I am participating in the

2012 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge!

 

This challenge is hosted by The True Book Addict at The Christmas Spirit Blog. This is the 4th Year and I'm pretty sure I have participated at least 3 of the 4 years. I love Christmas! If YOU love Christmas - Christmas books, Christmas movies, Christmas cookies - you should go over the The Christmas Spirit Blog and sign up, too. (The challenge doesn't include cookies, but I'll be sure to be nibbling on some while I'm reading or watching movies!)

 

Here are the details:

 

The Challenge runs from Monday, November 19, 2012 through Sunday, January 6, 2013 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).

 

Crossover with other challenges is permitted and encouraged!

 

The books must be Christmas novels about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and, for the first time, there is a children's Christmas books level!

 

Visit The Christmas Spirit Blog to see a list of new Christmas books for 2012.

 

Here are the reading levels:

Candy Cane - read 1 book

 

I read "A Chesapeake Shores Christmas" by Sherryl Woods. Find my review here.

 

Mistletoe - read 2 to 4 books

 

I read "A Wallflowers Christmas" by Lisa Kleypas. 12/5/12

I read "The Mischief of the Mistletoe" by Lauren Willig 12/30/12. Find my review here.

 

Christmas Tree - read 5 or 6 books

 

Additional levels: FaLaLa 

Films: watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies

 

I've watched too many Christmas movies this year! At least one every night since Thanksgiving.

 

Visions of Sugar Plums: read books with your children and share what you read

 

The additional levels are optional, but you still must participate in the reading levels.

 

 

Have fun!!!

 

Check out The Christmas Spirit Blog to sign up and to read about the giveaway!

 

I'll probably start out at the Mistletoe level and then go to Christmas Tree if I can.

Christmas movies have already started and I have seen at least 3. We watch a Christmas movie or special every night in December at our house.

Did I mention I LOVE Christmas?

 





My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was our book club selection for November. It is the story of a young girl, Mary Sutter, who is determined to become a surgeon. She applies to Medical College and is rejected, then tries to find a surgeon who will apprentice her to no avail. She finally seeks out Dorothea Dix to apply to be a nurse in the war effort (Civil War, that is). Ms. Dix rejects her as well because she didn't fit her picture of a nurse. Mary was a very strong, determined woman. She found the Union Hotel which was a ramshackle building converted to a hospital for the war wounded. She made herself indispensible to the surgeon in charge and helped clean up the place as best they could. She helped him perform a couple of amputations and convinced him to teach her what he knew. The story goes on from there. Believe me, I haven't spoiled it for you. If you are a fan of life during the Civil War, you will enjoy this book. So many people lost loved ones and so many people died of battle injuries or just of disease which ran rampant through the troops and hospitals. It was very sad. This is a very sad book even though it has somewhat of a happy ending. She loses so much, but she is successful in achieving what she wants - yes, that is a spoiler, but you know it's going to happen from the beginning.

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Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney

Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anita Clenney's books are always exciting. Things are happening and there are twists and unexpected turns. This book lives up to that promise. The story is about a girl, Kendall, who has the gift of discovering things about people and objects by touching them or something that belonged to them which makes her unusually adept at finding lost items. She works for Nathan, a rich collector who is searching for a specific ancient box for reasons he will not disclose. Then there's Jake who also works for Nathan as a "tough" guy, good in a fight, and skilled at finding and protecting people. Nathan sends Jake and Kendall to Italy to find the box. The box is under the protection of the Protettori, an organization begun many many years ago. The locals say the castle is cursed and anyone that goes there doesn't come back. Their adventures are exciting and the situations they find themselves in are comical as well as extremely dangerous. There are lots of secret passageways and strange guardians all over. Kendall is having revelations like she had been to the castle before, but she doesn't remember that. Of course, there is a bit of a love interest between Jake and Kendall as well as some kind of relationship between Nathan and Kendall, but we don't know exactly what. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending. I know it is leading up to a sequel, but it didn't seem finished enough to move on. We didn't discover the truth about Jake or Nathan or their relationship. I was just a little disappointed that at least one of the mysteries didn't get solved.


