Review: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James  
Release Date: March 20, 2018 
Publisher: Berkley 
Genre: Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction 
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review 

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The “clever and wonderfully chilling” (Fiona Barton) suspense novel from the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, now in trade paperback!

Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants–the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It’s called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it’s located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming–until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .
Vermont, 2014. As much as she’s tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister’s death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can’t shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past–and a voice that won’t be silenced. . . .

Review:

I'm always in the mood for a new thriller/mystery read. Therefore, as soon as I saw the intriguing summary and haunting yet gorgeous cover for The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, I was sold. I couldn't want to learn more about Idlewild Hall and how the two mysteries - years apart! - connected. 

The Result? The Broken Girls was EXCELLENT! Combining two nail-bitting mysteries and a touch of the paranormal, The Broken Girls successfully intrigues, compels, and thrills. 

The Broken Girls beautifully blends together two timelines - Vermont, 1950 and Vermont, 2014. I thought Simone did a wonderful job of developing both times, and I especially enjoyed seeing Idlewild Hall at its prime as well as at its ruin. Learning about the private school and the bad as well as good it brought the girls firsthand truly added to the quality of the novel - it was nice to put faces to specific stories. I also enjoyed the additional mystery Vermont, 2014 had to offer. 

Idlewild Hall and the small town provided such a haunting setting. I read The Broken Girls at night, and some parts of me regretted that decision. From the decaying buildings to the intimidating ghosts to the dead bodies yet to be discovered, even the bravest of readers will surely find something to be frightened by. 

The Broken Girls features five POVs - the four Idlewild roommates (Katie, CeCe, Sonia, and Roberta) and Fiona Sheridan. To be honest the five POVs worried me at first, especially since those of the four Idlewild roommates blended together in the beginning. As the story continued however, each POV started to stand on its own, and by the end, I can truly say I got to know each girl on a personal level. Even with decades between the four roommates and Fiona Sheridan, all five women are incredibly similar - they're lost and flailing through life, hoping one day they'll find their peace. The four Idlewild roommates truly struck a cord in me. Their stories were so terrible yet they still managed to try their hardest to move on and make the best of the scary Idlewild Hall. Additionally, I enjoyed how Simone incorporated parts of history within their narratives - some parts of history that even I didn't know much about. 

In all, The Broken Girls is an incredibly strong thriller, and while it does plenty of chilling and thrilling, it also gives a story and face to some of the worst past and present history has to offer. 

5 stars!!

Review: Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Young Adult, Historical
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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1920, England

And the three teenage Clarke sisters thought what they'd wear to dinner was their biggest problem…

Lady Kate, the entitled eldest.
Lady Grace, lost in the middle and wishing she were braver.
Lady Lizzy, so endlessly sunny, it's easy to underestimate her.

Then there's Will Harvey, the proud, to-die-for―and possibly die with!―stable boy; Daniel Murray, the resourceful second footman with a secret; Raymond Allen, the unfortunate-looking young duke; and Fanny Rogers, the unsinkable kitchen maid.

Upstairs! Downstairs! Toss in some farmers and villagers!

None of them ever expected to work together for any reason.

But none of them had ever seen anything like this.

Review:

Lauren Baratz-Logsted's books are typically very hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes I enjoy them while other times they simple aren't my cup of tea. I couldn't resist Zombie Abbey, however, as I wanted to see what a zombie flavored Downtown Abbey book would be like. 

As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a quirky read, relying on early dramatics, humor, and zombie gore to drive the story forward. 

Zombie Abbey contains a surplus of perspectives - the sisters, the suitors, the staff, even the animals! It was interesting, and it tended to keep me on my toes. I never was quite sure who was going to be next! Some characters I liked better than others. The sisters, for instance, were an incredibly mixed bag. Kate, the eldest, was insufferable in most respects. I couldn't believe how selfish as well as entitled she acted, but I did enjoy seeing what would come out of her mouth next - it kept becoming more and more outlandish! Grace, the middle child, was my second favorite character. She was the complete opposite of Kate - kind and selfless. I enjoyed seeing her unexpected friendship with one of Kate's suitors unfold. Lizzy, the youngest, was by far my favorite. In some ways, she's the black sheep of her family - no one truly understands her and they also underestimate her. However, as the book progresses, she becomes the unexpected hero. I loved seeing her take on a bigger role, and I was cheering her on the whole way - I wanted her to prove her family (especially Kate!) wrong. The male suitors also provided laughs as well as heart. I appreciated how different they were. Also, Will Harvey? I. LOVED. him. 

