Title: Desired
Author: Nicola Cornick
Series: The Scandalous Women of the Ton #5
Publisher: HQN Books
Release Date: 11/15/2011
Length: 384 pages
Format: Electronic ARC
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Challenges: 2012 E-book Challenge
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Purchase: Paperback | Kindle | NOOK | ePub

Her wicked ways were the talk of the ton…

Teresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumored to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable needs. So it’s no surprise that every rake in the ton wants to bed her. If they only knew…through clever marriages to men who would ask nothing of her physical self, Tessa has remained rather innocent in the ways of the bedroom. But now she’s on the verge of losing everything and wants to take care of the stepson she’s grown to adore.

Enter Captain Owen Purchase. The handsome American adventurer has come into the title of Viscount Rothbury. And the rumors surrounding his injuries at sea suggest that he could fit Tessa’s requirements. But little does Tessa realize that the gossipmongers are wrong. She just might lose her heart, and her desires, to the most unlikely of men…

Beware of the scandalous woman…

Warning: This book contains sexual content. It is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

Historical romance, why have I ignored you so? What was I thinking? You bring me such joy! You make me smile while I’m reading clever dialogue. I have to fan myself when things get hot and heavy (don’t judge, you know you do it too). I get a little rush of excitement when things come together in the end after all that the hero and heroine have been through. It’s so nice to have you back!

Seriously, this book was so good. It’s one of the best historical romances I’ve come across. Let me explain why Nicola Cornick’s books are so amazing. She gets it. That’s it. She understands the language, the society, the politics. It just clicked with me in this novel that she does such a great job because she knows what she’s talking about. Also, she writes some pretty sexy love scenes.

I loved Tess and Owen from the get go. The way they run into each other is just beyond perfect. It’s the forshadowing of naughty things to come. When I got to where they start courting, I feel in love with them. They’re both so tender, but also have a lot of passion. Owen even has this edge of violence that comes off more sexy than scary. They had the right amount of depth and though their courtship didn’t last long (whose does in a romance novel?), it never seemed rushed. The timing felt perfect. I loved this one more than the last book in this series because of the characters. I kind of want to read it all over again, which is seriously rare for me with romance novels. There are only a million of them out there!

I feel like I’m gushing a little, so I’ll try to get back to the point I wanted to make. This particular book has a good bit of politics involved in the plot. I’ll go ahead and admit to knowing absolutely nothing about British politics, but this felt so authentic. It really added to the book. I also love her grasp on the language. It was perfect! Sometimes when I’m reading historical romance I get thrown off because the language is too modern, but I never feel that way when I’m reading Nicola’s books. I think it’s time for a romance read-a-thon. I’ve got to read the rest of her books.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical romance.

A new favorite!

Previous books in this series:
Whisper of Scandal
One Wicked Sin
Mistress by Midnight
Notorious

I’m not saying that anyone should praise a book they didn’t enjoy or anything. It’s one thing to read a book you think you’ll love and then it’s super disappointing. It’s another thing to pick up a book that you’re probably never going to like and then complain about how you don’t get why everyone else likes it. I know opinions are opinions, but seriously? I don’t really like horror, so I’m not going to read any. I’ll probably hate it. In fact, I probably won’t even finish it. Why would I bother to pick it up?

I read a review today that gave two stars to a book I love, a YA romance. The person reviewing went on and on about how they couldn’t understand why most of Goodreads had given it at least four stars. They complained that nothing substantial happened, like someone dying or something. Then, they mentioned that they don’t enjoy pure romances. Hello? Did you read the synopsis? It’s clearly a fun, light-hearted romance. If that doesn’t appeal to you, why pick it up? I’ll tell you why: ratings. Which is why I only trust ratings some of the time. Andrea Cremer’s werewolf books have gotten great reviews. So many of my friends on Goodreads have LOVED IT! I just couldn’t get into it, so I gave up. Plain and simple.

I’m not trying to tell people they shouldn’t write their opinions. I just find the notion of reading a book I clearly won’t like is absurd. There are too many books I would love to read something mediocre.

That was a tad rambling. Thoughts?

