Stacking
The Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews, in which we share the
books that we have bought, received, or borrowed from the previous week!
Publisher:
Delacorte Books for Young Readers Publication
Date: July 10, 2012 Series:
Flappers #3
Parties,
bad boys, speakeasies—life in Manhattan has become a woozy blur for Clara
Knowles. If Marcus Eastman truly loved her, how could he have fallen for
another girl so quickly? Their romance mustn't have been as magical as Clara
thought. And if she has to be unhappy, she's going to drag everyone else down
to the depths of despair right along with her.
Being a Barnard girl is the stuff of Lorraine Dyer's dreams. Finding out that
Marcus is marrying a gold digger who may or may not be named Anastasia? A nightmare.
The old Lorraine would have sat by and let the chips fall where they may, but
she's grown up a lot these past few months. She can't bear to see Marcus lose a
chance for true love. But will anyone listen to her?
Now that the charges against her have been dropped, Gloria Carmody is spending
the last dizzying days of summer on Long Island, yachting on the sound and
palling around with socialites at Forrest Hamilton's swanky villa. Beneath her
smile, though, Gloria's keeping a secret. One that could have deadly
consequences . . .
The
Roaring 20’s, oh how I wish I could have been born in that time! I think I
would have made a magnificent flapper. This was the first time throughout
history that women really started to express themselves within society and if
this cover is any indication of how flashy and sheik they really looked, then
sign me up! When I think Flappers I think long cigarette holders and multiple
strands of pearls, as well as a bobbed hairstyle. These women really introduced
style and charisma into their social lives. I am always so intrigued by
anything to do with this era and I could listen to the music for hours on end.
The cover is so enticing and elegant. I wish I had a time machine and could transport
myself straight into this book!
This
is the third book in the Flappers series by Jillian Larkin, and let me start
off by saying that this is a series well worth submerging yourself in. As
stated above, the books are set in the middle of the 1920’s and follow the
lives of three extraordinary Flappers who always seem to find trouble and chaos
wherever they go. If you follow my blog at all you know that I love stories
that follow more than one lead character. Gloria, Lorraine, and Clara’s stories
eventually intertwine and only makes for a more interesting story!
Jillian’s
writing is the ultimate and her love and interest in the 1920’s really comes
through within the pages. The audacity of these three women is equivalent to
the styles and attitudes carried by women in the Roaring 20’s. Each woman is
outspoken and genuine is her own way. Each chapter is titled with the name of
the woman being described and this makes the book so much easier to keep up
with! Their stories eventually fuse together and a mystery unfolds that sends
the girls on a wild goose chase.
My
favorite character was Gloria Carmody, who had just recently gotten out of jail
for killing a man who was trying to in turn kill her fiancé. This girl has
guts! I loved her and all the gumption that she brought to the pages. Her fiancé
was actually an African American man who made his money playing in jazz clubs
and trying not to get mauled by angry white mobs. She toured with him as a
phenomenal jazz singer. She took a lot of negativity from other people about
the man that she chose to associate with, especially during a time such as the
20’s, but she never slowed down and neither did her love for Jerome.
This
was actually the first book that I have read in awhile that focused on this era
and the realism of it made me want to read more and more. From the jazz music
and flutes of champagne to the strands of pearls and the sequined flapper
dresses; I was absorbing every word. Larkin provides a well detailed analysis
of what life was really like in this decadent time period. The plot along with
all the wonderful descriptions only added to the romantic aspects of the book
and all the relationships that began to unfold and old loves that were made
new. This is definitely an intriguing read that I would suggest for anyone and
I hope that Jillian decides to provide us, her readers, with a more inside views
on her favorite era!
***A
copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in return for an honest
review***
It
was the summer of 1913, and Cora Kensington's life on the family farm has taken
a dark turn. Not only are the crops failing, so is her father's health. Cora is
carrying on, helping her mother run their Montana farm until a stranger comes
to call, and everything changes. Cora then learns a secret that will radically
change her future: she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king who has
come to claim her.
Cora
is invited to take the "Grand Tour" of Europe, a journey intended to
finish a person's education, to solidify an understanding of ancient culture
and contemporary refinement. As she travels from England to France with
half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the
Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins
to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning.
Faced
with the challenge of accepting her father, new family, and the identity that
comes with it, Cora also struggles to accept that she is also the daughter of
the one true King-a Father who is the only One who can truly heal.
As
soon as I saw the Eiffel Tower pictured in the background I was so willing to
read this book! I am all about some Paris. The cover is just beautiful and when
you see the dress that Cora is wearing on the front cover it will just mesmerize
you. The tan and pink colors add a vintage feel and it appears as if the sun is
about to set. I honestly do not think I have view a more beautiful cover all
year.