The plot in this reminded me slightly of Scary Movie. People keep dying and/or disappearing, but no one really wanted to take it seriously.  They were too worried about their own lives! The Clarke family chalks it up to the villagers overacting - how can someone who is dead possibly come back to life? However, as the novel continues and the zombies get closer, the Clark family and their guests start to see just how serious it is. There were so many times at which I wanted to yell "Take it more seriously, it's not a joke," as I couldn't believe they just didn't have a care in the world, continuing on with their parties and hunting even though multiple people were missing. It was nutty!I also appreciated that no one was ever "safe;" there were some exciting twists that happened as the death total kept rising. I liked the little romances that popped up. None were incredibly well developed, but they still added a fun, romantic quality to the book. 

Now for the few problems I had with Zombie Abbey. For one, I wish it was more developed. I had so many questions about the zombies, the unexpected cousin, etc. I wanted to know where the zombies had originated from and whether or not they were only in their area or others. Secondly, the transitions between POVs was sometimes choppy. A couple of times it took me a few seconds to realize who was talking, because it jumped so quickly. Last, I wish the ending had more resolution. In some respects, I did think it fit the story well, but as someone who loves resolution, I wish there had been more to it. 

Regardless, Zombie Abbey is an eccentric little book. I'll be honest: it's not going to be for everyone; however, I think it will find its place with readers who love an interesting take on historical fiction (think My Lady Jane). 

3.5 stars!! 

Review: Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

Release Date: March 20, 2018 

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: eARC provided by publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review

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Her name is Sarah. She's blonde, blue-eyed, and Jewish in 1939 Germany. And her act of resistance is about to change the world.

After her mother is shot at a checkpoint, fifteen-year-old Sarah meets a mysterious man with an ambiguous accent, a suspiciously bare apartment, and a lockbox full of weapons. He's part of the secret resistance against the Third Reich, and he needs Sarah to hide in plain sight at a school for the daughters of top Nazi brass, posing as one of them. If she can befriend the daughter of a key scientist and get invited to her house, she might be able to steal the blueprints to a bomb that could destroy the cities of Western Europe. Nothing could prepare Sarah for her cutthroat schoolmates, and soon she finds herself in a battle for survival unlike any she'd ever imagined. But anyone who underestimates this innocent-seeming girl does so at their peril. She may look sweet, but she's the Nazis' worst nightmare.

Review:  

I requested Orphan Monster Spy from Penguin's First to Read program on a whim. It looked interesting, and I'm always in the market for a new historical fiction read. Unfortunately, Orphan Monster Spy wasn't the book for me. It's the classic case of a fantastic premise but an execution that falls short.  

Orphan Monster Spy introduces Sarah, a young adult in 1939 Germany who becomes a spy for the resistance. I'll admit that Sarah is an interesting main character. She's fearless, resourceful and cunning. The lengths by which she goes to survive are admirable, and I liked that she always had a trick up her sleeve no matter the situation. 

Honestly, she's the type of character I typically like and maybe even love, but that didn't occur here. Basically it's hard to connect with Sarah. It was difficult to get a feel for her personality and more importantly her feelings. Her narrative was incredibly cut and dry, lacking heart as well as emotion, and while in some ways I understood the reasoning behind it, I feel the narrative would've benefited for more feelings, more passion. There were so many times at which I expected a larger response from Sarah - so many times I expected here to scream and yell and just feel - but that never truly happened. Most of the time I found the secondary characters to be more interesting and  likable. Mouse, Sarah's boarding school friend, was a favorite of mine, and I felt that she managed to save this novel in some respects. Like Sarah, she's dealing with her own heartbreak, her own disaster, but I felt that her feelings were better displayed.

Given the title as well as the synopsis I was expecting a chilling spy thriller; however, that wasn't exactly what I received. There were some interesting parts, some wonderful twists and turns, but it took a long time to get to them, and sometimes that made it hard to get through certain parts of this book. I craved more action and excitement, and I wish Matt had cut to the chase sooner than later. The last part of the book was by far the most exciting, but by the time I got there I was just ready to be done, which somewhat dulled my enjoyment. 

Overall, Orphan Monster Spy didn't live up to my expectations. As I said before, it does contain an excellent premise, but a premise can only carry a book so far. Will I read other books by Matt? Maybe. I did see potential here, and I'll be curious to see if he writes a sequel to this. In some ways I feel Orphan Monster Spy was the beginning to a larger story.  

2 stars 

Review & Giveaway: Hello Stranger (The Ravenels, #4) by Lisa Kleypas

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Series: The Ravenels, Book #4
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction
Source: ARC provided by publicist in exchange for an honest review
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New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas delivers a scintillating tale of an unconventional beauty who finds passion with the spy who can’t resist her

A woman who defies her time

Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again.