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe #2
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: 1/10/2012
Length: 390 pages
Format: Hardcover
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Sci-fi, YA
Challenges: N/A
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Hardcover | Kindle | NOOK | ePub

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It’s been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He’s finally free to enact his vision – no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that’s growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

I recommended Across the Universe to a friend of mine after I read it. She never could get into it and eventually gave up. I, however, was totally riveted. After she gave me the book back, I worried that I had just been crazy or excited because it wasn’t my normal type of book. Anyway, I’ve been slightly self-conscious about my loving of the book ever since (stupid, I know). So I was a little wary when I picked this one up. I mean, it’s been over a year since the last one and I’ve been having some issues with getting into second novels lately. what if I suddenly realized why she didn’t get into the book, and this one was disappointing? It seems stupid to be this anxious over reading a book, but 1. I take reading seriously, and 2. I’m exaggerating, a little.

So, now you’re like, “Laura, seriously, just tell me about the freaking book!” Okay. It was AWESOME. It was just as awesome as the first one. Now instead of feeling insecure about my taste in books, I think it’s time to accept that my friend is a quitter. She almost never makes it through the books I give her, and I read good stuff! Anyway, I devoured this book in a day. I think I read one chapter of it one night before bed, then woke up and read the whole book the next night. I couldn’t get enough and I’m so sad that I have to wait a whole year for the final one.

So, here are some great things about this book, and I’ll try not to gush too much. I had no trouble whatsoever getting back into the book. There were things that I couldn’t quite remember from the first one, but Beth Revis throws in those details in such a way that it isn’t noticable that she’s reminding me. Amy and Elder have my hearts in their hands. I love both of them so, so much. They both have a lot to deal with and they have some issues they need to work out between each other. I occassionaly had a hard time deciding who I agreed with because they both have good reasons. The plot is so awesome! That’s what really grabs me in these books. I have to know what’s going to happen next. I have to know who’s behind the crazy things going on aboard Godspeed. I have to know how things will turn out. There is no choice. I need to know! And I love that feeling.

Bottom line: read this trilogy. It gripping and so much fun! And there’s no need to worry if you’re not a sci-fi fan. I’m not really either, but I couldn’t get enough of this book.

A new favorite!

Previous books in this series:
Across the Universe

There’s not much of a rhyme or reason for these choices. They’re just books I adore or certain editions that I love.

1-3. My copies of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. They’re not really rare or anything. I just can’t bear the thought of leaving them behind.

4. My 1967 Illustrated Edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

5. My autographed copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

6. My autographed copy of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

7. My old tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Awesome steal from a used book store a couple of years ago.

8. My Complete Novels of Jane Austen paperback. I could read those books a million times. I love them!

9. The old Disney childrens stories that used to belong to my mother when she was a child.

10. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo because I’m finishing that damn book if it’s the last thing I do!

Did any of these make your list?

Title: Hana-Kimi, Volume 3
Author: Hisaya Nakajo
Series: Hana-Kimi
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: 6/30/2004
Length: 200 pages
Format: Paperback
Genres: Manga, Shoujo
Challenges: N/A
Source: Borrowed
Purchase: Paperback

Izumi, his friend Nakatsu and our crossdressing heroine Mizuki are hired to work at a beach chalet run by the family of weird school nurse Dr. Umeda! But when Kagurazaka – Izumi’s high-jump rival – shows up with his two younger sisters in tow, the job gets personal! Kagurazaka’s attractive sister Tamami has a crush on Izumi too, and she sees Izumi’s classmate Mizuki as a way to find out about the object of her affections. And then someone realizes that Mizuki’s actually a girl…

I can’t stop adoring this series. It’s a little weird, but it’s so funny and cute. Mizuki is so precious. I will say that I’m hoping the pretense between her and Izumi will end soon. It’s clear that they care about each other. Sadly, seeing that there are like twenty-three volumes, I doubt they’ll confess their feelings anytime soon. Nakatsu is such great comic relief. It’s so silly, but I like it. I’ve gotten to the point that I recognize manga humor and find it funny myself. His constant anxiety is hilarious to me.

