Review: A Countess Below Stairs

Title A Countess Below Stairs
By Eva Ibbostson
Genre YA romance
Pages 383
Recommended by Book Club



First sentence "You cannot be a housemaid, Anna," said Miss Pinfold firmly.



Synopsis
Anna used to be a Russian Countess. She used to have jewels and riches and live in a mansion. Now all that has changed. Forced to flee her country and riches Anna must find work and becoming a housemaid seems her only option but falling in love with the Earl she serves isn't an option, not since he's engaged to be married.



What is has going for it
Anna is instantly likable. Sure the author "tells not shows" us to like her but it's easy to overlook that for the most part. I enjoyed watching her journey from riches to rags and loved the Downton Abbey feel of this book. There's something to be said for books that can make you talk to them. You know, shouting things to the characters, gasping at something when it happens, biting back and "oh no" when something terrible is about to happen. This book was very good at drawing out my emotions and for that I'll give it a thumbs up.

What's lacking 
Honestly, this one isn't without flaws. The telling not showing thing I mentioned irritated me. It's fine in a short fairy tale story to tell a reader how to feel about a character and to describe their attributes but in a novel I expect a little more showing. There was a lot of this "stop the story and tell you the history of a person or place" and it got a little old. Oh, and just because a book is in third person and can jump around to anyone it wants, doesn't mean it should. This one started talking about people that had very little to do with the story and it drove me insane. I wanted to just get back to Anna and Rupert!

Favorite moment
When Anna hears Rupert having a nightmare and wakes him up. I loved how inappropriate that might have been back then but how natural it seemed.

Yea or Nay?
Yes, I'd recommend it but get ready for some lengthy back story.

Review: Mind Games

Title Mind Games (Mind Games 1)
By Kiersten White
Genre YA supernatural/paranormal
Pages 237
Recommended by Susan 

First sentence
My dress is black and itchy and I hate it.



Synopsis
Some woman are born with mind powers. In the school there's Readers, Feelers and Seers. Anna is a Seer and her sister Fia...she's unique. The school was meant to help people but it's become a prison. Both sisters are trapped,being used, but things are about to change.



What is has going for it
What a ride! I have to say, this one surprised me. I ended up loving it! I'm a sucker for Femme Fatale stories. There's just something about a girl who kicks ass and who's unique that gets me. I'm also a sucker for plot driven books and this one has an interesting plot. It jumps back and forth from the past to the present so you can see how everything in the now came to be. This one also also has great characters. I actually liked Fia's inner turmoil and thoughts. I felt for her. I liked her. I can't wait to see her kick more ass! Anna wasn't quite as interesting to me but by the end I appreciated her.  I'm dying to get to know Adam better. I think Eden might have a bigger role in the next books and it worries me. James...Oh, James. I can't decide what to think of you. I feel for you but I just think two damaged people cannot make a whole. Sigh! The relationship between Fia and Anna makes this book. They're each others greatest strength and each others greatest weakness. It makes for a heart wrenching dynamic. With twists and turns and jaw dropping shocks this one had it all. I can't wait for the next one!

What's lacking
It was slightly confusing for a bit but it all came together. I know that most people complained about the jumping around and Fia's crazy thoughts but I didn't find it overly confusing. I've also heard people say it sort of feels like it's missing some story. I liked that it jumped right in and leaves you wanting more. It is pretty violent too, that doesn't bother me but it might bug others.

Favorite moment
Honestly the moment where Fia...um, you know does the bad thing involving Clarice. Sorry, but it shocked me so much and then I cheered.

Yea or Nay?
I'd say yes but I know this kind isn't for everyone.

Review: Into You

Title Into You
By Riley J. Ford
Genre YA mystery supernatural/paranormal
Pages 253
Recommended by Amazon Daily Kindle Deal

First sentence It happens in the movie theater when I finally kiss Ethan Cooper.

Synopsis
Imagine you can read people's minds. Imagine you have to kiss them to read their minds. Imagine it's ruining your life. Winter Reynolds Is dealing with this and more. The new girl in school with a troubled past ends up murdered and suddenly Winter has to use her power to solve the murder. Things are about to get crazy!


What it has going for it
Well, it had an interesting premise. I like the idea of mind reading. Who wouldn't want to know what others were thinking....as long as you could turn it off. I liked that there was the twist of the kissing too. The book kept me reading wanting to know who the murderer was...and, yeah, that's about it.