A man who breaks every rule

As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett’s skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he’s ever known.

Review:

I've seen Lisa Kleypas' books in passing for years now, and while I've always heard good things, I've never taken the time to actually read one. However, when I read the synopsis for Hello Stranger, the latest addition to The Ravenels series, I decided to finally cut to the chase and read one. I mean, a female doctor AND a spy AND romance?! Hello Stranger sounded like the perfect read.

The result? I found Hello Stranger to be an enjoyable read. I'll admit that it wasn't my favorite read; however, it still was a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.

What I Liked: 

• The Strong, Smart, and Sassy Heroine - There's so much to love about Dr. Garrett Gibson. For one, she's the only female physician in England, and if that's not incredible enough, she's also excellent at what she does. She's the type of doctor you'd want on your side, especially if you were facing a tough diagnosis. What I loved the most about Garrett, however, was her gutsiness. She's in a world that's afraid of women taking control let alone being a doctor, but she doesn't let it get her down. She's quick witted. She fights her own battles. She does anything for the ones she loves even if she knows she shouldn't be involved with them. There was just so much girl power to be found within her character, and I couldn't have been happier! 
• The Broody Alpha Hero - Ethan quickly wormed his way into my heart as soon as he was introduced. I love a hero that comes to a women's rescue, especially when there as dashing and charming as Ethan. Over the course of the book, Ethan struggles with his inner demons. He feels as if he's not worthy of anyone, especially Garrett. It broke my heart to see him feel this way because Ethan did have so much to offer. I just wanted him to be happy. 
• The Romantic Pairing - Banter? Check! Chemistry? Check! A will-they-or-won't-they feeling? Check! Ethan and Garrett were perfect together. Sure, they had the tendency to fight like cats and dogs given how headstrong they were, but at the end of the day, they had such a respect and love for each other, and nothing could beat that. 
• West - Is it bad to admit that my favorite character wasn't Garrett or Ethan but actually West? West was a firecracker. He was funny as well as wickedly sarcastic, and even though he didn't have many scenes, he always managed to steal the show when he did appear. If Garrett had been so prefect with Ethan, I definitely would've loved to have seen her with West. 

What I Didn't Like: 

• The Pacing - Hello Stranger had one of two extremes: rapid fire pacing or turtle like pacing. Throughout I wish the pacing had been more even. I loved the times at which the tension was strong and stakes were high; however, I wish some of it would've been transferred to the slower times. 
• The Mystery - Over the course of the book, Ethan deals with a mystery/conspiracy within his line of work. As someone who loves both, I was all over this from the get-go, but I wasn't exactly happy with how it panned out. At first, it was such a big portion of the book, the reason why Ethan was so reluctant to involve himself with Garret, but it never became as well fleshed out as it could've been, in my opinion. By the end everything was so quickly resolved it gave me whiplash like feeling. 
• The Lack of "Hook" - As mentioned before, I enjoyed Hello Stranger but I never loved it. It never possessed an unputdownable feeling. I was never racing through, dying to know what would happen next. Yes, I was curious to see how it end, and yes, I hoped that Ethan and Garrett would end up together, but there was something that didn't make it truly stick out to me. 

Overall, Hello Stranger has its ups and downs. The characters are what saved the day, in my opinion. Will I be reading more by Lisa? Definitely! I'm happy enough to continue, and it doesn't hurt that I can't wait to see what trouble West gets himself into within the next book. 

3 stars!! 

About the Author: 

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA award winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women’s fiction. Her novels are published in fourteen different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Connect with Lisa Kleypas
Facebook: @LisaKleypas
Twitter: @LisaKleypas
Instagram: @lisakleypas

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Review: The Tombs by Deborah Schaumberg

The Tombs by Deborah Schaumberg

Release Date: February 20, 2018 

Publisher: HarperTeen   

Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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New York, 1882. A dark, forbidding city, and no place for a girl with unexplainable powers.

Deborah Schaumberg’s gripping debut takes readers on a breathless trip across a teeming turn-of-the-century New York and asks the question: Where can you hide in a city that wants you buried?

Sixteen-year-old Avery Kohl pines for the life she had before her mother was taken. She fears the mysterious men in crow masks who locked her mother in the Tombs asylum for being able to see what others couldn’t.

Avery denies the signs in herself, focusing instead on her shifts at the ironworks factory and keeping her inventor father out of trouble. Other than listening to secondhand tales of adventure from her best friend, Khan, an ex-slave, and caring for her falcon, Seraphine, Avery spends her days struggling to survive.

