Evangeline is working for a wealthy family in London as a tutor. While working for this family, she has an affair with the eldest son, who gives her a family heirloom. When someone reports this to the head of the house as having the family ring, they, of course, accuse her of stealing it. Off she goes to infamous Newgate Prison. The eldest son is vacationing in Italy, so the chances of him saving her are slim. To top it off, she is pregnant with his child. This is a major scandal, especially in the 1840s. On the other side of the world in Australia, there is an orphan, Mathinna, who is being kept by one of the dignitaries. She has lost her parents, her world to white colonists, and the only life she has ever known. She has become a "pet project" for Lady Franklin. Once Evangeline is transported via a slave ship to a prison colony on Australia, she meets fellow prisoner, Hazel. Hazel comes from Glasgow and was caught stealing a silver spoon. She is only sixteen years old and was only stealing, because her mother put her up to it. Now her life has been irrevocably changed. Evangeline and Hazel become friends aboard the dangerous ship, Medea, and find solace in each other amidst all the horrific things that happen out at sea. All three females' stories come together once they reach land and Christina Baker Kline ties their stories together expertly. The Exiles isn't a story I will forget easily; it's one of my favorite historical novels of the year.

Kline introduces us to show more three very different, but very strong female character in The Exiles. Evangeline is a character that I feel badly for. She got played by the eldest son. She is a bit naive and you can tell she has lived a sheltered life. She gets accused of stealing, has no alibi, freaks out about this, and she is also pregnant. I mean it can't get much worse. For the time period, this is social suicide. Evangeline can't even ask her father to vouch for her character, as he is dead. So, obviously things are looking pretty dreary for Evangeline. She spends some time in Newgate Prison, which is a version of hell, and then finds she is selected to be transported by ship to Australia where they have a penal colony. This isn't some quick voyage though. It's long, arduous, dangerous, and not to mention, there's tons of brazen sailors set on tormenting the female prisoners. Could you imagine being pregnant in this situation? It's truly a nightmare. The one good thing that comes out of all of this is her friendship with some of the other women, such as Hazel.

Hazel is an incredible character in The Exiles. Her lousy mother pretty much is the reason why she finds herself on this prison ship and right away you can tell she is much more than just a naive teenager. She knows much more about the world than even Evangeline. Her mother was a midwife, so Hazel has picked up many skills, which is helpful to the women aboard the ship. At first the ship's doctor is hesitant to utilize her, but once she proves herself, she makes herself invaluable. I adored her friendship with Evangeline and I loved that they got each other's back.

Kline gives us glimpses into Mathinna's life as an aboriginal young girl living amongst the white colonists. I appreciate Kline doing this as it gives readers a different perspective of what it must have been like to have her world taken away from her. Her story is heartbreaking. She is, essentially, Lady Franklin's little experiment. Can Lady Franklin make the heathen civilized enough to attend tea parties and other events? Lady Franklin shows her off to her friends as a pet in a way and it's humiliating for Mathinna, not to mention disgraceful. Mathinna has so much to offer, but no one gives her a voice. She feels so lonely amongst the colonists and longs for her former life. It was hard to see how Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna's story would collide, but trust that Kline makes it happen.

The Exiles is a powerful story. I learned a lot about nineteenth century Australia and the penal colony. I loved meeting these strong female characters and appreciated the novel's overall positive message of hope, the importance of female friendships, and the power that resides within us all. If you love historical fiction that is memorable, moving, and smart, look no further. The Exiles is one of my top ten favorite books of the year. show less

Christina owns an adorable toy shop by the wharf on idyllic Nantucket. While working at her shop, she notices a young girl who tries to shoplift form her store. Instead of getting the girl in trouble, she realizes that the girl is lonely and offers her a job to pay for the items she attempted to steal. This girl, Wink, does come back to work and she hits it off with Christina. Wink isn't just any young girl who lives on Nantucket though. She is the granddaughter of Mr. Oscar Bittlesman, the richest guy on the island and he just so happens to own Christina's store along with a few other nearby stores that her friends run. Wink's mother is angry that she is working at Christina's store and when she visits the store, along with her brother Andy, Christina finally realizes just which Nantucket family she is dealing with. But to complicate matters, there's chemistry between Andy and Christina and despite her reluctance to go on a date with him, he finally convinces her. This is a Christmas story, so Christina and Andy should ride off into the sunset, right? Nope. There are more issues. For starters, Andy's father is raising the rent on Christina's stores and the other stores along the wharf. This is devastating to all the shopkeepers, so they solicit Christina to talk to Mr. Bittlesman on their behalf to convince him not to raise the rent. I mean she is sort of seeing his son, so she should have some pull, right? What could go wrong? Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer is a light show more holiday tale that fans of Hallmark movies and quiet reads will enjoy the most.

Christina is a charming character in Let it Snow. Readers know that her parents have passed on, so it's really just her this Christmas along with her Nantucket friends. She does have holiday parties to attend and her toy shop keeps her busy, but she wasn't even really planning to put up a Christmas tree. That is until she meets Wink and Andy. She helps Wink out who is going through her parents' divorce and despite the fact that her mother doesn't really approve of her side job, they still become fast friends. Also, Christina's budding romance with Wink's uncle, Andy, is super cute. At first, I was rolling my eyes. It was all overly saccharine, but I just gave into it, because it's a holiday story and sometimes you just want something sweet.

But that's not to say it was a perfect romance in Let it Snow. Andy's father, Oscar, creates all sorts of problems for Christina and the other shopkeepers on the wharf. Convincing Oscar, who is similar to Mr. Scrooge, to not raise the rent is a challenging feat. So, imagine dating his son. Well, this complicates things tremendously, especially if things don't go well between Oscar and Christina.

The island of Nantucket is beautifully described in Let it Snow. I usually read only novels that take place on Nantucket during the summer, so this was a delightful change. The descriptions of the snow, the holiday parties, the Christmas decorations, and the cold beach walks by the lighthouse were all well done. Shockingly, it made this summer gal smile.

While overly fluffy holiday reads really aren't my thing, I have to say once I gave into the fact that things were going to be cute and this isn't going to be a novel that digs too deep, I enjoyed it. I was recovering from surgery, so I will admit Let it Snow was the perfect lighthearted tale to curl up with. If you enjoy holiday stories and you love a beachy setting, give Let it Snow a try this holiday season. It will be sure to make you smile! show less

Marilla Cuthbert lives a quiet life on Prince Edward Island. She lives with her father, her pregnant mother, and her brother in a modest house on their farm. Although their farmhouse is off the beaten path, Marilla's father is slowly improving it. Marilla's mother, despite her previous challenging pregnancies, finds herself pregnant again at an advanced age for the time period. With this in mind, her mother's sister, Izzy, comes to visit and help out. Marilla is thirteen years old and things are changing for her on her idyllic island. She is starting to notice boys, making her first real girl friend, and the politics of the island are changing as well. Aunt Izzy really interests Marilla and why wouldn't she? She left Avonlea for the busy city and is a successful dressmaker who is, believe it or not, unmarried. Aunt Izzy, noticing Marilla can be a bit of a homebody, brings her along to a sewing circle at a nearby house and while there Marilla meets Rachel, who ends up being her best friend. Through Rachel, Marilla also becomes better acquainted with John Blythe. John and Marilla hit it off and just when things start to look promising for Marilla disaster strikes. Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy is the story I had always hoped for the much loved character of Marilla. Fans of Anne of Green Gables will absolutely love to be back in the charming world of Avonlea.

In Anne of Green Gables, there are references to a past between John Blythe and Marilla. In Marilla of Green show more Gables, McCoy explores this possibility and I absolutely loved it. While a true Anne of Green Gables fan already knows Marilla's fate, I loved going on the journey with her and it helped me to understand why Marilla felt like she couldn't leave Green Gables or abandon her brother. Just because Marilla doesn't get the guy in the end doesn't make her any less fascinating of a person. I truly loved her world and didn't want to leave it.

McCoy does a wonderful job bringing Avonlea to life. I felt like this re-imagining really worked. Sometimes when authors continue a beloved story, readers can be upset or disappointed by where the author takes the plot, but that was not the case in Marilla of Green Gables . It was a reuniting that I never thought possible and I was happy to see my old friends.

McCoy also gives us a lot of detail regarding Canadian history and its politic affairs, especially in regards to slavery. I thought this was a nice touch by McCoy and definitely added to the story. I had little prior knowledge about Canada's stance on the issue of slavery prior to the American Civil War, so it was interesting to see how it all played out.

