"Longing For Home"

All of us have authors we love!  We follow them and keep up with all books out and any new novels soon to be released.  This is the same with me.  I have a list of “favs” and I follow them closely.  One of those on my list is Sarah M. Eden.  She had a new book released September 2^nd (“For Elise”), so I decided that today I would review an old one written by her.

“Longing for Home” by Sarah M. Eden, takes you back in time to 1870 Wyoming territory.  A sweet girl named Katie is trying desperately to save money to go home to Ireland and to help her family.  Her life has not been easy and if she thought coming to America would make things easier, she is going to be disappointed.  Katie quickly finds out that the Irish are not held in high regard.  She also finds out that opening up your heart and allowing people into your life can make challenges less overwhelming.  Especially when there are two handsome men who long for Katie’s attention. 

I love most of Sarah M. Eden’s books and this was no exception.  She writes clean and cute romance novels.  This book left me wanting more.  I couldn’t put the novel down until I discovered how everything turned out.  This meant lots of late night reading with very little sleep … the markings of a good story!  Lucky for you … the 2^nd book is out and you can read both right now!  Amazing right?  Nothing better than a series that is finished.  Now I need to get reading “For Elise”!

To find out more about this book, read below:

Another Great Book ... Doon

"Doon"

If you had the chance to travel to a magical, fairy-tale-type kingdom with swoon-worthy princes in kilts … 

would you go?  What if there was a chance you may never be able to return home again … would that change things for you?  That’s the dilemma that two best friends found themselves in, as they set off on an adventure of a lifetime.

Veronica and MacKenna planned to spend the summer in Scotland after MacKenna inherited her late Aunt’s cottage.  Before departing on the trip, Veronica sees glimpses of a handsome guy in a kilt that seems to be calling for her to follow him.  Does this guy really exist or is she going crazy?

Doon was the perfect book for me to read.  I am a big fan of fairy tale retellings – this you may already know.  What you may not know is that I also love musicals!  So you can imagine my excitement when I found a book that was not only a fairy tale retelling but one that was also based loosely around the legend of Brigadoon (yes, the Gene Kelly musical).

Still want other reasons to love Doon … OK … here they are:

#1 – The girls themselves.  MacKenna and Veronica are so well written.  They feel like real girls.  We get glimpses of their insecurities but we also are shown their strengths … and their friendship to each other is a huge strength!  Too many YA novels show teen girls more as frenemies than loyal, best friends who are each other’s biggest fans.  Together, MacKenna and Veronica are strong.

#2 - The setting.  Scotland is the land of fairy tales!  You just look at pictures and the magic just jumps off the photo at you.  There couldn't have been a more perfect environment set, to spin the tale of Doon.

#3 – I love the hidden messages throughout.  Like … true fairy tales take work!  And … there may not always be a happy ending.  Or … don’t be a damsel-in-distress.  Find your own courage – you don’t need a Prince to save you!

And … #4 - Heart pounding romance!  May I remind you about the hot Princes in kilts?  Need I say more?

Doon was a fun read and any fairy tale and musical lover will find it as enticing as I did.  When reading Doon, I felt like I stepped into another world.  If only I could really travel there and spend a day exploring this exciting kingdom!  Instead I will just have to imagine what it’s like as I read the second book, “Destined for Doon” which came out this week!!!  The wait is over!

Here's a closer look at what Doon is all about:

"Ruby Red"

O.k ... it's Monday, so you know what that means?!?!   That's right.  Another review of another great book for you to read!  

I recently got "Ruby Red" by Kerstin Gier but didn't have high hopes for it because one of my friends started to read it and never finished.  Well ... I was pleasantly surprised!  At first I didn't know what to think.  It didn't grab my attention right off the bat.  I felt the beginning moved a bit slow; however, once I got a few chapters in, I couldn't put it down.  There was a girl whose life turned upside down when she found out she could time travel. This same girl could also see ghosts.  That alone makes for a good read but then you add the "cherry-on-top" ... a hot boy she couldn't get out of her mind!  I would recommend this novel.  The mystery of the book caught my attention and I HAD to get the next book and the one after that so I could find out how everything ended.  If you love a good mystery with romance and a good time travel - this is the book for you.  

Here is what the book is about:  

"Scarlet"

I always love books that friends recommend to me.  Firstly, it gives me new authors and new novels to dive into.  Secondly, it gives me a peek into the thoughts, feelings, and likes of my acquaintances.  I get to see a side of them that I may never have seen otherwise.  Most of the time I realize how much we really are alike on so many levels!  Books have a way of bridging people together and connecting us to others.

"Scarlet" is one of those books.  A friend that I really admire, and feel that we have a "book-bonding-kindred-spirit" ... recommended this book highly.  I quickly went out and purchased it only to have it sit on my shelf for a very long time.  One day I found myself in the mood for something "different".  I had recently been involved in a series of dystopia and historical romance novels, and knew that I needed to find a fresh genre to read.  If I didn't, they would all begin to blend together and each book would begin to sound the same.  That's when I revisited my bookshelf and found "Scarlet" ... calling out for me to pick her up. A retelling of Robin Hood might be just what the doctor ordered.

"The Help"

With all the hype this book (and more recently, the movie) has received, I kind of feel that it doesn’t need another review.  However, to be fair to all the other books I have read recently, it has to be included in my list of “Books You Must Read”.