Like her mother’s, Avery’s powers refuse to be contained. When she causes a bizarre explosion at the factory, she has no choice but to run from her lies, straight into the darkest corners of the city.

Avery must embrace her abilities and learn to wield their power—or join her mother in the cavernous horrors of the Tombs. And the Tombs has secrets of its own: strange experiments are being performed on “patients”...and no one knows why.

Review:

Deborah Schaumberg's The Tombs first landed on my radar because of its stunning cover. Then I read the synopsis and a decision was made: I needed it and pronto! As it turns out, The Tombs is a magical and rich debut. It's hard not to become completely enthralled by Avery's journey as well as rooting for her every step of the way. 

There's many things Deborah does well here; however, one of the best is the descriptions. It was so incredibly easy to be transported to New York City, 1882. I could picture Avery's world perfectly - the factory, her apartment, the tombs, etc. The tombs actually offered one of my favorite settings: a greenhouse where Avery discovers more answers to her problems! The greenhouse was so cool. I wish it was real so I could go and visit it. 

Additionally, Deborah did a fantastic job of fleshing out the story lines. I'll admit this isn't the most fast paced book ever. Deborah takes her time building up the world as well as Avery's past and current struggles; however, I was never once bothered by the speed. I eagerly ate up the descriptions, and I loved getting to know Avery better. More importantly, when things did speed up, I felt prepared. I knew what was going on - and had some very big questions!-and I couldn't wait to see Avery kick butt! 

Avery, the main character here, was likable and easy to root for. When the book first begins, Avery has grown use to blending into the background. It's easier for both her father and her that way; however, while Avery may be quiet, she's no pushover by any means. She's strong and powerful, more so than she even thinks. The scenes were she helped her fellow factory workers pulled at my heartstrings. Avery would risk anything for their safety, and that made her even more lovable in my opinion. Additionally, over the course of the book Avery's experiences a coming-of-age. She wants to get to the bottom of her mother's illness, Avery wants to know if she's like her. This brings about many struggles: between Avery and her father, between Avery and her best friend/trusted companion, and even between Avery and herself. It was interesting to see her face this struggle - should she leave it all alone or challenge everything - and I was very happy with the end result. 

Now for the one thing that dropped The Tombs down a star: the romance. There's two potential love interests - Avery's best friend & the boy Avery shared a kiss with years ago. Normally, love triangles don't bother me, but I just didn't like it here. I thought Avery's best friend was the better choice; however, she constantly felt drawn to this boy she knew almost nothing about (cue insta-love). It just didn't work for me - I wanted more for Avery, I wanted more for her best friend.

Regardless, The Tombs is a wonderful debut, perfect for YA readers who love their historical fiction with a touch of fantasy and magic. I can't wait to see where Deborah goes next. I'm personally hoping for a sequel! 

4 stars!! 

Blog Tour: A Lady Alkmene Mystery Series by Vivian Conroy (Reviews!!)

Today, I'm excited to be part of the blog tour for Vivian Conroy's A Lady Alkmene Mystery series! Not only do I have a review for the first book in the series - A Proposal to Die For - but also the latest book - Fatal Masquerade. 

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A Proposal to Die For (A Lady Alkmene Mystery, #1) 

Summary/Cover Image from Goodreads:

The first book in the new Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series

A murderous beginning

With her father away in India, Lady Alkmene Callender finds being left to her own devices in London intolerably dull, until the glamorous Broadway star Evelyn Steinbeck arrives in town! Gossip abounds about the New York socialite, but when Ms Steinbeck’s wealthy uncle, Silas Norwhich, is found dead Lady Alkmene finds her interest is piqued. Because this death sounds a lot to her like murder…

Desperate to uncover the truth, Lady Alkmene begins to look into Ms Steinbeck’s past – only to be hampered by the arrival of journalist, Jake Dubois – who believes she is merely an amateur lady-detective meddling in matters she knows nothing about!

But Lady Alkmene refuses to be deterred from the case and together they dig deeper, only to discover that some secrets should never come to light…

The twenties have never been so dangerous

Review: 

When Vivian first reached out to me about the Lady Alkmene Mystery series, I was intrigued. Not only did I like the cozy mystery aspect but the 1920s feel as well. 

The Result? A Proposal to Die For is the prime cozy mystery read. Combining an intricate mystery, feisty, determined main characters, and an irresistible setting, A Proposal to Die For turned out to be the perfect way to spend a Fall afternoon.  