Cora
Kensington is a small town girl from Montana whose life changes in one swift
moment and she is whisked away on a Grand Tour of Europe. This is truly a rags
to riches story and Cora has a hard time believing it herself. At times she
dreams of having nice things and pretty gowns, but she never actually thinks
that all of that could ever possibly be hers. She is introduced to family that
she has never known and journeys into a world that is far different from her
own. She leaves her mother and father behind and becomes a beautiful and
admirable young woman.
The
whole premise of being whisked away to Europe in order to finish one’s
education is quite intriguing. I found myself being rather envious of Cora at
times. The talk of ballrooms, elegant gowns, and royal princes has Cora’s mind
spinning and at the same time she cannot wait to grab her own little taste of
adventure. This book only added to my appreciation to the European continent;
so refined and picturesque. I was delighted to take this trip with Cora because
at first she did not think that she deserved something as wonderful as a Grand
Tour education and as her character developed she came to find that she was
just as worth as anyone else.
I
absolutely loved Cora as a character because once she reached past her hesitations
she was quite adventurous. She thrived on it actually. Here is one of my
favorite quotes by her, “In the last year, I’d decided I loved learning. It fed
me. Expanded me. Shaped me” (14). Cora wanted to become a teacher and she had a
deep passion that continued to instill a strong drive within her. She knew that
there was more outside of her little sleepy hometown just waiting for her to
seek it out. I could really connect with Cora and appreciate everything that
she stood for.
Cora
was up against many obstacles in this book, and one of those being her newly
discovered siblings. They were not all as welcoming as she would have hoped
they would be. Some, such as Vivian, saw Cora as unrefined and often feared
that Cora would ruin their good name. Her siblings never had a worry in the
world while she was raised in poverty and prayed every day for enough food and
money for her parents to get by. She almost envied them at times and definitely
had a very hard time connecting with them. She tried her best to reason with
them and even to make them like her. Her oldest sibling Vivian spouted out, “She
is not family to me. She is a stray dog my father brought home” (187). Cora had
many barriers to break through and at times it was so heart wrenching to see
the way she was treated.
My
favorite part of this book was Cora’s relationship with their tour guide, Will
McCabe. His job was to make sure that the Kensington children make the most of
their trip to Europe and that they retain the historical importance of such a
journey. His feelings, however, began to lie with Cora. Will was never pushy
with Cora, but he made it clear from the start that he would do whatever he had
to in order to protect her. He was charming and very sensitive. I admired Will
so much because he never gave up on his feelings for Cora even when he was told
that it would not be appropriate in the least to romanticize with her.
Did
I mention that this is a series? Well, it is and I am so excited for the next
book! Lisa Bergren wrote an amazing novel that can make anyone appreciate the
grand beauty and elegance of Europe. I cannot compliment this book enough and I
did not want to put it down. I am so very proud to add it to my forever growing
collection. If you love historical romance and have any desire to see or have
seen the marvelous European continent, then you should pick up a copy of this
book as soon as possible!
**A copy of this book was provided to me by the Publisher for an honest review**
Lisa Tawn Bergren is the
best-selling, award-winning author of over 30 books, with more than 1.5 million
copies sold. She just finished writing a Colorado historical trilogy (the first
book, Breathe, Sing and Claim), and has begun a teen series called River of
Time.
Lisa's time is split between
managing home base, writing (including a fair amount of travel writing),
consulting and freelance editing (with a little speaking here and there). She's
married to Tim, a liturgical sculptor, graphic designer and musician. They have
three kids-Olivia (15), Emma (12) and Jack (7).
All five of the
Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
For more information on Lisa and to view other books written, please visit her
website: http://lisatawnbergren.com
I
am so happy to announce my two wonderful winners today! This giveaway was
definitely a success and has made me want to participate in many more. I have
already signed up for two more so be sure to keep an eye out for those! Thank
you to everyone who entered and followed (:
My
two lucky winners are:
Rebecca
C.
Stephanie
L.
I
have already contacted both of my winners and they have made their selections!
Rebecca chose Darkness Before Dawn and Stephanie chose Enchanted. Thank you so
much, again, to everyone who participated. Don’t be strangers!
Amelia—still
caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship
with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia
accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of
Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped
in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and
becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future
together. Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between
ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets
Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a
sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between
two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the
netherworld choose for her.