If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, you won't want to miss Marilla's story in Marilla of Green Gables . It's the perfect heartwarming novel to cuddle up with this holiday season. show less

Buchanon, Illinois is a quiet town, but it's filled with people who hate Germans, thanks to World War I. Plus, this small town is dealing with a dangerous strand of influenza. Ivy Rowan, a twenty-five year old piano teacher, just recovered from the flu and has come to find that her brother and her father confess to killing a German. Just because. Ivy is disgusted by their blatant racism and violent acts, so she finally gains the courage to leave her family's house. She heads into town to find a room and comes across May, a recent war widow, and May takes Ivy in. But you see, Ivy isn't a regular girl. Many of the women in her family can see ghosts, so keep this in mind. While in town, Ivy feels compelled by guilt to seek out the brother of the man her family killed, hoping to help him out in some way. Even though at first their relationship isn't a strong one, they can't deny their attraction to one another. As their relationship progresses, Daniel, the grieving brother, introduces Ivy to jazz as well as love, but he is hiding a secret. To top it off, the American Protection League (sort of like a racist town watch) is on to Ivy and doesn't take well to her hanging out with a German. Plus, Ivy sees more and more ghosts. What can it all mean? Cat Winters's first adult novel, The Uninvited, left me feeling rather unsatisfied. Although I enjoyed the setting, many parts of the story fell flat for me.
Ivy is an interesting character, but I couldn't get to know her in The show more Uninvited. I had a hard time relating to her and quite frankly, I was surprised she was twenty-five. This is where my struggle with the book begins. Initially, I thought this was a young adult novel, so I had a hard time wrapping my head around Ivy as an adult. Nonetheless, I did feel for her as her family is awful and I wanted her to leave them and finally start her life.
Her relationship with Daniel didn't work for me in The Uninvited. At first he kept pushing her away and then all of a sudden, they ended up together and I was thinking, "Wait. What?" There's definitely tension between them, but I just wasn't feeling the slow burn.
I did like how Ivy helps two women working for the Red Cross. Ivy drives the ambulance around and they help the victims of the flu. I appreciated her desire to do more and be more than she was before as she was practically a hermit and never left her parent's house.
There is a paranormal element in The Uninvited, but I can't say it really worked for me despite the potential. However, I will admit the plot twist is an interesting one and kept me reading!
I think I am going to stick to Cat Winters's young adult novels in the future, because The Uninvited ended up being a middle of the road sort of book for me. show less

Anthony Puckett had it all. A wife, a son, and a successful writing career despite the fact that his father, an even more successful writer, never really supported or encouraged him. Anthony was trying to write his second novel, but buckled under the pressure. What if it isn't as good as his first? Can he meet the rigorous deadlines? He ended making a very poor decision and one that ultimately ended his career. Then his wife separates from him and takes his son. Anthony needs some time to get his act together, so he borrows a friend's house on Block Island. Anthony's next door neighbor is a young mother, Lu, who is an attorney turned stay-at-home mother to two young sons. She is spending the summer on Block Island, thanks to her in-laws. Meanwhile her husband, a successful doctor, spends weekends there. Although this schedule is hard for Lu, she has learned to deal with it as her husband is never around. It gives her a lot of time to work on her successful blog Dinner by Dad where she pretends to be a stay-at-home dad and shares antidotes, recipes, etc. Much to her surprise, the blog has taken off and she is making a decent income, but it's hard to balance that with watching the kids all day. Plus, there's the huge problem of what will happen when her controlling husband finds out about her blog. Then there's Joy, a Block Island fill-time resident, who owns a whoopie-pie bakery and is also a fan of Lu's blog. Joy is a single mom raising a teenager and trying to do it all. show more She unexpectedly hits it off with Anthony, but there's so much baggage they are both bringing to the relationship. Can it actually work out? Joy doesn't even know about Anthony's past, his child, or his real last name. Slowly Anthony, Lu, and Joy's stories intertwine and make for a delightful beach read; fans of Elin Hildebrand will enjoy The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore.

When a writer has three main characters and breaks up the chapters with their narratives, it can either be a good thing or it can be really, really annoying. In the case of The Islanders, it worked for me, because I actually cared about Anthony, Joy, and Lu. It was interesting to read their different point of view regarding a shared event.

I really felt for Anthony in The Islanders and although he made very stupid decisions (plagiarizing!), you could tell he really wanted to start over and fix his mistakes. I just wish he would have been more upfront with Joy from the beginning, but that wouldn't make for a good story would it? I also was interested in his relationship with his father, a James Patterson-esque sort of prolific writer that puts out bestseller after bestseller. Their dynamic was not only strained, but also competitive, so when readers find out a few family secrets, it gets even more dramatic.

I really liked the character of single mom, Joy, and loved her dedication to her bakery. Her relationship with her teenage daughter was realistic and when her daughter gets a job nannying for Lu, all of the characters' stories become a little more interwoven. Her relationship with Anthony was definitely great despite the secrets. Nonetheless, I was rooting for Joy in The Islanders, especially when her bakery gets some big time competition from a food truck.

Lu was also a character that I enjoyed and could relate to as she is a mother of boys. I felt like Moore portrayed the highs and lows of being a stay-at-home mother very realistically. Lu's relationship with her husband was cringe worthy though. I did not enjoy him in the least bit and felt he was extremely controlling. I mean she has to hide her successful blog from him, because god forbid she has something for herself? He was a straight up misogynistic creep. I was definitely invested in Lu's story and was hoping things would end up ok for her in The Islanders.

This is my first novel by Meg Mitchell Moore and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. I loved how she intertwined all of the characters' stories while making it a light, but engaging beach read. The setting of Block Island was fantastic and memorable. My only issue was the ending in The Islanders. It was a bit over-the-top and dramatic, but overall, it didn't bother me tremendously.

If you love beach reads, give The Islanders a try this summer. It has something for everyone: romance, mystery, relationship drama, family secrets, a gorgeous setting, and more. show less

Merrow lives in a remote coastal area of Northern California along with her father and her brother. They live on a dilapidated farm and it barely yields enough crops for them to get by. Her older brother, Bear, doesn't look out for her in the very least as he is a disturbed individual and treats her very cruelly. One day her father brings home an orphan, Amir. Amir is the son of his deceased wife's best friend, so he can't just let him go into foster care again. This thrills Merrow completely as she has wanted a friend and a playmate practically her whole life. Merrow and Amir spend blissful days exploring Horseshoe Bluff, the farm, swimming in the ocean, and avoiding Bear at all costs. As they get older, Amir slowly changes from being her best friend to something more while they both weather the many storms of that come into their lives. Meg Donohue's You, Me and the Sea is a heartfelt story about family, friendship, the call of the ocean, and star-crossed love.

Merrow is truly a memorable character in You, Me and the Sea. Her childhood at idyllic Horseshoe Cliff should be magical, and it is at times, but there is a dark cloud that follows her wherever she goes and that ominous cloud is Bear. He is a cruel and horrible person that not only abuses Merrow physically at times, but also emotionally. Her father doesn't always catch his misdeeds, as he has many troubles of his own and is often away, so Merrow must really learn to fend for herself. Thankfully, Amir enters her show more life and she not only has a sidekick, but she also has someone to count on, which becomes even more important later in the story. Her friendship with Amir truly tugged on my heartstrings and I was rooting for them to overcome all the obstacles in their way, especially when it came to dealing with Bear. He was infuriating!

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but if you are familiar with Wuthering Heights, then you will enjoy this modern retelling. A lot happens to Amir and Merrow as they get older and I was completely invested in Merrow's story and hoping for the best for both her and Amir.

The idyllic setting of Horseshoe Cliff in You, Me and the Sea is so memorable and it made this delightful story perfect for summertime. Morrow's love of the ocean and her appreciation of it is felt throughout the entire story.

You, Me and the Sea isn't your usual beach read; it is smart and has so much heart! So much so that it made me cry and I haven't cried over a book in ages. You'll want to throw in in your beach bag this summer! show less

Martha Wallace lives with her family in Connecticut, but she is traveling to Ireland to find out who her birth mother is as she has recently found out she is adopted. While in Ireland, she finds herself instantly attracted to JP Deverill, who she starts to have strong feelings for. But their relationship is complicated for a variety of reasons. Then there's Bridie Doyle, who has come back to Ireland after spending many years in America. She returns extremely rich and with a Count for a husband; in fact, she has enough money to buy the Castle Deverill. The very same castle that she worked in! However, things aren't perfect for Bridie. Even though she has the castle, her husband, and a son, she feels something is missing and this becomes especially apparent when her husband starts to stray and the whole town knows it. Then there's Kitty Deverill who lives a quiet and happy life with Robert and her children. She has long said goodbye to her first love, Jack, and has succumb to her life here in Ireland even though her family no longer owns the castle. But in walks Jack O'Leary, back into her life, causing her to question everything and stir up emotions that have been dormant for quite awhile. However, he returns with his wife and kids in tow, so it appears he has moved on. The Secret of the Irish Castle by Santa Montefiore is a sweeping saga about family, fortunes lost and won, secrets, and love. It's a fantastic ending to a great historical trilogy.

Montefiore jumps right show more into the storyline without much of a recap, so I was finding myself going back to the summaries of book one and two for a refresher. There are so many characters and families that we have been following throughout the series that I found it difficult to keep straight the first 50 pages or so. However, it all started coming back to me and once I dusted the cobwebs from my mind, I was completely absorbed. Oftentimes I struggle when an author jumps different points of view, but Montefiore did it very well in The Secret of the Irish Castle and I found myself equally invested in everyone's tales, because at this point after two previous novels, I really cared about each character.

Speaking of characters, my favorite is still Kitty and my heart broke for her in The Secret of the Irish Castle. With Jack returning home, this really opened up old wounds and brought back some feelings that she hid away. Their relationship is so complicated; nonetheless, I found myself wanting them to reconnect in some way. In anyway. Also, I really despised Bridie in book three. I will admit that I felt badly for her as she is married to a philanderer, but she needed to stand up for herself. I wanted so much more for her! Lastly, the new character of Martha really stood out for me. Her story was really interesting as well as JP's. I would love a spin-off involving these two characters.

