Book review: Cinder

 Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles book 1)

By Marissa Meyer

Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time. . . .

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Sixteen-year-old Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past and is reviled by her step-mother. But when her live becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. Because there is something unusual about Cinder, something that others would kill for.

This was an interesting read. It was like a mix between Cinderella, Star Wars and an anime show called Aldnoah.Zero. I think doing a take on the classic fairy tales but making it futuristic/sci-fi is a great idea. The story moved at a pretty good pace and kept me reading intently until the end. There were moments that I didn't love in it and some of it was just kind of meh but overall it was pretty interesting and now I need to read the rest of the series to see what happens next.  

Book Review: Girls in Pants

 Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood

By Ann Brashares

"The Pants came to us at the perfect moment. That is, when we were splitting up for the first time. It was two summers ago when they first worked their magic, and last summer when they shook up our lives once again. You see, we don't wear the Pants year-round. We let them rest during the year, so they are extra powerful when summer comes. 

We thought it was a big deal two years ago, our first summer apart. Now we're facing our last summer together. Tomorrow we graduate from high school. In September we go to college. And it's not like one of those TV shows where all of us magically turn up at the same college. We're going to four different schools in three different cities (but all within four hours of one another---that was our one rule).

As life changes go, it's really, really big. If you're my dad, you say, "Hey. You'll see each other at Thanksgiving." But if you're me, you realize that life as we've known it is over. Our shared childhood is ending. Maybe we'll never live at home again. Maybe we'll never all live in the same place again. We're headed off to start our real lives."

As a lover of cozy summer movies and books, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series is a favorite of mine, both the movies and books. I read the first book and then found this one---the third---at a church flea market where you could cram as many books as you were able into a bag and buy the whole lot for 25 cents. (or was it a dollar? Either way, it was a great deal) Without having read the second book I decided I could read this one anyway because I saw both of the movies already. This book had content from the second movie as well as a few things that were in neither movie. I didn't feel too lost having not read the book before this one, but I would still like to read it at some point. These books are actually wonderfully written and are the epitome of a cozy summer read. After finishing this one I scoured Book Outlet for similar cozy summer books because that was all I wanted to read after reading this! When you're feeling down or in need of a light read, I highly recommend this series! Do start with the first book and read them in order though, especially if you haven't seen the movies. They are the perfect mix of coziness, sadness, drama, friendship, romance and summertime goodness! 

Book review: Six of Crows

Six of Crows 

by Leigh Bardugo

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price---and no one knows that better than Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . . 

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction---if they don't kill each other first.

While it was a little slow at first, this book soon sucked me in and had me wanting to read more and more. It's the best book I've read in a while. Extremely well written in my opinion, not flowery with description but also not drab and dull, good, strong characters who all had very differing personalities and good development. It felt fairly well balanced, not staying too long on a certain scene while also not rushing through them. The plot was actually phenomenal as far as making things connect and why this or that was the way it was or why such and such happened. The author also did an excellent job on creating an entire world from scratch, down to the geography, languages, laws, the differences between different regions. It felt very real for being a fictional world. The setting sort of reminded me of a mix between Skyrim and The Hunger Games, some medieval fantasy mixed with futuristic dystopian. In fact I'm pretty sure the author is probably an Elder Scroll's fan because sweet rolls were mentioned. XD 

So basically, I loved this book and definitely recommend it! It did, however, have some very graphic violence, some "disturbing images", language, nudity, and slightly suggestive themes, so if you're the squeamish sort and can't handle blood and gore this isn't the book for you. I'm usually pretty fine with that stuff but there was a scene that made even me uneasy. Also, there was the hint of a gay relationship but it was kept toned down and didn't go too far at all, but just an FYI. 

Book review: Grace and the Preacher

Grace and the Preacher by Kim Vogel Sawyer

From the back cover:

Can the faith of one small prairie town and a kind woman's generous heart survive a great deception?