A Proposal to Die For introduces the dynamic albeit slightly mismatched sleuthing duo of Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois. Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois have such great chemistry. Honestly, they reminded me a bit of Temperance Brennan and Booth with their goodnatured bickering, and as a HUGE fan of the show Bones, that was a big win for me. I feel that the best words to describe Lady Alkmene would be mischievous and strong willed. She knows it's not "appropriate" for a lady of her caliber to go sleuthing but that doesn't stop her one bit. She's always finding ways to sneak around the watchful eyes of her father's staff. Jake, on the other hand, is tough, mysterious, and just a teensy bit cocky/arrogant. I especially loved that he showed Lady Alkmene a different side to her city and her life - one that she hadn't geared much witness to over the years. 

The mystery in this was a lot of fun! There were a surplus of potential bad guys and enough twists and turns to make any cozy mystery reader happy. I especially liked how Vivian Conroy introduced several settings though it. From the bustling city to the cozy country side inn, there wasn't a time where I didn't feel as if I was right there with Lady Alkmene and Jake, solving crime. 

The only aspect that didn't always mesh with me was the writing. Sometimes the dialogue and internal monologue of Lady Alkmene appeared stilted - even a bit awkward. However, in the long run of things, not the biggest of issues. 

In all, if you love cozy mystery (and I mean who doesn't?), you're sure to enjoy this one! 

Grade: B 

A Proposal to Die For is now out1 

Source: eBook provided by publisher 

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 Fatal Masquerade (A Lady Alkmene Mystery, #4) 

Summary/Cover Image from Goodreads: 

Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois are back in a gripping new adventure facing dangerous opponents at a masked ball in the countryside. Masked danger…

Lady Alkmene Callender has always loved grand parties, but when she receives an invitation to a masked ball thrown by Franklin Hargrove – oil magnate, aviation enthusiast and father of her best friend, Denise – she’s never seen such luxury. The estate is lit up with Chinese lanterns in the gardens, boats operated by footmen float across the pond and the guest list features the distinguished, rich and powerful!

But below the glamour, evil is lurking. When a dead body is discovered, it forces Lady Alkmene to throw off her mask and attempt to find the true killer before Denise’s family are accused. If only her partner, Jake Dubois, weren’t hiding something from her…

This case might just be more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.

Review: 

After reading A Proposal to Die For I was excited to read another book by Vivian and return to the world of Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois. Luckily, Fatal Masquerade proved to be an exciting addition to the Lady Alkmene Mystery Series. Combining together a new mystery as well as a mystery from the past, Fatal Masquerade had me dying for the big finale the whole way through. 

Just like the first one Fatal Masquerade almost immediately jumps into action. It's the classic case of a murderous dinner party...a certain number of people arrive at the start of the night and one less walks out by the end. Everyone is a suspect - EVEN Lady Alkmene who was unlucky (or lucky?) enough to find the dead body! In addition to the murder mystery, Jake has arrived to the party with own mysterious intentions - ones that he absolutely refuses to tell Lady Alkmene about. That caused for some interesting tension and drama, as not only was Lady Alkmene bitter about not being in the know but it was always fun to guess what exactly Jake was hiding.  

Lady Alkmene was just as strong willed, nosy, and bent on crime solving as in the first one. I just utterly love her spunk - she's a woman who knows what she wants to do in life and won't let anyone stop her from having her fun. I also enjoyed the mysterious vibe Jake took on this. It added a new fun layer to his character. The side characters introduced added to the overall enjoyment of the book; however, I will say I just couldn't stand Lady Alkmene's friend Denise. I understood that she had a lot to be angry about, but gosh, was she abrasive and reckless at times....to the point where I even began to get slightly annoyed. 

In all, Fatal Masquerade is another fun, fast paced addition to the Lady Alkmene Mystery series. And with the cliffhanger like feel of the ending, I will most definitely be tuning into the fifth book! 

Grade: B 

Fatal Masquerade is now out! 

Source: eBook provided by publisher 

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Blog Tour: A Pearl for My Mistress by Annabel Fielding (Review!)

Summery/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

A story of class, scandal and forbidden passions in the shadow of war. Perfect for fans of Iona Grey, Gill Paul and Downtown Abbey.

England, 1934. Hester Blake, an ambitious girl from an industrial Northern town, finds a job as a lady's maid in a small aristocratic household.

Despite their impressive title and glorious past, the Fitzmartins are crumbling under the pressures of the new century. And in the cold isolation of these new surroundings, Hester ends up hopelessly besotted with her young mistress, Lady Lucy.