I love how Montefiore brings the setting to life and creates such a memorable atmosphere with the ghosts of long-gone ancestors having a storyline as well. As in the other books in this series, I really enjoyed the "ghostly" part of the novel and thought it really brought the history and the full story of the Deverills to life.

My only issue with The Secret of the Irish Castle is the fact that this book was a bit slower than the other two in the Deverill Chronicles. Montefiore took her time tying up loose ends in this final book, so I found myself taking quite awhile to get through it all. Nonetheless, I was pleased with the ending.

I absolutely love historical family sagas, especially when they are set in such gorgeous places like Ireland. Montefiore writes some of the best historical dramas that I've read in quite awhile and I can't wait to read what she writes next. I will miss the Deverill Chronicles and all the characters that have become important to me. I'd say that's the sign of a great series. show less

It's 1940 and Violet Harcourt has entered the Miss California contest. Her ultimate goal is to become an actress in Hollywood. But there's one problem. You have to be single to be Miss California and well, she isn't. She is married to Charles, a good looking and wealthy businessman who seems to be perfect, but underneath the facade is an abusive jerk. Once he finds out that Violet is competing, he is going to make her pay. Fast forward to 2007 and we meet Mari Cruz, a young single mother who works with the local museum in Santa Cruz. Officials want to tear down the town's historic gazebo, but it holds a special place in Mari's heart as it's part of her family's history. When studying her family's history as well as the town's, she comes across information about her grandfather and his connection to a beauty queen, Violet Harcourt. Violet made headlines when she died an untimely death in Santa Cruz. How is her grandfather connected to Violet and what exactly happened to her? Boardwalk Summer by Meredith Jaeger has everything that I enjoy in a historical beach read.

When authors have two different storylines that they weave together, I oftentimes find myself drawn to one character over another and that was the case here in Boardwalk Summer. I found Violet's storyline to be way more compelling than Mari's. Who doesn't love an Old Hollywood vibe and that was definitely present in Violet's plot. Once things start to become clear regarding who Charles really is and what kind of show more husband he is, I was hooked. I wanted Violet to escape his clutches, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

Mari's storyline just wasn't as compelling, which is why I didn't give Boardwalk Summer a higher rating. It felt a little bit unbalanced. You can't really complete with a budding Hollywood starlet can you? So, Mari was definitely in Violet's shadow. What I did want to know was how Mari's grandfather had a connection with Violet and what exactly happened to her?

I did like the coastal setting of Santa Cruz and I appreciated Mari's interest in the town's history as well as her family's history. Santa Cruz seems like the quintessential California coastal town steeped in history and beauty.

Jaeger does weave togther the two storylines well and things do come together for the reader. While I didn't appreciate Mari's storyline as much as Violet's, I did like how she tied it all together. I think fans of historical beach reads will appreciate Boardwalk Summer the most. show less

Celia, Kitty's cousin, somehow by sheer luck and marrying into a wealthy family, is able to buy Deverill Castle and while it's great they are keeping it in the family, it's still a loss to Kitty. Celia and her wealthy husband plan on restoring the castle to its original state while also adding in some of those extravagant modern amenities. Meanwhile Kitty is living in a smaller house nearby and although she should be happy with her husband and her adopted son, she can't help but long for Jack. Also, Bridie is living in New York City essentially as a socialite and rubbing elbows with society's elite. Her past days of being a maid at the castle are long gone, but she can't forget about the child she gave up. Essentially, she can't run from her past. The Great Depression is looming overhead and it will impact the Deverills, especially Celia. The second book in this riveting historical series is fantastic. If you like historical fiction that is compelling, is a sweeping family saga with a gorgeous Irish setting, give this series a try. The Daughters of Ireland by Santa Montefiore doesn't disappoint.

I really enjoyed the character of Kitty in the first book of this series and while I still enjoyed her in The Daughters of Ireland, I didn't necessarily agree with her every move. Her relationship with Jack is heartbreaking. I understand why they can't be together, but it was still upsetting and definitely tugged on my heartstrings. I also understood her resentment of Celia. While show more she appreciates the fact that Celia "rescued" the castle from demise, it still upsets her that she isn't mistress of the castle. It's only natural and I liked that Kitty grappled with that.

Celia is a major focus in The Daughters of Ireland and she was absolutely tiring. Her tirades about her renovations of the castle and her obsession with it was exhausting. Her husband kept reassuring her that all was well financially and it's no problem to spend thousands on something trivial, but readers knew with the Great Depression right around the corner that she should be worrying. Celia deals with a lot in this novel. There's blackmail, family secrets, her husband's secrets, money issues, traveling, and untimely death. Poor Celia is put through the ringer in this book.

Bridie is also a major character in The Daughters of Ireland and she goes through a lot as well. Mostly she still is pretty naive and makes some poor choices. I did feel badly for her as she has a hard time coping with the fact that she gave up her son and now Kitty is raising him. That's a tough pill to swallow. Even surrounded by so much wealth and the entire city at her fingertips, she is still unhappy. Things do get better for Bridie eventually, but not until she hits rock bottom.

I love the way Montefiore presents this family saga as well as female relationships. I can't wait to read book three and find out what's in store for the Deverills. I am starting to think this series is filling the void that Downton Abbey left. Highly recommended to fans of historical fiction and family sagas. show less

Virginia Fortescue's life hasn't really been easy. Her mother was murdered when she was just a child and obviously this has impacted her tremendously. As an adult, she has spent a lot of time driving ambulances in the war. While at the war, she met Dr. Simon Fitzwilliam and sparks flew. They got married and had a child, but things got complicated and they became estranged. Virginia gets news that Simon has died in a fire at his house in Florida. Virginia hurries down there to see what exactly happened and the more she discovers about Simon, the worse it gets. It doesn't help that Simon's twin, Samuel, is also down in Florida sending her mixed messages about Simon and Agent Marshall is constantly warning her to go back home as she and her daughter could be in danger. The more Virginia uncover about the truth surrounding her husband, the more she wants to find out despite the dangers involved. Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams is a suspenseful thriller set in Prohibition age Florida that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Virginia is an interesting character in Cocoa Beach. She isn't one to be meek or sit on the sidelines. She wants answers for herself and heads to Florida with her daughter to get them. I liked that she drove ambulances for the Red Cross in the war and that she is headstrong. She did frustrate me a little from time to time, but overall, she was an enjoyable character that I was most definitely rooting for.

Williams had me on the edge of my seat when I was reading show more Cocoa Beach. At one time I thought Simon was despicable. The next moment I thought his brother was the bad guy. Then I changed my mind and was confused all over again. She had me changing my alliances and the truth was definitely revealed slowly. The last quarter of the book kept me flipping the pages till late as there were many plot twists and a lot of action. It left me a bit breathless as there was SO much going on at the end; nonetheless, it was entertaining.

The setting of Prohibition age Florida was very atmospheric in Cocoa Beach. I could practically feel the thick humidity, smell the tropical flowers, hear the crash of the waves and feel the strong Florida sunshine. It was all very well done.

Although I enjoy Williams' Schuyler Sisters series a bit more, I still appreciated Cocoa Beach and enjoyed the suspense. If you are looking for a historical beach read that will keep you guessing and flipping the pages, look no further. show less

Lane Roanoke's troubled mother committed suicide when she was just a teenager and in turn, was sent to her grandparent's spacious Kansas farm home. Lane lived there with her cousin, Allegra, as well. You see Roanoke girls don't stay. They either die or run away and that is the case with Lane and Allegra's mothers. Thanks to Allegra, she is brought up to speed on the Roanoke family history. Thing shouldn't be too bad here, right? The Roanokes are filthy rich and the patriarch, Yates Roanoke, her grandfather, cares for the girls fiercely. But Lane is wrong. Things are bad here and the Roanokes are harboring very, very dark secrets. Many years later, Lane's grandfather calls her up as Lane has moved very far away from them and asks her to return "home" as Allegra has gone missing. Lane feels like she has to since Allegra contacted her before she went missing, but Lane never responded. Feeling guilty, she comes back "home" to try to figure out where Allegra went and what happened to her, but her return opens up a new can of worms. Plus, there's the ex-boyfriend that Lane originally left on bad terms. Eventually she will need to confront all of her demons as well as find out what happened to Allegra. But this won't happen until she unearths some upsetting truths about her family. Amy Engel's dark tale, The Roanoke Girls, isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's pretty disturbing and deals with a taboo subject, but at the same time, it is compulsively readable.

I wish I show more could tell you that I liked the characters in The Roanoke Girls, but that's not the case. Lane, along with everyone else in the story, is pretty despicable. I could say that Lane acts the way she does because of her upbringing, but I really don't want to make excuses for her. She is troubled and uses sex and alcohol to deal with her issues. It doesn't help that her family is a hot mess.

Allegra is also desperate for attention and acceptance in The Roanoke Girls. Tommy, a very nice young man, really loves her, but she self-sabotages every good thing in her life. She has this weird attachment to her family and declares that she will never leave town.

That is why when Allegra shows up missing, Lane knows something horrible must have happened as she knows Allegra would never willingly leave. The Roanoke Girls has a mystery embedded in it (finding Allegra), but to be honest, I wasn't overly invested in this part of the story, because the other dark parts definitely took it over.

