Winter by Marissa Meyer ~ My Review

Winter by Marissa Meyer 

Publication Date: November 10th, 2015 

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends 

Pages: 824 

Received: Purchased my own copy. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I was so excited to read Winter, at the same time I wasn’t in a hurry to read it because I knew it was the end of one of my favorite series, The Lunar Chronicles. It was bittersweet, knowing the series was coming to an end, but as the same time, I couldn’t wait to see how it was going to end!

I love these characters, Cinder, Prince Kai, Iko, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, and Thorne! Now with the addition of Winter and Jacin, there's more to love! But at the same time, there's almost too much going on - too many characters to follow. And at 800+ pages it’s also the longest book in the Lunar Chronicles series. 

I had hoped to reread this first three books of the series before reading Winter because it had been so long since I had read them, but didn’t, instead I jump right in! The first hundred pages or so we touch base with all the characters to see where they’re at in the story. That part was a little slow for me, but soon after the action begins. It’s non-stop excitement, as Cinder and the gang travel to Lunar and try to defeat evil Queen Levana! 

I loved the fairy-tale aspect of the story, and the Star Wars-y feel! Did Thorne remind anyone else of Han Solo? 

If you’ve not had the pleasure of reading The Lunar Chronicles, I’d suggest you do so quickly! This futuristic, fairy-tale is awesome! With a continuing storyline, the series starts with Cinder, and the story keeps building, adding new characters with each book; ending with an exciting conclusion in Winter!

Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads.

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 


Marissa Meyer's Website 

While I was on Marissa Meyer's blog I noticed she's currently giving away a set of signed copies of The Lunar Chronicles! This link will take you there!  

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you! 

What are you Reading? ~ September 9, 2015

What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you plan on reading next?

What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading Shackled by Tom Leveen. So far this is really good! Pelly's best friend, Tara, went missing six years ago while they were playing hide and seek at the mall, and Pelly hasn't been able to function normally since. Panic attacks and depression have kept her housebound. She is done with doctors and meds, so she comes up with her own plan to become normal. One step is to work part time at a coffee shop. Which is going okay until the day a creepy man and a scrawny, greasy-haired girl walk into the coffee shop. Pelly is sure it's Tara but is too stunned to do anything. Now, she has to overcome her anxieties to find Tara. 




What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess. This was really good! I loved the mesh of Emma and Pride and Prejudice! Hopefully, I'll have a review up soon! (Life is crazy busy lately!!) 

What do I plan on reading next? I still want to read Fairest: The Lunar Chronicles: Levana's Story by Marissa Meyer. But anything can happen between now and next week! ;) I'll let you know! 






FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


What are you reading? I'd love to hear! 

What are you Reading? ~ April 29, 2015

What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll be reading next?

What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading Twin Piques by Tracie Banister.  I'm not very far into this story, but it seems good so far! 







What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell. Great book! This is a mix of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Beauty and the Beast, and a little Greek Mythology thrown in there too! Cute!

What do I think I'll be reading next? I think I'll read Steampunk Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Spoofby Monica Fairview. The only thing that bothers me here is Spoof. I'm not sure if I'm going to like that. We'll see! 

FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

So...What are you reading?

What are you Reading? ~ April 22, 2015

What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions? 

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll be reading next?

What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell. I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but it's really cute, and I think I'm going to like it! :) 






What did I recently finish reading? I finished two books this week! First, I finished reading Champion: A Legend Novel  by Marie Lu. Fantastic book! Oh, how I loved this series!! It was so good.  








Next, I read Stronger Even Than Pride by Gail McEwen. This Pride and Prejudice variation was really good! I was afraid it was going to be too angst for me, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it was full of angst, but I loved it. Maybe I'm getting used to it, or Gail is just that good at writing! ;) 




What do I think I'll be reading next? Again, I'm not sure. I'm just going to see what I feel like reading. I'll let you know next week! 

FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provide, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

So...what are you reading? 

Atone: A Fairytale by Jessica Grey ~ My review

Atone: A Fairytale by Jessica Grey 

Publication Date: July 8, 2013 
Publisher: Tall House Books 
E-book: 192 pages
Received: e-copy from the author 
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


“When you are with your true love you make your own magic.” 

I loved this story! Atone: A Fairytale is a modern day Beauty and the Beast retelling set in Los Angeles. I love Jessica Grey’s writing style, her voice, and the magical way she has when telling a tale.

Grey’s characters from Awake are back for another adventure! It’s been two years since Lilia was freed from the sleeping spell she was under. And the girls have been living pretty normal lives. Until the day, Becca get a rather odd message to check up on their old boss, Nicholas. When she gets to his house, she finds out that Nicholas has been turned into a beast by some old magic linked to a mirror. It’s up to Becca to figure out how to break the curse and return him to his human form. One big problem is that he doesn’t want her help, and she really doesn’t want to help him! They’ve never gotten along, so, working together is not going to be easy.