Accompanying Lucy on her London Season, Hester is plunged into a heady and decadent world. But hushed whispers of another war swirl beneath the capital… and soon, Hester finds herself the keeper of some of society’s most dangerous secrets…

Review: 

I love, love, love pretty covers, and Annabel Fielding's A Pearl for My Mistress has one of the prettiest covers I've seen in the last few months. It gives a historical fiction feel, and better yet, it has an eye-catching tagline: "Forbidden passion in the shadow of war..." Intriguing, right?!

Thus, when I was offered the chance to be part of the blog tour for this newly released book, I automatically gave Annabel a big yes. I couldn't wait to dive into the 1930s and the world of Hester Blake and Lady Lucy. 

The result? Lush, romantic, and beautifully written, A Pearl for My Mistress brings to life a part of history that is not often discussed. 

There's a lot to enjoy about A Pearl for My Mistress. One of the parts I found to be the most interesting was the level of history Annabel Fielding included. A great deal of this book involves Lady Lucy not only investigating and reporting on on the fascist movement in England lead by Oswald Mosley but also becoming involved in the affairs of the British Union of Fascists (BUF). I love history, but this area was surprisingly something I knew very little about. I thought Annabel did a great job of bringing this time to life, and more importantly, I liked how she showed two sides it: Lady Lucy who was in most sense all for the Fascist movement and Hester who was in most ways against it. It evened out the book well, and it also cased for some interesting drama between the two leading characters, especially as Lucy became more and more intertwined within the movement. 

In addition to history, Annabel Fielding also did a great job of establishing the setting in A Pearl for My Mistress. From the tumbling and sprawling Northern Estate of Lady Lucy's family to mystery and intrigue found in London's streets and houses, each setting was beautifully depicted it. It was easy to feel as if I was right there with Hester and Lady Lucy, and I loved that feeling. 

Now for the characters....I found Hester and Lady Lucy to be interesting. Hester was very used to having a simple life, and through having Lady Lucy as her mistress, Hester got just that: a place to live, books to read, and a handful of people to call friends. Additionally, Hester was incredibly steadfast to Lucy, to her sister Sophia, and to the people she became friends with as the novel progressed. I admired this loyalty and devoutness Hester possessed, but at the same time, sometimes I wish she would have more feistiness in her, to call out Lucy and her sister when they were being ridiculous. Lady Lucy, on the other hand, was someone who appeared physically weak, but mentally she was anything but that. Lucy was cunning, conniving, and incredibly strong-willed  I couldn't always predict her actions, and I liked that about her, because sometimes you just need the unpredictability. 

Bringing Lucy and Hester together in a romantic sense brought about an interesting dynamic. Often times I had a hard time distinguishing if it was in fact "true love" or nearly a power play on Lucy's part, and that caused for some interesting suspense as well as surprise as the novel progressed.  

However, I did have one problem with the characters: I just could not connect to them. Don't get me wrong I liked them and I enjoyed getting to know them better. But I never really felt a grand connection, never really came to love them or be able to call them a "favorite," but still to all their own...I'm sure many readers will be able to connect to them easily! 

In all, A Pearl for My Mistress is an elegant read, prefect for history fanatics who are looking to get lost in another time! I look forward to seeing what Annabel writes about next. 

Grade: B+ 

A Pearl for My Mistress is now out! 

Source: eARC provided by Publisher for blog tour - thanks HarperCollins! 

Add on Goodreads! 

Buy Links: 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Kobo 

About the Author: 

Annabel Fielding, having graduated from the University of Arts London with an MA in Public Relations, is a PR assistant by day and a novelist by night. Being a self-professed history geek, she dedicates her free time to obscure biographies, solo travel and tea. She also posts a mix of book reviews and travel photos on her blog at http://historygeekintown.com 

Author Links: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Blog Tour: Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George (Review & Giveaway!)

Speak Easy, Speak Love

by McKelle George

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins

Release Date: September 19, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Retellings, Historical

   

iBooks 

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

Six teenagers’ lives intertwine during one thrilling summer full of romantic misunderstandings and dangerous deals in this sparkling retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

After she gets kicked out of boarding school, seventeen-year-old Beatrice goes to her uncle’s estate on Long Island. But Hey Nonny Nonny is more than just a rundown old mansion. Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, runs a struggling speakeasy out of the basement—one that might not survive the summer.

Along with Prince, a poor young man determined to prove his worth; his brother, John, a dark and dangerous agent of the local mob; Benedick, a handsome trust-fund kid trying to become a writer; and Maggie, a beautiful and talented singer; Beatrice and Hero throw all their efforts into planning a massive party to save the speakeasy. Despite all their worries, the summer is beautiful, love is in the air, and Beatrice and Benedick are caught up in a romantic battle of wits that their friends might be quietly orchestrating in the background.