So, the taboo stuff..... I don't want to give it away, but some people may be really disgusted by this. I know I was, but I have to give it to Engel. Her writing was so absorbing and compelling that I couldn't put The Roanoke Girls down despite my feelings. I wish I could explain this better, but I can't without sharing too many spoilers. Reading this book was very similar to watching a car wreck. I knew that things weren't good. I knew that it was a disaster, but I couldn't.stop.looking. Every character is completely dysfunctional and all anti-heroes...seriously there isn't one normal or redeeming character. I think, ultimately, this is what mesmerized me.

So, if you like dark, atmospheric reads filled with family secrets, give The Roanoke Girls a try. But I warn you-- all the characters are extremely troubled. However, it will leave you thinking about it long after you finish the book. It's definitely one of the most haunting books I've read in awhile. show less

Gwen, a young English woman, marries the man of her dreams and is uprooted to tropical Ceylon to become the mistress of a tea plantation. She knows nothing about the new land she lives in let alone how to run a tea plantation or a great house, but she is willing to learn. After all, she is madly in love with Laurence, but sometimes things get confusing. He is really elusive at times and isn't entirely clear when he answers her questions about what his life was like in Ceylon before her arrival. Is this just the ups and downs of married life or is he hiding secrets? Enter Christina, an American socialite and banker, who meets with Laurence a lot regarding his investments. Gwen never truly feels comfortable around her and then there's Verity, Laurence's clingy and annoying sister. Not only does she hang around the house too much, Laurence even gives her an allowance and takes care of her. The dynamic is definitely off and Gwen is here without any friends or family. Whenever she asks about Laurence's first wife, Caroline, she is met with a lot of strange answers, if any answers at all. How did Caroline die? Then there's Savi, a Sinhalese painter, who she originally befriends, but can she trust him? Laurence wants nothing to do with him, but Gwen has no clue why. One thing is for sure, there are many, many secrets lurking in Ceylon and Gwen wants some answers. The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies is an atmospheric and mysterious read reminiscent of some of my favorite show more Gothic romances.

I truly felt for Gwen as she is just a young girl in a foreign country without much help. She is not only learning a new way of life, she is also learning what it takes to be a wife and mistress of a great plantation. To make matters worse, it is clear that Laurence loves her, but is being very secretive regarding his past. As The Tea Planter's Wife continues on, Gwen learns more and more about what truly happened to Laurence's first wife, but things get complicated for her. I don't want to give too much away, but it's surrounding Gwen's pregnancy. What occurs afterwards will impact her life forever as she starts to withhold her own life-altering secrets.

I don't think the romance was very strong in The Tea Planter's Wife . I felt like Laurence did love her, but I didn't feel a strong connection between them like I was hoping for. The novel excelled at the mystery and bringing the exotic setting to life, but the character of Laurence wasn't full fleshed out. He was wishy washy at times and a push over, which I found really unappealing. How he deals with his annoying sister was frustrating and I seriously wanted her out of the picture.

The best part of The Tea Planter's Wife was Jefferies ability to bring to life the gorgeous and exotic setting of Ceylon to life. It was very atmospheric and I loved her descriptions of the house, the tropical foliage, the lake, the surrounding forest, and so much more. Since parts of this story were rather dark and the setting was a sprawling plantation house, this novel definitely had a Gothic vibe to it, which I enjoyed.

The last quarter of the novel and conclusion of The Tea Planter's Wife was a bit disappointing for me and rather quick, but overall, I found the novel to be entertaining. The Tea Planter's Wife is definitely for fans of historical fiction who like stories filled with secrets and suspense. show less

Maribeth Klein is a mother than many of woman can relate to. She is overworked, under appreciated, and can't seem to catch a break. She's busy at work and busy at home; it's never-ending. That is until one day she starts to have some strange symptoms; indigestion, nausea, exhaustion and while at the doctor's she comes to find out that she is having a heart attack. She didn't even know she was having one! She comes to find that she needs surgery and to add fuel to the fire, there are some complications. After her surgery, she is supposed to be taking it easy and eating healthy, but life keeps marching on and her kids need her. Instead of her husband and her mother stepping up to the plate to help her out, she realized that her recuperation is actually harder than being at work. She decides to leave it all behind: her kids, her needy husband, and her ridiculous mother. Leave Me by Gayle Forman, her adult debut, is a novel that many mothers can relate to whether you disagree with Maribeth's choices or not.

The first fifty pages of Leave Me were really, really hard for me to read. I almost put it down for good, not because I found Maribeth to be upsetting, but because Forman's writing was so realistic and her description of surgery was so realistic that it brought back some bad memories for me. I personally could connect to this aspect of the story as I just had three surgeries in two months and it's hard to recuperate and take care of your kids. A mother doesn't get a day show more off or a sick day, but if you have a supportive husband and supportive family, they can help you out. But in Maribeth's case, her husband is just as bad as one of the kids. I really couldn't stand him. Her mother, while there to help, wasn't exactly helpful all the time. So, I started to get stressed out along with Maribeth. One thing is for sure: Forman gets the push and pull of motherhood. The endless demands and how mothers often have to put themselves last, even when they should put themselves first, like in Maribeth's case.

When Maribeth leaves, she hides out in Pittsburgh, not only to take some time for herself, but to also figure out who her birth mother is. So, she goes on an emotional journey as well as a physical one in Leave Me. While I didn't care for this subplot as much as the other, I still found it interesting.

But Leave Me is important because I think it's a reminder that as mothers we can't do it all. We can't. Something always has to give and it's not always bad to put your needs first once in a while. In fact, it's healthy! Now I am not saying I agree with Maribeth's decision to leave her family behind, but I understand why she did. I think Leave Me is also a reminder that even though women have come a long way in many situations it's still not exactly fair in both the workplace and the home. Women have more pressure placed on them than men when it comes to family life and oftentimes women are expected to have it all figured out and have everything perfect. But that's not life. Life is messy and Leave Me captures that very well.

Forman is a talented writer and although Leave Me wasn't my favorite of her novels, I still cared about Maribeth. That is a testament to Forman's writing; she always makes me care for her protagonists even if I don't always agree with them. If you are looking for a smart novel and one that lends itself to much discussion, I recommend Leave Me. It would also be a great novel to read with a book club as I'm sure everyone will have an opinion regarding Maribeth's choices. show less

Olivia Richie is a successful interior designer living a lavish life with her husband in New York City. Her husband, Nicholas, is from the south, Charleston to be specific, and she has promised him that when the time comes they will retire there and simplify their lives. Well, that time has come and they are buying a fixer-upper on Sullivan's Island. Olivia is really nervous about this move though, because she isn't used to the slow pace of the lifestyle there; plus, what about her interior design company? Can she work from the beach? Will she lose clients? She should be thinking about retiring, but she is having some financial issues that she doesn't share with her husband. So, with the hope to drum up new clients, she and her husband go with her friend/client, Maritza, on a trip to Necker Island. Who can say no to a private island anyway? She also accompanies billionaire couple, Maritza and Bob, to other glamorous locations. Olivia comes to realize that all things that glitter aren't gold and money isn't everything. All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank is pure summertime fun. This novel explores the lifestyles of the rich and is a perfect poolside indulgence.

Olivia is an interesting character in All Summer Long. I couldn't necessarily relate to her, but I sympathized with her from time to time. I especially enjoyed her down-to-earth relationship with her husband, Nicholas. I liked his southern charm and his affinity for Charleston. Their relationship was probably show more the best part of the novel.

Olivia's friendship with Maritza was also interesting. I obviously can't relate to the one percent at all, but I appreciated being transported into their world filled with private islands, butlers, caviar, yachts, and all things fabulous. But if you dig deeper, you will see that perhaps Maritza and Bob aren't exactly happy. There are rumors of his infidelity with the nanny and the fact that he is losing interest in Maritza, who is desperately trying to gain his attention. Olivia is thrown in the middle of this predicament as well as many others that arise when traveling together abroad along with their other rich friends. For example, there's a wedding aboard a yacht and it is pretty much a disaster. The drama, the fighting, the scandal...it's all there. It definitely kept me entertained in All Summer Long.

However, I didn't feel for these characters like I did with Frank's previous novel. This was more of a "fun" read as opposed to one that might tug on my heartstrings. I mean these rich people behaved badly. I really didn't like any of the characters other than Olivia and Nicholas. They rest acted like they were not the set of the Real Housewives. Nonetheless, I suppose that makes for a fun summertime read, much like reading US Weekly and other gossip rags.

So, if you like a glimpse into the lifestyles of the one-percent along with exotic locations in the Caribbean, Spain, and of course, Frank's beloved South, add All Summer Long to your beach bag this summer. show less

Sisi:Empress on her Own picks up where The Accidental Empress left off and while you don't really need to read the first book to enjoy this one, I highly recommended it if you want a full picture of Sisi's extraordinary life. At this point, Sisi is frustrated at not having truly raised her eldest daughter and son, thanks to her domineering mother-in-law, but now that she has had her youngster daughter, Valerie, she is determined to not let her out of her sight. She often takes her away from court to her various country homes so she can not only be with her alone, but also ride her beloved horses. All this time away from home has put a strain on her relationship with her eldest son, Rudolf. When her daughter Gisela writes saying that she is concerned about Rudolf's tutor, Sisi packs up and heads home to Vienna. Things are always much different at court though. There are people who gossip about her relationship with Count Andrassy as well as her time apart from her husband. While there, Sisi longs to escape on her next adventure and is torn between her duty as Empress and doing what is best for herself. As time goes by there is even more in store for Sisi and her family. Rudolf struggles as he comes into his own as the Crown Prince, her youngest daughter is ready for marriage, and then there's always her shaky relationship with the Emperor. Fans of Allison Pataki won't be disappointed by Sisi: Empress on her Own; it's definitely a sweeping and entertaining saga about one of show more the most fascinating people in history.