Things got a little dark in this one. Mizuki gets herself into a scary situation. I have to say, I didn’t quite like the way the author dealt with that part. The guy (I forget his name) involved in the situation should have been punished a little more. I guess I’m glad he got fired though. Sorry if that’s vague, I just don’t want to throw out blatant spoilers. In the end, it was nice to see Izumi act as a knight-in-shining-armor. I just wish he would drop the act and tell Mizumi his feelings. I guess that’s pretty much the way it is in manga though. They always tend to drag the romance out.

All in all, this series still has me hooked, even it’s only to see how things play out between Mizuki and Izumi.

I really enjoyed it.

Previous volumes in this series:
Volume 1
Volume 2

Manga Monday is hosted by Alison Can Read.

Last week I read…

Madam President by Lane Smith

Healer by Carol Cassella

Hey, Sensei? by Yaya Sakuragi

Tomorrow is Today by Julie Cross

Hana-Kimi, Volume 3 by Hisaya Nakajo

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith

The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country by Lane Smith

Pinocchio: The Boy by Lane Smith

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

and I listened to Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

I reviewed…

Black Butler, Volume 7 by Yana Toboso

Tempest by Julie Cross

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Madam President by Lane Smith

This week I’m reading…

Desired by Nicola Cornick

Her wicked ways were the talk of the ton…

Teresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumored to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable needs. So it’s no surprise that every rake in the ton wants to bed her. If they only knew…through clever marriages to men who would ask nothing of her physical self, Tessa has remained rather innocent in the ways of the bedroom. But now she’s on the verge of losing everything and wants to take care of the stepson she’s grown to adore.

Enter Captain Owen Purchase. The handsome American adventurer has come into the title of Viscount Rothbury. And the rumors surrounding his injuries at sea suggest that he could fit Tessa’s requirements. But little does Tessa realize that the gossipmongers are wrong. She just might lose her heart, and her desires, to the most unlikely of men…

Beware of the scandalous woman…

Pantheons by E.J. Dabel

On the streets, they call fifteen year old orphan Isaiah Marshall the “Indestructible Diamond”. Isaiah is the leader of the “Redrovers”, a group of teenage misfits consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty, and Pipsqueak, but when they trespass into “Kaliber Academy” to get even with the arrogant Jason Ollopa, they are in way over their heads.

Principal Webb enrolls them into the High School and Isaiah soon learns about the existence of the gods of the Ancient World. Because the gods have refused to fight the last War for fear of the Mysterious Dark, the Powers-that-Be have stripped them of their spiritual bodies and given them mortal, teenage forms.

Isaiah discovers he’s not only a god, but that he’s the child of the Greek goddess Metis, the son destined to overthrow his cruel and sadistic father Zeus, the Darkener of the Sky, and become the greatest god in all the Pantheons.

Isaiah is thrown into a world where the democratic Olympians, war-mongering Norse, Gothic Celts, firstborn Egyptians, the enlightened Hindu, the animal-like Aztecs, the martial artist Asians, the intelligent Babylonians, the great spirits of the Native American Indians, and the fierce Finnish will war against one another for the greatest of all prizes: the Dominion.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland – known as The Death Shop – are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild – a savage – and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile – everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Black Butler, Volume 8 by Yana Toboso

When one curtain falls upon the big top stage, another rises behind the scenes, as young Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his virtuoso butler, Sebastian, face off against the villain behind the missing children. But as Sebastian, under orders from his master, single-handedly draws the gruesome tale to its sad conclusion on one front, battle lines are drawn on another! With the masterless Phantomhive Manor under attack from the Noah’s Ark Circus and Sebastian nowhere nearby to protect its inhabitants, is Ciel’s home once again headed for the same tragedy that took the lives of the young earl’s parents?

A Good American by Alex George

It is 1904. When Frederick and Jette must flee her disapproving mother, where better to go than America, the land of the new? Originally set to board a boat to New York, at the last minute, they take one destined for New Orleans instead (“”What’s the difference? They’re both new”"), and later find themselves, more by chance than by design, in the small town of Beatrice, Missouri. Not speaking a word of English, they embark on their new life together.