Hilariously clever and utterly charming, McKelle George’s debut novel is full of intrigue and 1920s charm. For fans of Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, and Anna Godbersen. 

"Does it make you feel very clever to use words like postulate in normal conversation?" asked Benedick. 

"Being clever makes me feel clever," said Beatrice. "But next time I educate you, I will be as monosyllabic as possible." pg. 90, ARC

I don't know where to even begin with this review because this book - McKelle George's Speak Easy, Speak Love -  is just amazing - so amazing that I can't even begin to form a coherent thought besides, "OMG EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!"

So lets begin with my favorite part of the book: Beatrice.

You know what I love, truly 100% LOVE, in books? Sassy, strong willed, and too smart for their own good characters. The kind of characters who not only speak their mind no matter the consequences, but also don't let other people stop them from being 100% uniquely themselves.

That, my friends, is exactly the sort of character Beatrice is, and honestly, I couldn't get enough of her. There's so much to utterly love about her - her love of science, her determination to be a doctor, her unwillingness to conform to social norms. She's the kind of person I aspire to be - fearless, spunky, brave.

In addition to Beatrice, we also get the pleasure of becoming acquainted with 5 other incredible characters  - Hero, Prince, John, Benedick, and Maggie - and while I didn't love any of them as nearly as much I loved Beatrice (sorry, she was an incredibly hard act to beat!) I did like them a whole heck of a lot. I especially loved how through them, McKelle addressed so many aspects of the 1920s - Jazz, mafia relations, organized crime, new feminism, and the new literary age. Each character brought a unique viewpoint of the time period to the table, and I loved not only seeing their thoughts on it, but how their respective stories developed because of it. I rooted for Maggie to get her big Jazz debut, for Prince and John to successfully avoid the prohibition agents and stay out of the mafia's way, for Hero to show that not only could she hold her makeshift family together but also run a speakeasy, and for Benedick to write the next great American novel.

This brings me to another one of my favorite parts of Speak Easy, Speak Love: the time period. The 1920s is an era I'm simply obsessed with, and because of that, I welcome any opportunity to read, watch, and learn more about it. I thought McKelle Geroge did an amazing job of capturing the feels of the 1920s not only through her character's lives but also her fantastic descriptions & world building.

The plot in this is also addicting. It's the perfect combination of character driven and action driven, having not only a slow, easy going nature but also a fast going one as well at times. I especially loved the drama surrounding Hey Nonny Nonny - I was never quite sure how everything was going to end up, which made some of the twists and turns associated with it's very existence so incredibly nail-bitting. Also, while I don't want to say too much about the variety of romances in this one, I will say this: I loved them so, so very much. They not only didn't have the classic insta-love feel but they also had the perfect endings.

Beautifully written, feisty, and spellbinding,  Speak Easy, Speak Love is a book you SIMPLY MUST have on your TBR lists this fall! I'm already planning on buying myself a copy so I can re-read it!  

"Miss Clark," he said, "have we just made the hard turn from enemies into friends?"

"I'd like that," she said. "If you don't mind being wrong and inferior most of the time because that's not something I can help." pg. 172, ARC

Grade: A+ 

Speak Easy, Speak Love is now out! 

Source: eARC provided by publisher for blog tour 

About the Author: 

McKelle George is a reader, writer of clumsy rebels, perpetual doodler, and associate librarian at the best library in the world. She mentors with Salt Lake Teen Writes and plays judge for the Poetry Out Loud teen competitions (but has no poetic talent herself). Her debut young adult novel Speak Easy, Speak Love comes out from Greenwillow/HarperCollins in 2017, and she currently lives in Salt Lake City with an enormous white german shepherd and way, way too many books.

 

September 13th

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club & Pink Polka Dot Books- Welcome Post

September 14th

Novel Ink- Review & Favorite Quotes

Vicarious Bookworm- Review & Favorite Quotes

September 15th

My Thoughts Literally- Guest Post

Becca's Lost in Lit- Review & Favorite Quotes

Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Character Quiz

September 16th - you're here!