I have this love hate relationship with Sisi. On one hand, I admire that she is, essentially, a modern woman trapped in a different time. She longs to be independent and has really grown up in Sisi: Empress on her Own. On the other hand, she spends so much time away from her two eldest children that it is sort of heartbreaking. I get that she loves her horses and the country, but she is often found escaping court for very long periods of time. This obviously impacts her children, especially Rudolf.

The turn of events, especially in the second half of the novel are unbelievable. I often had to remind myself that Sisi: Empress on her Own is based on real-life events, not from the author's imagination. She lived through many ups and downs. I knew of Sisi's fate, but it still broke my heart to see how things ended for her and her family. Nonetheless, Pataki does an excellent job incorporating historical events while still keeping readers interested and invested in Sisi's personal life.

Also, the various settings in Sisi: Empress on her Own were outstanding. I loved the gorgeous Habsburg court, the English countryside, the Irish countryside, and especially her depictions of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Pataki brought it all to life expertly.

Sisi's story is a fascinating one and I highly recommend The Accidental Empress and Sisi: Empress on her Own to those who enjoy historical fiction and stories about royals. I know I will be on the look out for Pataki's next project. show less

Sisi:Empress on her Own picks up where The Accidental Empress left off and while you don't really need to read the first book to enjoy this one, I highly recommended it if you want a full picture of Sisi's extraordinary life. At this point, Sisi is frustrated at not having truly raised her eldest daughter and son, thanks to her domineering mother-in-law, but now that she has had her youngster daughter, Valerie, she is determined to not let her out of her sight. She often takes her away from court to her various country homes so she can not only be with her alone, but also ride her beloved horses. All this time away from home has put a strain on her relationship with her eldest son, Rudolf. When her daughter Gisela writes saying that she is concerned about Rudolf's tutor, Sisi packs up and heads home to Vienna. Things are always much different at court though. There are people who gossip about her relationship with Count Andrassy as well as her time apart from her husband. While there, Sisi longs to escape on her next adventure and is torn between her duty as Empress and doing what is best for herself. As time goes by there is even more in store for Sisi and her family. Rudolf struggles as he comes into his own as the Crown Prince, her youngest daughter is ready for marriage, and then there's always her shaky relationship with the Emperor. Fans of Allison Pataki won't be disappointed by Sisi: Empress on her Own; it's definitely a sweeping and entertaining saga about one of show more the most fascinating people in history.

I have this love hate relationship with Sisi. On one hand, I admire that she is, essentially, a modern woman trapped in a different time. She longs to be independent and has really grown up in Sisi: Empress on her Own. On the other hand, she spends so much time away from her two eldest children that it is sort of heartbreaking. I get that she loves her horses and the country, but she is often found escaping court for very long periods of time. This obviously impacts her children, especially Rudolf.

The turn of events, especially in the second half of the novel are unbelievable. I often had to remind myself that Sisi: Empress on her Own is based on real-life events, not from the author's imagination. She lived through many ups and downs. I knew of Sisi's fate, but it still broke my heart to see how things ended for her and her family. Nonetheless, Pataki does an excellent job incorporating historical events while still keeping readers interested and invested in Sisi's personal life.

Also, the various settings in Sisi: Empress on her Own were outstanding. I loved the gorgeous Habsburg court, the English countryside, the Irish countryside, and especially her depictions of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Pataki brought it all to life expertly.

Sisi's story is a fascinating one and I highly recommend The Accidental Empress and Sisi: Empress on her Own to those who enjoy historical fiction and stories about royals. I know I will be on the look out for Pataki's next project. show less

A married couple, Ellis and Maddie, live a very privileged life in Philadelphia during the year of 1942. Basically they are socialites and a whole lot of nothing other than spend nights attending parties, drinking too much, and hanging out with their best friend, Hank, and his flavor of the month. On New Year's Eve at a high society Philadelphia party, they embarrasses themselves by drinking too much and causing a scene. Of course, this gets back to Ellis' father who has had enough with his son and uses this as the catalyst to throw him out along with his wife, Maddie. Hank and Ellis should be serving in WWII; however, both, conveniently have been exempt for medical reasons. Ellis is color blind and Hank is flat footed. This, again, embarrasses Ellis' father, a former Colonel, to no end. Ellis realizes that in order to gain back his father's trust, he has to do the one thing that his father failed at years ago: capture a picture of the infamous Loch Ness monster. He feels this will restore his family's honor as well. Hank, Ellis and Maddie travel to Scotland in the middle of WWII and what occurs will change all three of their lives forever. Sara Gruen's At the Water's Edge is an atmospheric historical tale that examines love, friendship, and the sacrifices during war.

I truly felt for Maddie in At the Water's Edge. She is stuck in a heartless marriage to a very spoiled little man-boy. Ellis is manipulative, condescending and an all-around monster. I truly couldn't stand show more him. I wanted Maddie to get as far away from him as possible. I was even wondering why she even bothered marrying him in the first place? I was hoping the Loch Ness monster would consume him in one swift bite. To make matters worse, he is an alcoholic and addicted to Maddie's pills for her nerves, which she doesn't even take. His parents as well as Ellis feel she had a "nervous condition," which is why she has them.

But Maddie, although a rich and sheltered woman, grows so much on her trip to Scotland. She experiences first hand the effects of war, how the other half lives and even befriends the women at the inn they are staying at. She grows for the better on this trip and realizes that her marriage to Ellis ins't going to work. What she is feeling isn't even love. This is all because someone has caught her eye and makes her feel things she didn't know were possible.

Ellis and Hank had this weird bromance going on in At the Water's Edge. Hank could see how harsh Ellis could be, but always made excuses for him or helped him smooth things over with Maddie. Hank was truly blind to Ellis' problems, but wasn't as crazy as him, because he was sympathetic and nicer to Maddie. Nonetheless, I couldn't quite figure out their toxic friendship that I thought might be something more.

The setting of Scotland is very vivid in At the Water's Edge. I loved the village and the people as well as the bustling pub life. To see how life was impacted by WWII was also interesting. The air raids, rationing, the many people fighting that never came back all added to the atmosphere of this story. Gruen did a great job bringing it to life.

What was most surprising about At the Water's Edge was the new life that Maddie creates for herself and the budding romance that ensues. She went to Scotland not being able to even make a bed and by the end of the book, she could do that and much, much more. She starts to care for the people at the inn and even a certain person who is running the inn.

While I felt things were wrapped up a little too nicely in At the Water's Edge, I still enjoyed the book and being transported to Scotland in the 1940s. For those who enjoy a little history in their romance, I encourage you to check this one out. show less

Rory Randall is a bit of bit of a womanizer; he has married three times and has two daughters from different wives and an adopted daughter. He died unexpectedly and in his will he states that he will give his Nantucket home to his three daughters under one condition: they must live there together for one summer. The problem is the three sisters don't necessarily get along, thanks to some drama that occurred there as children involving Rory's third wife. Rory's first daughter, Arden, was a bit of a wild child back in the day, but is now a semi-famous local TV show host. Arden's half-sister, Meg, is bookish and teaches at the local community college. The last daughter, Jenny, whom Rory adopted, lives on Nantucket as a computer specialist and is especially nervous about a summer together with her stepsisters since it's her mother who made it so Arden and Meg couldn't visit their father on Nantucket anymore. All three girls are thirty-something now and should be able to get along; however, it proves to be a life-changing summer for the sisters in Nancy Thayer's Island Girls.

When you read a book with three main characters, you can't help but be interested in one woman's story more than another and that was most definitely the case in Island Girls. I liked how Arden was ambitious and even though she has been dealt a bad hand at work, she still tries to prove herself. Even when she is "vacationing" in Nantucket, she is still thinking of her job and researching for future shows. show more The character I connected the most with was bookish, Meg, obviously. I wasn't a big fan of her lack of confidence, but I liked that she was overall a decent person and was writing a book. Lastly, Jenny was an overall interesting character, especially when it came to understanding her backstory as Jenny doesn't know who her biological father is.

While on Nantucket, all three women learn more about themselves, about their sisters, and about love. All three girls are involved in a romantic relationship by the novel's end and of course, there are some family secrets that rise to the surface in Island Girls. Plus, things get even more complicated when all three women's mothers come to the island for the night. Cue the drama.

Thayer did a great job of capturing summer on the beautiful island of Nantucket. I loved reading about their cocktails outside on the patio, the fancy dinners, their gorgeous beach house and warm summer nights under the stars. There's no doubt in my mind that Thayer really knows her sense of place in Island Girls.