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The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

by Jasper Fforde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had been reading about the Thursday Next books on several blogs and I was curious to read one. I chose this first one of Jasper Fforde's novels, "The Eyre Affair." I had listened to "Jane Eyre" on an audiobook last year so I knew the story and, in particular, how it ended. "The Eyre Affair" was very entertaining, but a little strange. I chose it for our book club's October selection. One of the ladies in our club claimed, "I like unusual books. This is one of the strangest I've come across." Hahaha. She likes mysteries and crime-solvers. Anyway, it wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was okay. I don't have a real strong desire to go out and find another one, but I'm glad I read this one.


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Dark Nebula by W.J. May - cover reveal

Nothing is as it seems anymore.

Leery from the horrifying incident at the end of her first year at Guilder Boarding School, Rae Kerrigan is determined to learn more about her new tattoo. looks Her expectations are high, an easy senior year and a happy reunion with Devon— the boy she’s not supposed to date. All hopes of happiness fade into shattered dreams the moment she steps back on campus.

Lies and secrets are everywhere, and a betrayal cuts Rae deeply. Among her conflicts and enemies, it appears as if her father is reaching out from beyond the grave to ruin her life. With no one to trust, Rae doesn’t know where or who to turn to for help.

Has her destiny been written? Or will she becomes the one thing she hates the most-- her father’s prodigy.

Dark Nebula is available December 15th

It is the sequel to Rae of Hope, part of the Chronicles of Kerrigan

See my review of Rae of Hope here.

BIO OF W. J. MAY:

 

Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario - St.Catharines. With a crazy-happy childhood, she has always had a vivid imagination and way too much energy.

The youngest of six -- four older brothers, and a sister -- taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.

At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump. She continued to compete, breaking Canada's JR High Jump record (1.92m - 6' 3 1/2" for those metric-ly challenged). She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - winning CIAU's and becoming All-American 6x - NCAA Indoors Runner Up + more.

But you're not interested in her athletic career - unless of course you're curious to know she stands 1.70m (5'7") and has jumped 20cm over her head on more than one occasion. She's represented Canada at the World Championships, World Jrs., won Francophone Games, and loved every minute of every competition. From the grueling workouts, the crazy weights she lifted on her back, the days she thought her lungs were going to spit out of her mouth for lack of oxygen, the traveling around the world and the opportunity to read - her favorite past time.

Life continued with her husband (a distance runner from Liverpool, UK, who she met at KSU) and then their first, then second and finally third child. Their house became full of more imagination and stories. Wanita and her husband run an online business, dealing in antiques and collectables - particularly jewelry and porcelain

After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she'd loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.

Her first book, Rae of Hope - from the Chronicles of Kerrigan, published by Mitchell Morris Publishing debuted Oct 2011. Rae of Hope, the first book in the series is going to be free to download on Amazon October 15th.

Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Rae-Hope-Chronicles-Kerrigan-ebook/dp/B005LJEVJQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&qid=1329789966&sr=8-2

Dark Nebula is available December 15th, 2012.

She is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.

Her LINKS:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-WJ-May-FAN-PAGE/141170442608149

Twitter: @wanitajump

Website: www.wanitamay.yolasite.com

Email: wanitamay@aol.com

Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/wanitajump

Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern

Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was written as a series of letters - well, e-mails, letters & text messages. I know there's a name for that type of book, but I can't remember it right now. Anyway, I liked the way it was written. The story was about Rosie and her best friend, Alex. That's the bottom line. They went through their whole lives from age 7 to 50 something corresponding with each other, standing up at each other's wedding, supporting each other across an ocean and loving each other although neither one was brave enough to admit it. At age 17, Alex moved to Boston because his Dad got a glorious job there. He couldn't make it to Rosie's end-of-school dance, so she went with someone else, got very drunk and got pregnant! Yes, her dreams of going to school in Boston were dashed when she decided to have the baby. The father split immediately. Alex went on to medical school to pursue his dream of being a doctor. They still kept in touch though. Their lives went on with missed opportunities and bad marriages, etc. The book is rather predictable. You know what is going to happen in the end, but getting there all you can think is "what roadblock to true love is going to appear next?" I know this is a spoiler, but with a title like "Where Rainbows End" you should know that they get together in the end. It takes a LONG time, but they finally get together IN THE EPILOGUE!!! I did really enjoy this book. I especially liked the fact that Rosie's daughter, Katie, was the key to getting them together. If you are a lover of love stories, I recommend you read this book.


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