Like in Beauty and the Beast, Nicholas, in his human form, is a self-centered, spoilt, and well, extremely handsome man, who has to learn to love someone else more than himself and be willing to give everything for that person. But in Atone, Becca also has a few lessons to learn. I really like that! Becca is not the perfect “Belle” that everyone loves!

Once again, I love the creative way Grey tells a story. With colorful spells that weave and pulse, shimmer and shine - she brings her story to life! I highly recommend reading Atone: A Fairytale! Although, Atone is the second book of the series, I feel it can stand alone. But I would read Awake: A Fairytale because it's so good! You can read my review for Awake here.

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the book for my honest review.

Buy a copy here.


Connect with Jessica Grey:

website
twitter
facebook
Indie Jane

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you! 

W... W... W... Wednesdays ~ July 24, 2013

W... W... W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. To play along, just answer the following questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

What am I currently reading? I am reading Dancing With Paris by Juliette Sobanet. So far I'm really enjoying it! It's like a time travel, mystery romance.

What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading From This Day Forward - The Darcys of Pemberley by Joana Starnes. I had a hard time getting into this story. My review will be up in a couple of weeks.

What do I think I'll be reading next? I have a couple of books I would like to get to this week. Mr. Darcy's Promise by Jeanna Ellsworth and Atone: A Fairytale by Jessica Grey. I am really looking forward to both! Mr. Darcy's Promise is a P&P variation - I  always love those! Atone is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast! I mean, who doesn't love that! Plus, I love Jessica's writing style! 

What are you reading?

Blue Rose in Chelsea By Adriana Devoy

Wow! I loved this story! Blue Rose in Chelsea was so much more than I thought it was going to be! From the magical connection between Evan and Haley, and the deep friendships that are everlasting, to brotherly love. 

The story begins September of 1988. Haley and her brother Dylan are on their way to a friend’s house when Haley spots a blue rose that she believes is a sign of a miracle to come. Soon after, she meets Evan Candelier.

Haley wants to experience life, not just read about it in books, so she drops out of Princeton. Her plan is to one day write “The Great American Novel”. Her brother, Dylan, who she spends a lot of time with, pesters her to get a job. With her genius IQ, he can’t believe she dropped out of college. 

Evan was formerly a dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and is now trying to break into acting. He is slow to reveal himself to people, and it takes a while for Haley to get to know him, but the connection between them is palpable. There were so many times they would get close then he would pull away and leave. Haley was good at sabotaging the relationship too, by saying something totally opposite of what she felt.

I love that Dylan and Haley spend so much time together! She goes out with him and his friends, and he watches over her, but at times he can be a little overbearing. Dylan recognizes the strong energy between Haley and Evan, but he doesn’t understand it. He thinks Evan will only hurt Haley, and tries to keep them apart. I like that he is protective of Haley. What can I say? ...I just love Dylan! He’s smart, a hard worker, knows what he wants and goes after it. He has a strong presence that makes people respect him.

Another character I loved was Sinclair! He is a costume designer and makes amazing outfits for Haley to wear. Haley tells him everything that is going on with her and Evan. He gives her advice and is always there for her. I love that he quotes the Red Queen from Alice Through the Looking Glass. It always fits in to the conversation!

There is so much about this story I liked. I love the fashion of the 80s, and the sights and culture of the city. I love that Careen (Haley’s cousin) calls her husband Mr. Palmer, from Sense and Sensibility “due to his affinity for dry and amusing commentary", and that Haley is a Jane Austen fan! I found myself laughing out loud often as I was reading Blue Rose in Chelsea and getting choked up a few times too. It was more than a romance, and I really liked the relationship between Dylan and Haley and the deep friendship she had with Sinclair. From the beginning of the story, I was hooked! 

I would highly recommend this modern fairytale set in Manhattan.

5 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review. 

Buy a copy here.

About the Author:

Adriana Devoy is the author of four novels, including Blue Rose in Chelsea (2004), a Cinderella story set in 1980s Manhattan, and The Pollen Path (1996), which follows the lives and loves of three young women in a seaside town. Forthcoming are The Theory of Faeries (2010), and the middle grade novel, In the Garden of Goodwill.

Adriana credits her love of books to her mother, who took her to the Brooklyn Public Library as a little girl and encouraged her to roam the stacks to choose her own stories. Adriana studied English literature, classical ballet, and classical piano. She also enjoys yoga, organic gardening, reading mystical literature, and rescuing cats.

Connect with Adriana:

Facebook author page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adriana-Devoy-author-page/308796129216176?fref=ts

Amazon author page:

amazon.com/author/adrianadevoy

Twitter:

@AdrianaDevoy

Contact info:

adrianadev@aol.com

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!