My only complaint about this beach read was the fact that important events, such as their father's untimely death, were sort of glossed over except for one scene involving a little bit of mourning. But I guess that is what readers come to expect in a beach read….not a lot of depth or character development and more summertime fun. There were also some coincidences that I had a hard time swallowing, but all in all, I had fun following the three sisters' summer in Island Girls.

So, if you are looking for a fluffy beach read with not a lot of depth (and sometimes that is what you need on vacation!), Nancy Thayer's Island Girls fits the bill. show less

Lady Aileana Kameron isn't your usual debutante. She not only can see the fae, but she is also a Falconer or someone who is equipped to kill them. She has been training with Kiaran, a mysterious and beautiful fae, who, surprisingly, wants to destroy his kind and holds many secrets. Also, a pixie, Derrick, protects her and helps her recover from her injuries. This is more than just killing fae to Aileana though. Her mother was killed by one and in turn, it has become personal. Her father, even though he doesn't know Aileana's secrets, would rather she was more conventional and spend her time taking up more leisurely pursuits, such as finding a husband; however, she wants more for herself. Elizabeth May's debut, The Falconer, is a slow to start novel, but once the action picked up, I was hooked.

Aileana is a fun heroine in The Falconer. She's feisty, unconventional, and is downright tough. Unlike the other girls, she can hold her own and even invents various types of weaponry to fight the fae. Aileana is a little hyper focused on destroying the fae since the violent death of her mother, but overall, I enjoyed her.

What initially set me off when reading The Falconer was the time period. I thought it was set in 19th century Scotland with a fantasy twist (fae) and it is, but it's a little bit different than I expected. It's a steampunk world with steampunk technology, etc. Also, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't much focus on the Scottish world, but more on Scottish show more lore. Thank God for the glossary (Aileana's Beastiary) at the end of the novel which lists the various types of fae. I found myself referring to this quite a bit.

In The Falconer, readers are introduced to Gavin, Aileana's childhood friend. Aileana used to have a childhood crush on him and since his return from school, she realizes that he is hiding many secrets. Also, readers get to know the elusive and extremely good looking fae, Kiaran, a bit more and some of his motives, such as the important question of why would he help kill fae if he is fae? Lastly, my favorite character in The Falconer is the pixie, Derrick. He's hilarious, fun and some of his one-liners made me laugh out loud.

Despite my initial hesitance towards The Falconer, the plot really starts to pick up by the middle of the novel. Plus, once the fae realize all that Aileana is capable of, the action picks up tremendously and war is looming over their heads.

Of course The Falconer ends with a crazy cliffhanger (as any good trilogy should) and despite a few of my issues with the novel, I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, which is due out next year. show less

Pepper has loved her best friend's brother, Hunter, for years, but he has never really noticed her in that way. While at college she finds out that he is finally single and she hopes to attract his attention since they go to college in the same city. Pepper's friends are convinced that she needs to "learn" a few things about guys and who better to teach her than the hot bartender at the local college bar? You see, Pepper has little to no experience with men; in fact, she has barely even kissed one. Reece, the bartender, has a reputation for being incredible with women, so her roommates hope to hook these two up. Pepper finally connects with Reece and things unfold as planned, but she can't deny that she is attracted to him even more than she should be. Reece has a troubled past and Pepper knows she should stay away from him, but they have a connection that is stronger than just a casual relationship. When Hunter finally notices Pepper, she must make a tough decision. Sophie Jordan's first new adult novel, Foreplay, is a fun and frothy read. Despite the fact that the plot is familiar, Jordan keeps readers entertained.

Pepper is a character that feels familiar in Foreplay. A lot of writers are following the formula of a virginal girl meets bad boy and learns a few things about life, relationships, and sex. We have seen this before and I will admit it has been played out, but the difference here is that Jordan, author of Firelight, is a fantastic writer. So although Pepper show more feels familiar simply because we have read about so many characters just like her, Jordan brings that special something. I like that Pepper has a troubled and complicated background, which initially sparked her attraction to Hunter as his family life is the polar opposite of Pepper's. She isn't just a one dimensional character and has an interesting back story that she must deal with in Foreplay.

Reece is also the kind of bad-boy that I really love reading about. He also has a lot of baggage, a strange home life, and a lot of responsibilities. Reading about their relationship progressing and unfolding was one of the best aspects of Foreplay. There is no doubt that Reece and Pepper have chemistry.

The setting of college is one that I really liked and one of the best aspects of Foreplay. I love college life and Jordan portrayed it perfectly. Another aspect of Foreplay that I enjoyed was the fact that Pepper had two good girlfriends and I like seeing that in New Adult literature. It doesn't always have to be all about the guy.

So, even though there were a few familiar conflicts in Foreplay and a few cheesy moments, I'd say this is an amusing read with some sexytimes and interesting characters. It didn't "wow" me as I was hoping, but was an entertaining read nonetheless. show less

Lora is a charity student at Iverson, a boarding school in England, and her position there is precarious. It's summertime and all the girls are going home for break, but Lora is an orphan and may be sent back to a wretched orphanage. Thankfully, Armand, while his father is away at a psyhiatric hospital, is turning his estate into a military hosptial and instead of Lora being sent away, she is going to stay on as a nurse there. Of course, Armand concocted this plan as he has strong feelings for Lora as well as a deep connection with her. As it turns out, someone important in Armand's life is a prisoner of war and they've come to realize that the only way to save him is the rescue him by using their special powers as a drakon. The Deepest Night is a beautifully written sequel to The Sweetest Dark and fans of historical fiction as well as fantasy will appreciate this novel.

As I have said before, Lora reminds me very much of a character in a Dickens novel, a character whom is struggling due to their unfortunate background, but has so much potential. She is an orphan and an outcast at Iverson, but is a drakon, or dragon, and has garnered the attention of the very rich Armand, a fact that annoys the other girls to no end. Lora is still trying to get over some events from The Sweetest Dark, especially when it comes to the events surrounding Jesse. On top of that, she is trying to figure out her feelings for Armand in The Deepest Night, but never really gets to a solid conclusion show more before they are sent on a mission to retrieve a prisoner of war in Germany.

After reading The Sweetest Dark, I was really intrigued by the character of Armand or Mandy and I was so glad that he played a stronger role in The Deepest Night. He reminded me a bit of Chuck Bass, whom I love! His father plays more of a role in this book as well, especially since he is in a psychiatric hospital and claiming to speak with Jesse. This makes for an interesting twist in The Deepest Night as Jesse was truly missed.

The best part about this series is the beautiful writing. Abe does a fantastic job bringing the time period, 1915, to life as well as the gothic undertones of the boarding school. It's such a vivid and captivating setting. It's one of the main reasons I continued with the series as I love post-Victorian England.

Although I didn't like The Deepest Night as much as The Sweetest Dark, I still plan on continuing with the series and I hope that Lora gets her happy ending. show less

Skye, a hopeless romantic, is attending the last beach party of the summer with the hopes that she will finally meet someone. Just as she had hoped, she meets Seth and they have undeniable chemistry; they just get each other completely. The only problem is that Skye is still in high school and Seth is heading off to college in Philadelphia, which means while Skye is worrying about high school drama, Seth has more serious concerns like how to pay for college. Both are optimistic that they can make it work and keep in touch, but things take a turn for the worse. When they were supposed to meet to exchange information, something happens and they miss each other. Seth spends his first year of college still wondering about Skye and Skye spends her time back at home thinking about the boy who got away. As fate would have it, they both meet up next summer at the shore, but can they get past their differences enough to make their relationship work? Susane Colasanti's All I Need is a light beach read that will make teenage girls swoon.

Skye comes from a wealthy background. Her parents have a gorgeous house at the Jersey Shore; whereas, Seth's family has more of a bungalow, his parents are separated and they aren't sure how they will pay for his college tuition. Both come from very different backgrounds, but they hit it off instantly; in other words, cue the insta-love. However, I found their relationship to be a little too immature for me to really find it swoon-worthy. I'm sure if show more I were in high school I would have loved their relationship, but older readers may want a bit more in All I Need. It doesn't help that I found Seth to be a little weird and not in a good way. I dig his unconventional/artist vibe and his love of 80s music, but when he tries to convince Skye that The New Kids on the Block are a talented musicians, I rolled my eyes a bit.

For me, the best part of All I Need is the setting. I love that Colasanti has it set at the Jersey Shore and even though it isn't my Jersey Shore, it was still fun to read about it. Plus, Seth goes to school in Philadelphia, so part of the setting took place there, which I loved. It's always fun to read about locations you are familiar with and I haven't read too many contemporaries that take place in Philadelphia.

The synopsis compares All I Need to Serendipity and it's very similar with the whole change meeting and will-I-ever-see-him-again story line. While I love this kind of story line, I felt like it was unbelievable for such a young couple, especially one trying to have a long distance relationship while one person is in college. What can I say? I am a skeptic. And it does make me cringe a bit when I see a young girl alter or adjust her college plans for a boy. I'm not a big fan of that message; I like to see more young girls live a little before they settle down. I never want to see a young girl go to a particular college just because their boyfriend's college is in that city.

