Review | I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world that Jane inhabits. At 15, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls in love, who better than Jane to help her?

     I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend took me a long time to get through. It was kind of draggy and it was only once in a while that it hit actual parts of interest. Strangely I didn't mind this. It was a comfortable read that didn't make me have a heart attack of excitement, but it sat there and I liked it. Like donuts, I don't get excited over them, but I like them just the same. The best part of the book was the authenticity. The time period is very well written and intricate. The author's note at the end  how much time Harrison put into the book as she explains the origins of the plot. The passion flows through her voice and shines through the book.

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1) by Wendy Higgins

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

     Sweet Evil was a devilishly sweet read, absolutely no pun intended. Okay, maybe a little. The book starts off well, introducing Anna and Jay, her best friend. I can tell from the start that I would LOVE Anna. She reminds me of me. Uncomfortable in tight skirts and surprised when a boy actually approaches her. It is in the first few pages of the book that Anna gets her first glimpse of Kaiden (Ky-den, awesome name, isn’t it?) He is hot to her and his aura is strangely different than others. That’s not the only thing that strange, though, he wants to know who she is literally. At this point, this means nothing to Kaiden. As time progress, she is convinced that he knows something about her and she wants to know what. Anna is funny and quirky. She’s sensitive about a freckle, which everyone else calls a beauty mark. She is just a normal girl. Except that her mother was an angel and her father is a Duke. The Duke of Substance Abuse, that is. Anna struggles with avoiding these things and never, ever drinks. Oh! The story is just filled with special things that make each character special. That definitely added so much the book. The characters have so much depth. As Anna’s journey progress on, she gains so many friends that remind me of a Devil’s children Breakfast Club. They seem so normal and fun. Anna and Kaiden’s relationship is bumpy because she can’t understand why he doesn’t want to be with her, even in secret. Her relationship with her father is envious, especially to me, he seems great. What can I say? The book is one in a million. Now, to get the other one.

Mini Review | The Girl of Fire and Thorns (The Girl of Fire and Thorns, #1) by Rae Carson

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

I can't decide how to describe The Girl of Fire and Thorns. It was definitely different. I liked the fairytale portion of it and Elisa was an awesome character. She starts out as this insecure girl, not liking her size and doubting that she can actually be a great queen. She grows so much throughout the book as she learns about herself and her abilities. What I didn't like about the book was that it was a bit lengthy and had a lot of info that I considered to be irrelevant. All in all, The Girl of Fire and Thorns was a nice book with a wonderful main character and seems to have inspiring prospects for the future book. 

 

Review | The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is her French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before.

 This week my reading has been filled with headstrong, beautiful females and Ella is definitely no exception. She is way quieter but she got where she needed to be by the end of the book. Ella is very different from everyone else. She’s Italian, but doesn’t know the language, she spends time drawing doorknobs, and she’s totally obsessed with namesake of the school, Edward Willing. Her biggest insecurity is a scar from a hot water burn that has inspired the name Freddy as in Freddy Krueger. Ella is shy and quiet, but don’t take that for granted she has wonderful ideas and values. She is a little blind in the book, though, to her beauty. She learns that everything isn’t a fairytale, but if she lets it, things can be ways better.

Ella’s friends are great supporting characters that are as different as she is. Her gay guy friend, Freddie, who always has her back and Sadie, who needs a little help of her own. They are the backbone and hilarious support group of her journey.

Of course, what is a good book without a love interest? Enter Alex Bainbridge. He’s Russian, hot and totally out of Ella’s league (so she says). All Ella knows is that he meets the criteria and he seems nice, but he’ll never notice her. Until he does. Because Ella’s failing French, she needs Alex’s help and soon Alex is doing more than teaching French, but teaching her to love, herself and him.

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare reiterates that in order to love someone, you must first love thyself. This is an awesome life lesson and Ella is so inspiring. Shaking off insecurity and getting the guy, what more could you ask for?

Living Violet (The Cambion Chronicles, #1) by Jaime

He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .

Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.

But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.

     Living Violet was an unexpected read that blew me out of the water. It was nowhere on my to-read list, but when I saw it in the bookstore, I was in no way hesitant. I had to have it. It was the first book in a long time that I read in only one day. There are a lot of unique things that made me like Living Violet. First, the main female character, Samara, is biracial. Then, it was the first book I’ve read that had an incubus in it. It opened up some new doors for me and I was very eager to gobble up the new experience. Samara is bold and beautiful. She has a smart mouth, loyal friends, and a willing heart. She definitely needs it to deal with hot, delicious Caleb. He is the incubus and he attracts women like flies to honey. He is sweet and persistent, but Samara knows something is up. He has a “demon” living inside him that Samara calls Capone that feeds off women. Samara understands, but even she gets jealous of all the women hanging unto him. Their relationship is deep and funny, at times, I love watching them interact. Of course with perfection comes trouble, Caleb’s dad is heartbroken at the death of Caleb’s mother and his demon is going on a rage. It wants its joy back and it is only found in the similar face of Samara’s lonely mother. Imagine the problems this cause and they haven’t even been able to kiss properly yet! Really, guys, this book is awesome and you really need to get, right now. It’s new, it’s exciting, and it’s definitely hot!!!