What's lacking?
Sadly this one made me roll my eyes more than once. It had way too many unbelievable aspects. I don't mean the mind reading either. It was convenient and trite and tried to be funny but was not and maybe shouldn't have even tried. I don't want to be too spoilery so if you're really wanting to read this one skip the next bit. ***What the hell was with the pregnancy thing? First of all Miranda acted like it was no big deal that she was pregnant and her whole life was about to change. There was no focus on the emotional drama that would cause. Then when she tells her parents...What the hell?! No parent would act that calmly! And the whole climatic ending at the dance. It was horrible. It was all over the place. I was livid that after Winter is attacked that she so quickly brushed it off and forgave Jason. If I went through what she did and knew the man I "loved" had just walked away??? No freaking way!*** Anywho, the book was a huge ridiculous disappointment.

Favorite moment
I'm not sure there was one.

Yea or Nay?
No, just no.

Hunky Valentines!

So this Tuesday The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday post was all about Swoony Books. I didn't write a post of my own but I found it highly amusing that most people started out talking about swoony books but mostly talked about swoony male lead characters. Aw well, I guess us girls just can't help having book crushes. So in honor of Valentines Day I give you my list of the top ten hunky book characters to swoon over.

                                                      
                                                     1 Odd Thomas
I highly doubt anyone is surprised to see Odd on my list. Odd it the biggest sweetheart with...well...a heart of gold. I haven't seen the movie yet but I have to say I wasn't at all happy with the casting for Odd. What do you guys think?

2 Matthew Swift
Once again I doubt you're surprised but I can't help it! Matthew is so...I can't even begin to describe him. He's funny, sarcastic and seriously bad ass! Yes please!

3 Cassel (Curse Workers series)  
He's tortured yet mischievous and smart as hell. Plus he's just real and flawed and sigh worthy!

 4 Captain Wentworth (Persuasion)
He's just so stoic. You know, the strong silent type. And that letter he writes Ann...Oh my gosh! Swoon!

5 Cameron Wolfe 
OK, this isn't a picture of Cameron but Markus, his creator, is hot so let's just drool at him shall we? All I can say about Cameron is I love his soul!

6 Ben (Mercy Thompson series)
OK, someone else out there thought this handsome actor would fit Ben and I couldn't agree more. He's one of those characters you love so much you can't figure out why the hell the MC chooses some other dumb guy. **cough cough** Adam **cough cough**

7 Stronghand (Crown of Stars series) 
There are no words. Stronghand is just so dang awesome. Why? Because he's the first of his kind to start reasoning and thinking and actually feeling! I adore him.

8 Astley (Need series)
A man who doesn't try to control the girl? A man who supports and trusts and fights right along side the girl? Yes please! And Alex just seems to fit Astley in my mind.

9 Cricket 
I immediately liked Cricket just from the cover of this book but from his first scene in the book I fell in love with him! He's just such sweetheart...Hmmm. I'm starting to think I have a thing for sweethearts with just a hint of darkness in them.

10 Drizzt 
What's not to love? He's unique, kicks ass and well...he runs around with a big black panther. 'Nuf said.




Honestly I could go on and and on. There are so many swoon worthy guys out there in literature. Agreed? Happy Valentines day!

Review: The Forgotten Garden

Title The Forgotten Garden
By Kate Morton
Genre Adult contemporary
Pages 552

First sentence It was dark where she was crouched but the little girl did as she'd been told. 




Synopsis
Covering three generations, a mystery of a little girl found abandoned on a ship and taken in by the dockmaster comes to light.



What it has going for it
Honestly I went into this book incredibly skeptical. I'd been warned by my book club friends, those who'd tried to read it, that it was a little slow moving and hard to get into. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it turned out to be just the kind of book I love. The quiet, intricate way the story carries along revealing little by little the mystery it holds was done very well indeed. It kept me guessing, that's for sure. I kept expecting (and dreading) some horrible secret revealing incest or rape and was quite relieved to discover it wasn't anything like that but shocking all the same. I like books that seem to be a study on human nature with characters that fall victim to their dark sides and this one was perfect in that aspect. All I can say is it wasn't in the least bit boring to me. I was pulled in from the very beginning and enjoyed it very much!

What's lacking
I can see how a book like this, once read and dissected by millions of reader, can be called trite and and unoriginal by "book snobs". I heard plenty of people call it's mystery obvious and, hey, maybe it was but I sure didn't figure it out. I was content to just let the author with her calm piece by piece writing and the beautifully flawed characters reveal the mystery to me. I will say that once the "big reveal" was revealed I wondered how believable it actually was but I can quickly shrug that away.

Favorite moment
Anything between Cassandra and Christian. I don't know why, I just liked it. Their relationship was reminiscent of Austen or something. It had a familiar sweet feeling to it. 

Yea or Nay?
Yes, I'd most definitely recommend this one.