But nonetheless, All I Need is a sweet story and perfect for the beach this summer. I'm sure many teenagers will find Skye and Seth's tale to be hopelessly romantic. I mean who doesn't dream of meeting the perfect guy at a beach party in the summertime? show less

Allyson Healey has always played by the rules. She did well in school, listened to her parents, hung out with her best friend, and did other extremely predictable things for a high schooler. She never really branched out or went on an adventure...that is until her trip abroad the summer before college. Her parents sent her and her best friend on a tour of Europe and Allyson was feeling pretty bored on this trip despite being in Europe. While in London, Allyson and her best friend watch an underground performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and an actor from the play, Willem, catches her eye and they have a connection of some sort. This connection blossoms into an overnight adventure; Allyson breaks the rules and goes to Willem to Paris on this last night of her trip. She knows her parents would be furious and she knows it dangerous to go with someone she just met, but she wants to live a little. The whole day in Paris is magical, but the next day doesn't go as well. She can't find Willem anywhere. and consequently, she finds herself stranded in Paris and must get back to London in time to catch her flight home. Readers will follow Allyson after this heartbreaking day and all through her freshman year in college where she still can't shake the memories of her night in Paris with mysterious Willem. Gayle Forman's Just One Day is a heart-wrenching tale of first love, the freedom that travel brings, and the trials and tribulations of discovering what you want out of life.

I show more will admit that I found Allyson to be taxing at times. She was tough to connect to, but I could appreciate her story nonetheless. That's why I adore Forman as an author, because readers can still find something to enjoy in her books, even if they don't relate to the characters. Once Allyson started to gain confidence, I found myself enjoying her more and more.

Willem is such a great male lead. He's mysterious, talented, good looking, and adventurous. While he wasn't in the story very long, I found myself, along with Allyson, wondering about him long after he exited stage right. Just One Day is much more of a mystery than I thought it would be and I really liked that aspect of the book.

Also, Just One Day is really about self-discovery. Allyson is at that age where she isn't sure who she is or what she wants out of life. She listens to her parents (too often!), pretends to be someone she isn't, and lets her mother orchestrate her life - (her mother even tells her what classes to take at college!) Allyson has to break free from her parents and really put herself out there at college. Once she does, I found Just One Day to be unputdownable. While she is "finding herself," always in the back of her mind is Willem and while they only spent one day together, I couldn't let him go either.

Just One Day has a lot of traveling in it, which is another aspect of this book that I enjoyed. You can learn so much about yourself and about the world when you travel. I loved reading about Allyson's adventures, which force her to leave her comfort zone. It reminded me a bit of Wanderlove and 13 Little Blue Envelopes.

Lastly, Forman incorporates a lot of Shakespeare into Just One Day and being an English teacher, I loved that! It truly demonstrates how timeless Shakespeare is and how many years later, readers can still relate to his characters and the themes. One of my favorite parts of Just One Day is the Shakespeare class Allyson takes at college. Sign me up for that class!

Just One Day didn't leave me a blubbering mess like If I Stay did and while it isn't as powerful, Just One Day is just as good, but in a different way. It's going down as one of my favorite reads of the year and after the ending of Just One Day, which left my heart beating out of my chest, I cannot wait for Just One Year. In sum, Forman has hit a home run once again. show less

Kitty's best friend, Cat, or Catherine Howard, is the type of girl that attracts attention, whereas Kitty is quite the opposite and remains Cat's loyal shadow. Kitty doesn't usually mind though as Cat is one of her only friends and pretty much her only family. While growing up, Cat doesn't follow the rules of the household. She throws wild midnight parties, disobeys her elders, spends time with boys, and is all around the "Queen of Misrule." As they get older, Cat is sent to the court of Henry VIII and starts to live a life very different than the one that Kitty and Cat are accustomed to. Finally, Cat sends for Kitty to come to court and as time goes by, it becomes very apparent that Cat, or Catherine Howard, will be the next Queen of England as she has stolen Henry's heart. Kitty and Catherine try to survive amongst a crazy court and deal with Henry's ups and downs, but Catherine never plays by the rules. There are major consequences for her choices, both good and bad. Put simply, Gilt by Katherine Longshore is one of the best young adult historical novels I've read in a long time.

Kitty is the type of character that is easily lead by others and that drove me nuts. One on hand, I felt badly for her as sometimes she had no choice in her decisions, because she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The problem with this is the fact that Catherine is a royal brat and I wanted to slap her across the face. One minute I liked her, the next minute she would do something so show more annoying and backstabbing that I loved to hate her. The dynamics between Kitty and Cat were interesting nonetheless as Gilt also examines friendship and popularity.

Just when I thought I was over novels about the Tudor Era, I get sucked into Gilt. I can confidently say now that I am NOT over this era and that Longshore has brought me back in. What is not to love? There's major drama, backstabbing, lies, intrigue, affairs, romance, gossips, etc. Half of what occurs is unbelievable, but what is even more captivating is the fact that most of these events actually occurred. Henry VIII is downright crazy and I loved being thrown back into his unpredictable court. Gilt reminded me not only of how much I love this time period, but how much I miss the show The Tudors and Gilt was a nice fix.

Even though we know how things end for Catherine Howard, I was still hopelessly addicted to Gilt. I devoured it book quickly and was totally invested in Kitty's story. I highly recommend Gilt to fans of historical fiction; you won't be disappointed. So, if you plan on reading any historical fiction this summer, it quite simply has to be Gilt. Katherine Longshore is one debut author that I definitely have my eye on. show less

The Cahill sisters are a bit strange, that is according to the rest of the town. They stick to themselves, have a desire to learn new things, read books, and haven't even officially presented themselves in society yet. The truth of the matter is that they are witches, but even their father doesn't know the truth. Their mother, who died many years before, was a witch as well and the only one who knew their secret. This secret must be kept at all costs, because the Brotherhood pretty much hunts for witches and in the past they have been punished severely. Cate Cahill, the eldest sister, feels responsible for her younger sisters Maura and Tess, especially now that their mother isn't around to protect them. But the problem is that Cate is turning seventeen soon and according to society's rules, she will have to either get engaged, join the Sisterhood, or let the Brotherhood find her a suitable mate. Cate could just marry her childhood best friend, Paul, but she is worried about the fate of her sisters, especially after receiving a note of warning and reading her mother's ominous diary. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood is a fascinating tale that has me desperate for book two in the series.

Cate Cahill is the kind of heroine I love. She's bookish, likes to garden, is protective of her family and is deep down a non-conformist. She finds herself in many precarious situations in Born Wicked, but is determined to do the right thing and not let down her sisters. One of my other show more favorite characters is Finn, the bookstore owner's son. He is smart, kind, and protective of his family as well. This character took me by surprise and I wasn't expecting to like him as much as I do. I liked the tension between these two, especially since Cate knows full well that Finn is "beneath her" and a relationship wouldn't be socially accepted. On the other hand, there is Paul, her childhood friend, who appears to be a bit of a womanizer, but seems to be sincere about Cate. I am not 100% sure about him though.

The setting of Born Wicked is something I found captivating. It took me awhile to get used to it, because I was thinking it was a historical fiction that takes place in New England; however, with Spotswood's invention of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, it put a new spin on history. Interestingly enough, it's an alternative version of New England in the 1800s; plus, Spotswood creates such an interesting world where women have practically no rights, aren't encouraged to "think too much" and must get married at seventeen or join the Sisterhood. There's no doubt it's an intense world.

I can't wait for the next book in the series since Born Wicked left me craving more. Born Wicked was one of those books that I quickly finished in a few days despite my busy schedule, because it was just that good. show less

Jackson Meyer is a happy college student with good friends and a great girlfriend, Holly. He has one small secret though....he can travel back in time. It has never really been a serious thing, just something he experiments with along with his friend Adam. However, one morning in 2009 while Jackson is with Holly, people break and enter into her bedroom and there is a fight between them. Unfortunately, Holly is shot and Jackson travels back to 2007. This is unlike any jump he has completed before, because he cannot get back to 2009. He seems to be stuck in the past and in turn, he tries to learn as much as possible about his ability, about Holly and his dad's secret. Tempest is an edge of your seat debut that fans of time travel will revel in.

I love time travel. I love the idea. I love movies about time travel (Back to the Future) and I find it all so fascinating. So when I received the ARC of Tempest, I knew I had to read it. Cross does a good job weaving this tale and I liked learning more about Holly and Jackson's family secrets when he was stuck in 2007. The only issue I had was all of the time travel. At times, it got rather confusing, especially towards the end. It was hard to keep it straight, which is why I gave Tempest a 3.5 instead of 4 stars.

There is no doubt that Tempest is an impressive debut though. The movie rights were already bought by Summit Entertainment (Twilight) and foreign rights were sold in many countries. Plus, it's part of a new trilogy that show more sounds promising and I must admit that it is a nice break from the usual fantasy.

Will I read book two in the series? Probably. Tempest ends in a crazy way and, like any good trilogy, it had me desperately flipping pages towards the end. I must admit that this book might translate better to the big screen and I'll be excited to see that come to fruition. Lastly, I think many of my students might enjoy Tempest, so I will definitely be adding it to my classroom library. show less

Emma and Josh are next door neighbors and have been good friends since they were little. Josh gives Emma an AOL CD-ROM for her to try out since her got a new computer. It's 1996 and the internet is still a new concept and Emma is excited to sign-on. Once she does, she sees a page that says "Facebook" and it somehow connects her to her Facebook page 15 years down the road. At first she thinks it is some kind of prank, but as Emma and Josh further investigate, they realize that it's pretty much the exact opposite. What if they don't like what they see? Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler's The Future of Us is brilliant. Readers that can remember that first AOL CD and dial up internet will love to revisit this with Emma and Josh. Also, fans of time-travel will be on the edge of their seats as Emma and Josh discover more and more about their futures.