I
have read so many reviews on this book and have seen so much buzz about it on
Twitter that I decided that I had to have a copy of it for myself. I read the
first book in the series awhile ago and honestly I did not even realize that
this one was being released. A ghost story is definitely a change of scenery
from the norm of vampires, werewolves, and zombies; although each of those is
wonderful. A ghostly love story just carries a creepy yet cozy premise to it. The
cover of the book is gorgeous! I love the white dress and how it stands out
against a dreary, gloomy background. There is, what seems to be, a sort of fog that
is drifting behind and all around the character on the front cover whom I am
assuming is Amelia herself. This gives the book the added eerie feel that it
needs to kick off a great ghost story.
The
whole idea of a ghost story is fascinating because it is something that I, at
least, do not read often. Amelia Ashley is a ghost, and she is a ghost that is
in love with a Seer and a mortal. A Seer is someone who works to exorcise
ghosts. Joshua is very much in love with
Amelia even if every time he touches her she is magically transported somewhere
out of his reach. Amelia is trying to cope with her feelings about this and she
is constantly considering how much better off Joshua would be without her.
Their love story was enough to keep me reading for more.
The
first chapter immediately catches the reader’s attention. I was instantly
transported to Amelia’s life and at times it is a sad and miserable one. She is
caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to her life with Joshua
and her destiny as a ghost and her future as one. I knew immediately that her
situation was too good to be true. She could not forever stay attached to Josh
and follow him everywhere that he went throughout his day. It is nice to think
about but I knew that it would never last as peacefully as it started out to
be.
My
favorite part of this book was when Amelia accompanied Josh’s family to New
Orleans for a mini vacation to celebrate something like a family reunion. It
was very interesting to meet Josh’s family and to find out how interested they
were in Amelia. Not to mention, I love New Orleans!! There is so much history
and culture that is gathered there and it is the perfect place to write a ghost
story. I did not know what to expect when meeting Josh’s family especially
knowing that many of them are in fact Seers. Each character had a unique spin
and I loved seeing them all react in their own individual way to Josh’s lover
being a ghost.
As
a ghost and a character, Amelia is fantastic. She is sweet and has a truly genuine
spirit. She really has a heart for everyone and tries her best to do what she
feels is necessary and best for everyone around her. Plus she takes the whole
being dead thing pretty well, not that she has a choice. I really do love her
affection for Josh and the true concern that she has for his future. Tara
Hudson’s Arise is one that no one
should miss. It changes the typical supernatural world for a bit and gives
readers a story that is unique when compared to any other.
Summer
has always looked forward to spending her summers at her Aunt's beach house
with the Donovan’s. To her, summers at Aunt Sookie's beach house was magical,
especially getting to spend time with the Donovan’s - her best friend Rachel
and Rachel's brothers Nathaniel, and Drew. Here at Aunt Sookie's beach house,
they can be anyone and anything they dreamed. For Summer, she had always wished
to become as pretty as Rachel and for her brothers to think of her as more than
Rachel's friend. For Nat and Drew, summers at Aunt Sookie's beach house meant
fun and escape, a place where they go to with their mom and sister for the
summer, away from city life. They never thought this summer would be different.
They never thought things would change as much as they did...and it all began
with them falling for and loving Summer.
I
am on this contemporary reading kick this summer so I think that this book fit
in really well. I could obviously tell that I was going to be reading a romance
after seeing the couple on the cover. I think the colors really popped out from
the background, which of course always makes me pick up a book. The slight hint
of the ocean in the background is always alluring when reading, especially when
I found out that the book is taking place in Malibu!! The only thing that I do
not like about the cover is that is looks so posed. I think they should have
tried to look more natural.
I
am torn between how to feel about this book. I would not say that I completely
hated it, but I did really love it either. I feel like I have read this book a
million times over. Summer is our main character and she is caught up in a love
situation with feelings for 3 different boys who all have feelings for her. I
just felt like three boys were a little much. If you are going to write a book
like this with 3 different romantic connections then it needs to be a lot
stronger than this attempt. It was just so generic; they kiss, they hug, they
share their deepest darkest secrets with one another, and then they fight about
something very immature.
Summer
was not the best leading character either. She was a bit naïve and at times I
felt like she was only thinking about herself. All she thinks or talks about is
debating which guy she should be with and for what reasons. She reminds me a
lot of Bella in the Twilight movies because she is constantly whining about the
situation she is in caught up between guys. I mean really who complains about
that? Summer is just your typical beach girl with perfect hair and skin and
really she gets no more depth than just that.
I
was pleased with the male characters in this book! All 3 of them were so
different from each other! They had different personalities, aspirations,
faults, and even reasons for liking Summer. These characters had depth! They
all approached their feelings for Summer differently and that made it even more
interesting to read as well. My favorite guy was definitely Drew. You could say
that I am a bit of a “Team Drew” fan! I like him the best just because he is so
real and is not afraid to put himself out there for Summer. He knows that he is
not perfect, but he is willing to try his hardest for Summer’s affection.