Life of a Literary Nerd- Review

Here's to Happy Endings- Review

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf- Review

September 17th

Serial Bibliophile- Review

Never Too Many to Read- Review & Character Quiz

September 18th

Heart of a Book Blogger- Review

Literary Meanderings- Q&A

Books and Photographs- Review & Favorite Quotes

September 19th

Library of a Book Witch- Guest Post

The Clever Reader- Creative Post

YA & Wine- Q&A

• 1 ARC of SPEAK EASY, SPEAK LOVE by McKelle George

• Pre-order swag including:

• 1 SPEAK EASY, SPEAK LOVE bookmark

• 1 signed SPEAK EASY, SPEAK LOVE bookplate

• 1 signed SPEAK EASY, SPEAK LOVE postcard

• The full set of SPEAK EASY, SPEAK LOVE character cards

• Link for more details about the swag

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Review: Glow by Megan E. Bryant

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

When thrift-store aficionado Julie discovers a series of antique paintings with hidden glowing images that are only visible in the dark, she wants to learn more about the artist. In her search, she uncovers a century-old romance and the haunting true story of the Radium Girls, young women who used radioactive paint to make the world’s first glow-in-the-dark products—and ultimately became radioactive themselves. As Julie’s obsession with the paintings mounts, truths about the Radium Girls—and her own complicated relationships—are revealed. But will she uncover the truth about the luminous paintings before putting herself and everyone she loves at risk?

Review: 

When I was first asked to read and review Megan E. Bryant's Glow, I was instantly intrigued by the Radium Girls aspect. As a chemistry graduate student, I'm always interested in (1) anything that has do with science and (2) seeing how factory workers' conditions once were, especially regarding the case of radium. 

As it turns out, Glow was a stellar read! Beautifully blending together historical accuracy and two girls's coming-of-ages, Glow was a book I easily devoured in one extra-long sitting. 

One of my favorite aspects was the dual narrative. As I've said before, sometimes it works in books and sometimes it doesn't. Thankfully, in the case of Glow it truly managed to work quite well. Megan E. Bryant did a beautiful job of blending together Julie's narrative point of view with that of Lydia's letters to Walter. It was incredibly easy to not only connect with both characters but also get to truly know them over the course of the story. Additionally, Megan did a great job of switching between the two at just the right moments - building up suspense for both Lydia and Julie's respective stories. 

Lydia's letters particularly struck a cord in me, as they managed to grab ahold of my heart and squeeze it. When Glow first introduces Lydia, she's the typical lovesick wartime girlfriend, sad to see her man off to war, even thought she knows it's for the good of the country. Soon enough Lydia throws herself into a new gig, painting dial watches. Over time, she begins to feel some more importance - she's doing this great deed for the solders, helping them to tell time even when it's dark outside. I loved seeing her cultivate her skill and gain a family within the workers at the factory. Those relationships are what made her so life-like and real to me. I also loved her bond with her sisters and mother, especially when it came to protecting her little sister. While all these relationships ended up breaking my heart even more as the times got tough and the conditions got worst, I was so happy and even honored to get to read the story of Lydia and her fellow factory girls. It was one that shined an important light on the narrative of a radium girl, truly making the reader understand and feel the thoughts and feelings they experienced. 

I also throughly enjoyed Julie's POV. Julie's a character who is incredibly down on her luck. She's had to forfeit college to save her family, and by doing so, she's managed to alienate herself from everyone who loves her. From the start, I was impressed by Julie's determination to earn the money to put herself through college; however, I was hoping she'd be able to finally open up to someone about how lost she has been. Over the course of the book, Julie god from being a "watcher" to a "go-getter," someone who's not afraid to ask the college boy for help, or break into a factory to get answers, or even stand up to a friend who's been treating her bad. I loved seeing that development occur, especially when it involved Julie cultivating her scientific and detective abilities. There was one aspect, though, that did bug me about her character: the amount of time it took her to truly understand what was going on. However, I can only be so taken aback by it, as it did help to make the storyline more interesting - constantly waiting for the moment Julie realized what was going on. 

As hinted to above, the plot of Glow is also incredibly addictive. I loved how Megan brought to light a time so often ignored in history: the time of the Radium Girls and the horrible, deadly poisoning they were unknowingly subjected to at the time. I hate to admit this, but prior to reading Glow, I didn't know too much about the Radium Girls. Over the course of the story, however, I learned a lot and every time a new detail of ignorance from the higher-ups or a new odd sickness of one the girls came to light, my stomach turned. I was internally screaming "leave the factory, don't continue with the painting!"  

In all, Glow is an amazing and thought provoking story. Throughout the story, it's easy to feel the pain, the hope, and most importantly, the love these characters posses. If you love science and brave female characters, you simply must add this to your TBR! 

Grade: A 

Glow will be released September 1st! 

Source: eARC provided by publicist/publisher - thanks Brandi & Albert Whitman & Company! 

Add on Goodreads!

Buy Links: 

Amazon | BN | Kobo 

Author Links: 

Twitter | Website | Facebook