Emma and Josh are like Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek. I adored them. Their relationship was relatable and realistic for high school. I loved that each chapter switched from Emma's point of view and Josh's point of view. It was done really well.

The '90s references in The Future of Us were amazing. I went to high school in the '90s and it was so much fun to remember back to AOL, the problems surrounding dial-up internet, and life before all this technology. I loved the incorporation of '90s music, especially Dave Matthews (I was obsessed!) and could relate to each and every '90s reference. I felt like I was back in high school and show more living the experience right along side of Emma and Josh.

So, if you read my reviews before you know how much I love the idea of time-travel. Ever since I saw Marty McFly visit 1955 I was sold. In The Future of Us, the fact that Emma and Josh somehow tapped into their Facebook pages in the future is such a unique idea. It truly had me thinking, because every time Emma or Josh did something relatively big in their life, it would drastically change their Facebook pages in the future, such as their relationship status, where they lived, the jobs they had, and even their status updates. And sometimes even the smallest things changed it as well. It gave me something to think about....like what if I actually took that path? Where would I be now? I can't imagine how this would have impacted me if I read this as a teenager. It's truly thought provoking.

If you like trips down memory lane to the '90s, a sweet romance, and realistic fiction with some sci-fi elements, namely time travel, you must check out The Future of Us. It is going down as one of my favorites of 2011. Plus, I just heard that the movie rights were snatched up by Warner Bros. Can't wait! show less

Lola is a quirky and eccentric teenager aspiring to be the next big fashion designer. She likes to wear the most outlandish clothing and wigs. Lola fits in perfectly in artsy San Francisco with her two dads and has grown up in one of the beautiful Victorian homes next door to the twins, Cricket and Calliope Bell. They used to be inseparable as children and things changed once Cricket broke Lola's heart. However, things are different for Lola now. The Bells have moved away to accommodate Calliope's figure skating career and Lola has an older rocker boyfriend now. Things are going smoothly for Lola until the Bells move back next door along with Cricket. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins truly captures first love and captured my heart as well.

After reading Anna and the French Kiss, I knew I HAD to get my hands on a copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door. Much to my surprise, I realized that it is very different from Anna and the French Kiss, which I've come to realize is both good and bad. Lola was harder for me to relate to than Anna. She's a bit out there, overly dramatic and a tad selfish. I really couldn't connect with her like I could Anna. Cricket makes for a really cute love interest, because he's a bit on the nerdy side as he's an aspiring inventor. He is constantly in the shadow of his figure skating phenom sister, Calliope, and is trying to find his way. I didn't like how he was bossed around by Calliope; I wanted him to grow a pair and that in itself show more frustrated me. Cricket is a downright good guy though and lets be honest, we need that in YA. Also, I must point out how much I LOVED Lola's dads. They were fantastic and I wish there were more books out there that showcase a family dynamic like Lola's.

Perkins' writing style is enthralling. Even though I couldn't relate to the characters as much as I had hoped for, I was still very much so invested in Lola and the Boy Next Door. I really enjoy her writing style and before I knew it, I finished the book. Perkins reminds me so much of Sarah Dessen in that she can take a character, one that I don't necessarily relate to, and make me sympathize and root for her. I love that about Perkins!

I also adored the concept of the "boy next door" as most people had something like that in their lives at some point. Perkins does a brilliant job of capturing this and making it magical. The stolen glances, the talking through the windows, the peeking across the space between the two houses, the long walks in the neighborhood....I loved it. It was so very Dawson's Creek. (*sigh*)

One of the best parts of Lola and the Boy Next Door is the fact that Anna and St. Clair are in the book. St. Clair is his usual swoon-worthy self and it was nice to be revisited by Anna. I liked how Perkins weaved the two story lines together. Also, just like in Anna and the French Kiss, the setting of the novel becomes just as important and while Paris is a bit more romantic (in my opinion) than San Francisco, she still made the city come to life. It was the perfect location for a zany girl like Lola.

All in all, Lola and the Boy Next Door is a delightful read that will take readers back to their first childhood crushes. Although it lacked some of the magic that Anna and the French Kiss had, I still recommend it for fans of contemporary fiction as well as Sarah Dessen. I am a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins and can't wait to read her third book, Isla and the Happily Ever After, which comes out in 2012 and I hear takes place in Paris! Merci beaucoup, Ms. Perkins! show less

Readers will be re-introduced to the four girls we have come to love from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series; however, it's ten years later and the girls are closing in on thirty years old. Tibby and Brian moved to Australia for his career, which has since taken off tremendously. Bridget and Eric live in San Francisco; she is still living a very bohemian lifestyle and trying to figure out what to do with her life. Carmen is a successful actress living in NYC and is engaged to be married. Lena is teaching art in Rhode Island and of course, Kostos is still in the back of her mind. Tibby wants to get the girls together again in Greece and she sends them plane tickets to meet her, but that's where the girls' lives are impacted forever. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares is a tear-jerking novel about friendship and it deals with life's many unexpected surprises and inevitable bumps in the road.



To be honest, I had a hard time with Sisterhood Everlasting probably because I have come to love these four girls and essentially grew up with them. They are nearing the age of thirty, but are just as confused as before, which was disappointing to me. I give kudos to Tibby for trying to get everyone together again, but why are they so bad at communicating? Ever hear of text messages? Emails? Carmen is pretty much a shadow of her former self (both physically and emotionally) and Lena is super depressing, sad, and lonely. Bridget annoyed me the most, which is crazy, because show more she was one of my favorite characters before this novel. She is pretty much acting like she's twenty-two years old and may be one of the most selfish characters I've encountered. I couldn't even understand her; in fact, I pitied her as I had hoped for so much more. And it gets worse from there. It was like watching my favorite literary characters fall apart before my eyes. True, by the end of the novel there's something redeeming to take from it all, but the journey was painful.

The tone of Sisterhood Everlasting was morose and I didn't expect that at first. I mean the entire book was depressing to the point where I then felt depressed even though I was reading it on a bright summer's day. I started to get frustrated with the girls and wanted to just scream to them, "Get yourself together!" The only reason I stuck with this book was for my favorite character, Lena. I just had to know if she was going to end up with Kostos once and for all. I was tired of their games and just wanted them to get together finally!


All in all, Sisterhood Everlasting left me disappointed, but I did appreciate the ending. However, I almost wish Brashares didn't write this book, because it puts a damper on my fond memories of this series. If you are a true fan of this series, I'm sure you will read Sisterhood Everlasting, but don't say I didn't warn you. Make sure you have a box of tissues and take some time to process the events, because it is completely heartbreaking and gut-wrenching in every way. show less

It's three years after the horrific accident and readers reunite with a very different Adam who is now living the dream as a successful rock star. He's got everything he thought he ever wanted....money, a hot celebrity girlfriend, his band's amazing success, but there's something missing. Even though he is out of his bedridden depression over losing Mia, sadly, he still can't deal with the stress of his life without medication. While in NYC, he comes across an ad for Mia's performance and decides last minute to attend. Word gets around that rock star Adam Wilde is attending the performance, so Mia asks him to come backstage. Mia and Adam reunite for one night and finally talk about things after not seeing each other for three years. Where She Went, Gayle Forman's sequel to If I Stay, captured my heart. Granted Where She Went didn't capture it the same way If I Stay did, but it easily became of my favorites books of 2011.

First, I must recognize how much I love Forman's writing style. I'd say that after Jenny Han, I like her style the most. It's incredible and as far as I'm concerned she is one of the best young adult contemporary authors out there. When I first heard that this novel was going to be written from Adam's point of view, I was worried since many young adult authors struggle to capture a guy's perspective; however, I remembered this is Forman we are talking about. DUH! She's brilliant.

Where She Went explored many deep issues as only Forman can, but what really show more spoke to me is the fact that Mia and Adam's meeting was, essentially, by chance. Forman never makes things unrealistic and Where She Went is believable, even up to the ending. For me, realistic fiction MUST be believable and Forman accomplishes that. I also love how Forman has her characters deal with grief. It's all so very real and complex, but never overwhelming or tedious for us readers.

The characters are so very memorable. I read If I Stay awhile ago and Mia's story is one that I often think about and STILL discuss with bookish people. It's not a tale that you simply forget about and the same goes for the characters. What really tugged at my heartstrings was how Forman included a few flashbacks to when Mia's parents and brother were still alive. Like special memories, I just wanted to live in that scene over and over again and bask in its comfort.

Also, Forman included lyrics from Adam's music, which I thought was especially creative and added that something special to Where She Went. Not only were the lyrics exceptional (they actually sounded like real music, not like the fake lyrics that authors sometimes come up with....you know what I am talking about!), they also reflected what Adam was going through at the time. I loved them!

All in all, Where She Went is easily one of my favorite books. I couldn't be happier with where Forman took Mia and Adam's tale; she never disappoints. If you've read If I Stay, you MUST pick up a copy of Where She Went. It's just as powerful and memorable as If I Stay, but in a whole different way that I didn't even know was possible! show less