Beatrice is populated with unforgettable characters: a jazz trumpeter from the Big Easy who cooks a mean gumbo, a teenage boy trapped in the body of a giant, a pretty schoolteacher who helps the young men in town learn about a lot more than just music, a minister who believes he has witnessed the Second Coming of Christ, and a malevolent, bicycle-riding dwarf.

“A Good American” is narrated by Frederick and Jette’s grandson, James, who, in telling his ancestors’ story, comes to realize he doesn’t know his own story at all. From bare-knuckle prizefighting and Prohibition to sweet barbershop harmonies, the Kennedy assassination, and beyond, James’s family is caught up in the sweep of history. Each new generation discovers afresh what it means to be an American. And, in the process, Frederick and Jette’s progeny sometimes discover more about themselves than they had bargained for.

Poignant, funny, and heartbreaking, “A Good American” is a novel about being an outsider-in your country, in your hometown, and sometimes even in your own family. It is a universal story about our search for home.

That looks like a lot to me. What are you reading?

Up next for the book club:

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11. This seemingly impossible task will bring Oskar into contact with survivors of all sorts on an exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and ultimately healing journey.

A little girl imagines what her day would be like if she were Madam President. There would be executive orders to give, babies to kiss, tuna casseroles to veto (or VETO!)…and so much more! Not to mention that recess would definitely require more security.

With deadpan wit and hilarious illustrations, best-selling picture book creator Lane Smith introduces readers to an unforgettable new character.

Okay, this is cutest book. I loved it so much that when I finished it, I started all over again. I took my time the second way through, making sure to take in everything in the art. It’s so cute and conjured up a few giggles from me along the way.

I think this is defniitely a good one for your kiddies, especially if you want to teach them about the president and in job in a fun way. Or maybe you want to teach your daughter that women can take office and be just as powerful and influential as men.

Either way, this book is fun and adorable and full of small presidential references. I especially loved Katy’s vetos. She was so cute!

The art was beautiful, and I’m so exicted about getting to the next book in my pile of Lane Smith’s work.

A new favorite!

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev’s band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she’s abandoning their plans – and Colby – to start college in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev’s already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what’s next?

I’ve had the worst time putting my thoughts in order for this review. I guess I’ll start simple: this book is great and you should read it. About half way through this book, I knew I was reading something special.

Colby is a good character, even if he doesn’t always give me the 18-year-old boy vibe. I’m impressed when authors even try to write from another sex’s perspective. I wouldn’t know where to start. I admittedly do not understand boy brains. They baffle me. I really love Colby though. I connected with him almost immediately. He never let me down, either. He was true to himself through the end, and I was so happy about that. The other characters are just as complex. Bev is a bit of mystery most of the time, but Meg and Alexa are just awesome.

I love Nina LaCour’s writing. It’s raw and real, which is something I always appreciate. It’s what really drew me in and turned this book from good to phenomenal. Everyone has their flaws and they all have things to learn. I also love that there’s no censorship for the sake of being “appropriate.” I know that a lot of people out there believe in monitoring things like language and teen sex when they’re looking for books to give their children, but I think that’s bullshit. None of the books written with that in mind would have spoken to me the way this one would have in my teens. This is much more in tune with the kinds of things teens actually deal with on a daily basis.

I also love the fact that it’s written in present tense. It makes everything feel active, like the story is always moving forward. I could keep babbling, but I’ll just wrap it up. I love this book and I highly recommend it.

Now for a couple of funny quotes:

“He got busted for stealing a tool kit and no one really wanted to hire him after that.”
“Why’d he steal a tool kit?”
PBR guy takes another swig of his beer.
“Why the fuck not steal a tool kit? That shit is useful.”

For some reason, that line slayed me.

“They make quite the band,” he says.
“That’s a nice way to put it.”
“At first I thought they might just need a few minutes to warm up.”
“No,” I say. “This is what they sound like.”
Mark turns to look at them. Meg is jumping around the stage, forgetting to even play her instrument.
“Last summer the house next to me was under construction,” Mark says. “It kinda sounded like this.”

A new favorite!