The
whole storyline caught my attention as well and I really enjoyed that part too.
These four kids are whisked out to Malibu to spend their summer with their “Aunt
Sookie,” who used to babysit them all as children. They have not seen each
other in three years, so that makes the story that much more interesting just
to see how each one has changed and how they remembered the others. The four of
them really do have a lot of fun together. Even if Summer gets on my nerves; altogether
they make a great cast to read about. I
will more than likely read the next installment in this series even though I am
not too crazy about Gow’s writing style. Her storylines are good and this was
overall a fast and easy read!
I
am so happy to be a part of my first blog tour today and I encourage you all to
head over to Supa Girl Blog Tours and see what she has coming up next!!
Again, this giveaway will be for an Ebook copy compatiable with a Nook or Kindle. I just feel like Ebooks do not get enough credit. So let's put them to use. I love my e-readers and use them often (: I will purchase copies of the books that both winners choose and then will send the files to them! Seeing as how this is for an Ebook copy I am so happy to make this giveaway International.
There will be 2 winners and each gets to choose ONE E-book!
The winners will have 48 hours to respond with their choice before I pick someone else.
Title are listed below.
Make sure you go and check out all the other great giveaways!
You may now enter my giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter below!
Good luck and I am so excited to be hosting my first giveaway hop!
No
one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes
overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a
twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.
Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer
confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous
young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an
act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and
guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no
longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand
by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be
hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?
I
have always said that I was born in the wrong era or time period. I believe that
the Wild West would have suited me just fine. I was made for corsets and huge
skirts as crazy as that sounds. I have so much respect for women of that time
and place and that is one thing that drew me to this book. I love western
stories. The man and woman on the front cover just look so cozy and sweet and I
love how the name of the book is tied into the picture on the cover! I think it
is so eye-catching when that happens!
Our
story starts in Palestine, Texas with a lovely character named Meredith Hayes.
Her story immediately drops us into her life and allows us to unravel one of
her most cherished secrets; her love for Travis Archer. We soon learn that
Meredith is being compromised for marriage to a man who only wants her for her
inherited land. Meredith also hears the dreaded man discussing a plan to burn
Archer land in order to try and “convince” the four Archer brothers to sell. She
immediately takes off for the Archer’s farm in order to warn Travis and his brothers
about the dangers to come.
Meredith’s
life takes a whole different turn here. She has stained her reputation by
putting herself in this situation and it does not look good to the inner
community that Meredith was found in the company of four grown men. In order to
protect her purity, Meredith must marry one of them. From here I do not want to
spoil anymore of the story for you all.
Meredith
is at first portrayed to be young and caught up in her feelings for Travis
Archer. Meredith proves everyone wrong, even I, who did have hesitations and
worries about her at first. In a time of distress and animosity Meredith proves
herself in coming to the Archers’ aid. She even thinks such thoughts to herself
as this one, “She was smart and strong and capable, and any man who thought
different needed his opinion adjusted” (58). I love it! She completely
surprised me with all the sass she brought to the table. This is a Christian
Historical fiction book and the references to the Bible and to God are very personable
and enduring. Some of Meredith’s trials and tribulations become very heart
wrenching, but her comfort in God is something that she depends on daily.
The
four Archer brothers could, by themselves, make a fabulous story. I love
stories that include different numbers on siblings because each one is
different and they each bring a different spice to the spice rack. The Archer’s
are described by Meredith here, “Watching the Archer brothers eat was like
watching a twister blow thorough the room. Meredith sat with her elbows tucked close
to her side, afraid to do more than occasionally raise her fork to her mouth
for fear of being rammed by a reaching arm or thumped by a tossed biscuit”
(56). The brothers are a little less refined when it comes to how to act in
front of a lady and it takes them time to adjust to a new woman being in their
midst. I love seeing each of them open up to here and accept her in a way that
is so acknowledgeable, especially on the part of four grown men!
This
book was so brilliantly written because there is not just one conflict but
another conflict will spin off of the first and so on. The characters faced
many obstacles and I believe that this is great way to see each of them grow.
The book was action packed and never let you sit still in the Archer home for
long. They were constantly avoiding some type of threatening danger and
together they faced anything. By the end of the book their bond as a family is
truly the strongest and they are more trusting and understanding of one another.
I wish that Karen would write a story for each of the four brothers! Maybe I should
suggest that (:
***A
copy of this book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers in exchange
for my honest opinion***