At the age of twenty-four, postmistress Grace Cristler has all but given up hope of finding a husband among the narrowing group of eligible men in her town of Fairland, Kansas. But when her uncle decides to retire from the pulpit, Grace is responsible for corresponding with the new preacher set to take his place. She can't deny the affection growing in her heart for Reverend Rufus Dille---a man she deeply admires, but has only met through his letters.

Theophil Garrison is on the run from his past. Ten years ago, his outlaw cousins convinced him to take part in a train robbery, but Theo fled the scene, leaving his cousins to face imprisonment. Now they've finished their sentences, but the plan for vengeance has just begun. Branded a coward and running for his life, a chance encounter could provide Theo with the escape he needs. 

But the young man's desperate con might come at an enormous price for the tenderhearted Grace---and the entire town. Will Grace's undeserved affection and God's mercy make something beautiful from the ashes of Theo's past?

Kim Vogel Sawyer is---or at least used to be---one of my favorite authors, but it took me two years to finish this book... that's mostly due to the fact that life got busy and I sort of fell out of the habit of reading for a while (but I'm so happy I'm finally getting back into it!) So I can't exactly say the reason it took me so long to read it was because it wasn't good, although I will admit it wasn't great. Maybe this just wasn't this author's best, or maybe I'm growing bored of this genre, but I found the book to be somewhat boring at parts, predictable, and every conflict was way too easily solved. It didn't really feel like it had a climax, and just when I thought it was going to reach it, (SPOILER ALERT) suddenly the villain just decides he doesn't want to be bad anymore. Like the whole book was building up to the point when Theo's cousin caught up to him, and then when he finally does he's like, oh never mind, I guess I forgive you! I wanted to see some ACTION! And I know this like spoils the story but I really doubt anyone reading this review will read the book, (and if you do want to, go ahead and stop reading here.) so I'm just gonna say, I was also disappointed by how easily Grace forgave Theo in the end as well. Sure, she locked herself away for a few weeks and didn't want to see him, but then when she does decide to forgive him it's so immediate and they're suddenly in love again! If a man was that deceptive to me, I really don't know if I'd just go and be okay with marrying him. Forgiving him is one thing, because we all should forgive, but forgiveness doesn't always mean I accept you and what you did with open arms. This book (as most of Kim's books do) had several viewpoints, Grace's, Theo's, Theo's cousin and an elderly woman named Bess, and I have to say I think I liked the parts in Theo's cousin's viewpoint the best. I do like that this author always adds side stories with other characters (something I usually do in my own writing), as opposed to having the story only follow the hero and heroine, because it keeps the story moving, adds variety, and the scenes are usually shorter, which I always prefer. Anyway, I really don't remember much from the beginning of the book because I read it so long ago, and I do remember enjoying it when I first started it, so either the book just didn't end as well as it started or my tastes changed since I started it. I do like to read a good old historical prairie read from time to time because they're always cozy, and this book did have a coziness to it, but it just wasn't my favorite I've read by this author. Anyway, sorry for the lengthy review!

I actually received a free review copy of this book, but the review program I got it from is no more, which is kind of good because with how long I took to read it, I probably would have been removed from the program! lol.

Book Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Hello to all! Finally, after a couple years of not writing a single review, I'm back at it with a review for Caraval by Stephanie Garber.
For the past two years, I would say, I've been in a bit of a reading slump. I had several books I would pick up and read a chapter or two of here and there, but the avid reader I once was felt all but gone. Was it that what I was reading wasn't interesting enough? Had I simply lost my love of reading? Whatever the reason, I was sad over the fact that picking up a book and trying to read did not hold the same glorious appeal it once did, where I could read for hours and hours being swept up in another time and place. Truly I think what happened was that life changed and got busy and many things happened that prevented me from having the time to read, or oftentimes the desire because there were other things I needed or wanted to be doing.
While life is still a bit hectic, I've recently been determined to make time again for reading and writing, and slowly but surely I've been easing back into both! I'm very excited to be a book person again! It just feels "right" ! That being said, let us commence with the review!

Caraval 

by Stephanie Garber

Story synopsis from the book:

A legendary competition.

A mesmerizing romance.

An unbreakable bond

between sisters.

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval---the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show---are over. 

But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . 

beware of getting swept too far away.

My review:

While this book was entertaining, and the idea is certainly intriguing, there were definitely some flaws. I can see how someone could love it and become swept away by the magical feel the entire book possesses, but for me the whole book felt lacking. I enjoyed the story and the "game" and the concept, but the book was mostly full of flowery descriptions of magical scenes described with fancy words. There was almost no character development, all the characters felt two dimensional and like they were all simply playing their part of being the type of character they were supposed to be without having any real depth to them. Scarlett was the typical brunette heroine who thinks she's to blame for everything and will do anything to save the ones she loves. Tella was the typical flirtatious blond sister who is prettier and "naughtier" than the heroin. And there was nothing to like about her. The whole book is about Scarlett trying to finding her, but I didn't care at all whether she did or not, and actually hoped she wouldn't. LOL. (not saying whether she did or not, but just saying my feelings throughout the book). They were supposed to have this deep sisterly bond but it really wasn't felt. Also, I felt that all of the conflicts throughout the book were way too quickly and easily resolved. I don't know about you, but I love bringing my characters to their lowest low and then bringing them lower still and basically destroying them and then slowly bringing them back out of the pit. You have to actually find yourself feeling for the characters and connecting with them emotionally to even care about whether they are triumphant or not. And sadly this book did not have that. 

So while this review might have sounded pretty harsh, I actually did like the book. I loved the idea, and the fact that it was an easy read was nice for getting me back into reading, but I'm sad it didn't have more depth. I'm also a little sad the idea was snatched up and already used, because I would love to write something with a similar story myself only add the depth and character development to it that this one was lacking. This book is the first in a series of 3 and I definitely do want to read the other two because there were things left unresolved, but I do wish there was more depth to the "Sugary, glowy, flowery, serpentine, emerald, swirly, dagger-like" adjectives that speckled the book. Okay, I'm done now! XD.

Book Review: Irish Meadows

Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason

Faced With an Uncertain Future, Sometimes All You Have Left Is the Courage to Dream.

Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry---as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whalen returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit. Lately I tend to grow bored with Christian historical fiction, as it can start to all be the same ol', same ol' and full of cliches, but this one actually wasn't so bad. I really enjoyed the fact that it followed two love stories as opposed to the usual one, which I think kept things interesting without either story dragging on too much. I don't think she focused too long on the boring details of things, so that was nice. It was pretty typical as far as historical romance goes, however I think the author is a good enough writer that she was able to keep things fresh and new. Brianna was pretty much your typical heroine, so I think I enjoyed Colleen's story a bit more. I tend to enjoy the characters who start in a "bad place" and gradually become better, as opposed to the characters who start out already "perfect". It just adds more depth and meaning to the story, in my opinion. So while it certainly wasn't a book that I absolutely loved and just couldn't put down, it was pretty good for its genre, so I give it a good 4 out of 5.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Book review: Eat Beautiful

Eat Beautiful:

Food and Recipes to Nourish Your Skin From the Inside Out

by Wendy Rowe

Beauty is as much about good health as the way you look. In Eat Beautiful, Wendy Rowe shows you how to achieve amazing skin, with 70 delicious recipes based on nutrient-boosting ingredients.

This is a really nice "cookbook". Not only does it contain lots of yummy recipes, but it is also full of nutritional and skincare tips, as well as lists of foods and ingredients and what they are good for. I love that it is seperated into seasons, with recipes containing ingredients that are easier to get your hands on for each corresponding season. I have only tried one recipe from it, a smoothie that we happened to already have most of the ingredients on hand, but I look forward to trying more! This seems to be a really nice book, and is also visually appealing with a nice hardcover in a pretty blush color with bronzy gold lettering! If you're into eating healhty, and/or are looking to improve your complexion through eating the right foods, I definitely recommend this book!

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.