When this book very first hit the bookstores, my daughter bought it for me as a birthday present.  Being so new, I had not heard much of a buzz so I didn’t have any expectations.  Expectations or not … this novel is amazing!  It is one of those books that kept me up late into the night reading. If I was to simply say it was story about the life of black maids in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's, I would be doing it a disservice.  The author succeeds in showing that we are more alike than we realize. This book shows the triumph of the human spirit.  Thanks Kassie for giving me “The Help“.

Here’s a quick look at what  “The Help” is all about:

"Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children"

You know the old saying … “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”?  This old adage definitely applies to “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children”.  When I first saw this book, I didn’t know what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised to find, within it’s pages, and tale of adventure, mystery, monsters, and “peculiar” children.

From the beginning I was trapped.  The book moved along smoothly and I found myself wanting to read more.  The characters were well developed and I loved all the different personalities and traits they all displayed.

However, there were a few things that I struggled with.  I am reluctant to include them in my review because I would rather you read the book and form your own opinion.  I do strongly recommend this novel.  It’s thrilling, suspenseful, and when you reach the end … you are left wanting more.  (And more is definitely on the way.)

Here’s a quick look at what  “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children” is all about:

"The Book Thief"

I always recommend this book if asked, “What’s a good book to read?”  However, I always recommend it with some hesitation.  If you want a fast read, or a feel-good novel … this book is not for you.  If you love to get wrapped up in the characters, or have your eyes opened to the heartbreak that many people suffered … than this book is for you.

This story is narrated by Death.  At times I found this narration a little depressive but I think that is how Markus Zusak wanted his readers to feel.  Dealth is also dismayed by the events that are happening all around.  At one point, he stomps on a picture of Hitler on his way to retrieve a thousand souls from a bomb raid.  But through all the dark is a spark of color.

The human race is hard to figure out at times and this novel explores all the twists and turns in a time I hope we never have to revisit.  If you want to explore this book further … here’s a little more about it:

"The Forgotten Garden"

I really became quite enchanted with this tale.  The bewitching fairy tales and the charming cottage garden made the book enticing and captured me from the first few pages.  Kate Morton did a beautiful job writing.  I could picture, in my mind, all the events I was reading about … just like watching a movie that only I could see.  I found myself wrapped up in a mystery that kept me guessing as to the outcome.  The twist and turns, and all the transporting my thoughts to different time periods … kept me up all hours of the night reading.

Here is a look at what “The Forgotten Garden” has to offer:

"Sarah's Key"

(*As I was getting ready to publish this post ... I came across a movie trailer for this book!  I am so excited that it is going to be on the big screen.  Hopefully it will live up to what was written on the pages.)

Before and after reading this book, I read many varying reviews.  The way I see it though, is … a novel like “Sarah’s Key” stands on it’s own.  No matter if you love it or hate it - everyone should read this beautifully written account, devoted to the Holocaust.  The author did an amazing job reminding us of the tragic facts that took place many years ago … and in a place we often don’t associate with concentration camps and Jewish mistreatment.  “Sarah‘s Key“ is a book that is captivating, and I have found my mind returning to it many times after I finished reading.  I strongly recommend adding it to your list of “Must Reads”.

Here’s another glimpse at what is inside the pages of “Sarah’s Key”:

"Juliet"

I’m in love with this book! I don’t think I can put it better than that. There were so many aspects that kept me entranced in this novel late into the night … or should I say … early into the morning.

So what label do I put on “Juliet“? It was definitely a mystery. It was definitely a romance. It was definitely a “figuring-out-who-I-am” novel. But what I probably loved most about it was … it’s a double-retelling of the story of Romeo and Juliet, one in modern day Siena, and one in 14^th century Siena. If I had to tell you which story line I liked the best … I don’t think I could decide. Both story lines caught my attention, and although I knew the ending to one, I was still caught in Medieval times … clinging on to hope.

"The Kiss of a Stranger"

I loved it! It's not an "exercise in brain power" reading ... but it's a "curl up and get lost in" novel. I loved the characters - even though Catherine can get tedious at times ... Crispin makes up for it. Sometimes you just need an easy-read that makes you forget all the troubles around you. "The Kiss of a Stranger" is that book!

Here's a sneak peek at what "The Kiss of a Stranger" is about:

"Dark Mirror"

This book was ... fine. It took awhile to get moving. It wasn't until I was over half way through the book that I started being drawn to the story. I wish there would have been more interaction with the romance side of the story. That might have left me feeling more invested in the characters. I did enjoy the historical facts in the story ... fact mixed with fiction is always a good combination.

It is still a book I would recommend ... it's just not a recommendation that would come with fanfare and fireworks.

Here's some more details on "Dark Mirror":

"Timeless"

Ok ... so I'm off and running ...

The first book I'm posting is "Timeless" by Alexandra Monir.  My Mom read this book first and suggested that I give it a whirl.  At first it took me a couple of chapters to get into this novel, but after those few chapters, I could not put the book down!  As I recall, unlike many books today, "Timeless" is a clean book so it is perfect for any age.  (Especially those who love thrilling romances like me.)  I was happy to find that in the pages I was reading ... there were many surprises that kept me constantly wondering what was going to happen next.  This book found me crying at times, laughing at times, and at the end ... it left me wanting more.  I am definitely keeping my eyes out for the sequel!

Here is a little rundown on what Timeless is about: