5 stars

Review: The Grimm Chronicles Volume 2

April 12, 2013

The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 2 Title: The Grimm Chronicles Volume 2
Authors: Isabella Fontaine, Ken Brosky
Series: The Grimm Chronicles (Episodes 4-6: The Orphanage of Doom, Blood and Thunder, The Order of the Golden Dragon)

Summary: 200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm changed everything.

With the help of a little magic, fairy tales were made real, manifesting all over the world. Charming princes. Gold-hunting dwarfs. Terrible step-mothers. Heroic animals.

Then, slowly, they began to change. Everyone—from Prince Charming to the old miller—grew more evil. Corrupted. A hero was chosen to stop them, hunting them down one by one and destroying them with the help of a magic pen and a special rabbit assistant.

For 200 years, the hero’s magic pen has been passed on from generation to generation. The newest hero is Alice Goodenough, an 18-year-old junior from Washington High School. While her friends spent their summer working and having fun, Alice found herself doing battle with creatures most human beings don’t even realize exist. A giant snake. A blood-sucking prince. A terrifying half-man, half-hedgehog. Dastardly dwarfs intent on mind-controlling everyone who uses a cell phone.

Now, senior year has begun. With it comes a new challenge at school, where bullies have grown bolder and classes more challenging. As if that’s not enough, Alice must face off against a collection of Corrupted who all share a terrible secret, one that might awaken a creature capable of doing untold damage. To uncover the secret, Alice will have to face off against a man-eating lizard, a bloodthirsty sea captain, and a mysterious wizard who can see into the future …

Bonus material for this edition includes The Lost Journal of Eugene Washington, assorted fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, and A Legacy of Red (a mini-story featuring Alice Goodenough).

My Thoughts: In case you missed it last month, I absolutely loved The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 1 by Ken Brosky and Isabella Fontaine. It exceeded my expectations – by far. Very far. My only complaints were minor errors that needed fixing (mostly typos) and some things I found annoying about Alice. I am happy to say that both were much improved. I liked Alice even more than I did last time. She’s a hero, but she’s not perfect. She’s still human. Real. I like that. A lot. And she said gawd a LOT less than she did in the first volume. She said it little enough that I didn’t find it annoying this time around. As for the errors and such, this second volume is much cleaner (meaning it has fewer errors/typos). There were still a few things here and there, but not nearly as many as before.

These new stories are just as unique and exciting as the ones in the first volume. Extra bonus, we have some Melville thrown in there for good measure. As a lit. major, I loved that added in there! My only question is how his characters were able to appear in Alice’s adventures. Had Melville once had possession of the magic pen and paper? If not, how was it possible for his characters (and, really, largely his story) to have become real? That is one thing that maybe should be explained. Still, I loved seeing a classic American author’s work show up!

As with the first volume, I loved all of the extras. A Legacy of Red was probably my favorite of the extras. It’s a great little story (although a little gruesome). The Grimms’ tales at the end were quite helpful to me in better understanding the Corrupted encountered by Alice. Most of these tales are ones with which I’m not familiar, so it was nice to be able to read them after seeing the characters in the book. They’re actually done in such a way that you could easily read the related tale before encountering the corresponding Corrupted, but I’m not a fan of trying to jump around on my Kindle so I just waited until the end. I think this is one set of books I’d prefer to have a physical copy of in order to make flipping around easier.

Overall, if you are a fan of fairy tales, I highly encourage you to give these books a try. Unless you’re a rigid purist, I’m confident saying you’ll be glad you did. I am very much looking forward to Volume 3!

Source: Received an ebook as part of a blog tour hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. (Click the button below for more tour stops.)

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

About the Authors: Ken Brosky received his MFA in fiction writing from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also teaches English at Madison College. This is his first Young Adult series.

Isabella Fontaine owns a farm in Wisconsin and enjoys reading weird books like House of Leaves. This is her first Young Adult series.

Web site | Facebook

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2 Comments Filed Under: blog tour, Reviews Tagged With: 5 stars, blog tour, fairy tales, favorites, Grimm Brothers, I Am A Reader Not A Writer, Isabella Fontaine, Ken Brosky, kindle, review, The Grimm Chronicles, YA

Review: You Look Different in Real Life

March 20, 2013

Title: You Look Different in Real Life
Author: Jennifer Castle
Series: n/a

Summary: For the rest of the world, the movies are entertainment. For Justine, they’re real life.

The premise was simple: five kids, just living their lives. There’d be a new movie about them every five years, starting in kindergarten. But no one could have predicted what the cameras would capture. And no one could have predicted that Justine would be the star.

Now sixteen, Justine doesn’t feel like a star anymore. In fact, when she hears the crew has gotten the green light to film Five at Sixteen, all she feels is dread. The kids who shared the same table in kindergarten have become teenagers who hardly know one another. And Justine, who was so funny and edgy in the first two movies, feels like a disappointment.

But these teens have a bond that goes deeper than what’s on film. They’ve all shared the painful details of their lives with countless viewers. They all know how it feels to have fans as well as friends. So when this latest movie gives them the chance to reunite, Justine and her costars are going to take it. Because sometimes, the only way to see yourself is through someone else’s eyes.

My Thoughts: You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle was so much better than I was expecting. While it’s not sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat riveting or anything, it grabbed me, pulled me in, and spit me back out with a smile on my face. There’s a lot of emotion, interesting situations, and fun all inside.

Justine is the narrator. The whole story is told from her perspective, and it works really well. Her take on things was quite insightful at times, while still showing her youth – attempts at rebellion (for the sake thereof), innocent mistakes, etc. She’s a very likable person, and I absolutely loved watching her grow. And she grows quite a lot through the course of herself. While she considers herself a fat, boring version of the girl from the previous movies, she really isn’t. She’s just insecure. And she’s not yet really discovered herself. But she does so through the course of this book. I found it really neat to watch.

The relationships between these five kids are quite complex. As is common at that point in life, their relationships have all shifted, and everyone thinks they know about everyone else. But no one really knows anything about anyone else. Misunderstandings and unwarranted hard feelings abound – along with plenty of deserved hard feelings. Watching these teens learn to work through these things through the course of the events of this book was quite interesting. Every one of these kids grows quite a lot during this book.

I had a blast with this book. It was fun, exciting, emotional, and one of those books I just wanted to keep reading. And keep reading. I was amazed by how quickly I was able to read it. Not because I was racing to finish it, but because I was so engrossed that before I knew it I’d read 60 pages – or more. This is a fantastic book that I would highly recommend.

Source: Received through Around the World Tours for review.

Read It: You Look Different in Real Life is scheduled for release around June 4, 2013. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Find me on Goodreads.com >>
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1 Comment Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 5 stars, ARC, Around the World Tours, favorites, Jennifer Castle, review, YA

Review: Goddess by Josephine Angelini

March 17, 2013

Goddess Title: Goddess
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed #3

Summary: After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’ life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

My Thoughts: I remember when I read Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. I fell in love with that book within the first 100 pages. If you’re a long-time reader here at PBN, you might remember that I even stopped to write a snippet because I was so in love with the book I had to share it immediately! It was that good. And, yes, I was as happy with it by the end. I still have very fond memories of that book! I was a bit disappointed with Dreamless, but I think that’s only natural after the way Starcrossed just blew me away. It’s only natural that my expectations wouldn’t be met. But, I still was very much looking forward to this one, Goddess. I couldn’t wait to see how it all played out. If some of my guesses as to what was coming were accurate.

No worries. This one was fantastic. Amazing! Right on up there with the first. It was exciting, fast-paced, and emotional. There were times I wanted to cry, times I wanted to cheer, and maybe a few times I wanted to laugh. (Maybe. I honestly can’t remember on the laughing. ) I closed the book very, very happy with everything. There were some surprises, and that’s great. There also were some guesses I was right on target about. Both were fun to see! I’m not going to say much more about the plot or anything, because I really don’t want to spoil this for any one of you. For me, there’s nothing like a first read. I love rereading favorites, but that first time is memorable (at least for the best books) – kinda like one’s first kiss. I won’t be ruining that for anyone. I will, however, add that I’m wondering if Angelini has hopes of one day writing some follow-up and/or spinoff stories/books. There are some things that definitely leave the possibility open.

Suffice it to say that I remain a huge fan of the Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini. I have enjoyed this series from start to finish, and look forward to having time to sit down and read all three, one after the other. If you enjoyed the other books in this series, consider preordering this so you can read it ASAP. It’s worth it!

Source: Received through Around the World Tours for review.

Read It: Goddess is scheduled for release around May 28, 2013. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Find me on Goodreads.com >>
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4 Comments Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 5 stars, ARC, Around the World Tours, fantasy, favorites, Greek Mythology, Josephine Angelini, mythology, paranormal, review, Starcrossed, YA

Review with Giveaway: The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 1

March 11, 2013

Title: The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 1
Authors: Isabella Fontaine, Ken Brosky
Series: The Grimm Chronicles (Episodes 1-3: Prince Charming Must Die!, Happily Never After, Revenge of the Castle Cats)

Summary: 200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world. Literally. Now the characters of the Grimms’ stories walk among us. With every day that passes, they grow more evil. They are the Corrupted, and only a hero can stop them.

For 18-year-old Alice Goodenough, that means taking precious time off from her summer vacation. In addition to volunteering at the local library, Alice must stop the Corrupted who are now actively hunting her down. With the help of her magic pen and her trusty rabbit friend, the world has suddenly gotten a lot more complex. The Corrupted are everywhere, and only Alice can see them for what they truly are.

Additional features for this special edition include an introduction, two special “Lost Diaries,” a behind-the-scenes interview, and a collection of original Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

The Grimm Chronicles is intended for Young Adults aged 13 and up. The goal is to provide Young Adult readers with a strong, charismatic young woman in the role of the hero and provide readers with a positive protagonist who uses her brain to overcome obstacles life throws in her way.

My Thoughts: I’ve always loved my fairy tales. It’s something I’ve seen intensified somewhat recently. I can’t help but wonder whether ABC’s Once Upon a Time and NBC’s Grimm have something to do with it. Both are fantastic – and amazingly different – shows centered on fairy tales. Anywho … I signed up for this tour because, well, again, I love fairy tales. This sounded intriguing, and I’ve found that I’ve enjoyed many of the recent fairy tale retellings.

The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 1 by Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky surpassed my expectations. The stories are unique but familiar – thanks to the grounding in the tales created by the Grimm brothers. Alice (is her name the Wonderland girl’s name on purpose? I know that’s not a Grimm story, but I still had to wonder …) is mostly very likable. I say mostly, because she occasionally gets on my nerves – saying “Gawd!” When most people would say “God!” The “gawd” thing got very annoying very quickly. If we’re trying to avoid using “God” for whatever reason, can we find something that’s different enough to not pretty much sound the same? “Gosh” is the first one that comes to mind … Other annoying habits? Focusing way too much on her looks – and being slightly vain at times. But, I suppose, that’s somewhat normal for an average (even though I’m not so sure she can be considered average) 18-year-old girl. There were a couple of specific things that I didn’t like, but these were recurring, thus more worth mentioning. Despite these things, she’s a great character. I liked her very much.

Now, since I’ve mentioned a few things I didn’t like about Alice, I’m just going to stop here and tell you my absolute biggest beef with this book. It needs a good read-through by an experienced copy editor. There are a bit too many things that need to be cleaned up and/or fixed. Given that these episodes were originally published in 2012, I think it’s safe to expect they be better edited. Fortunately, I can’t think of any big-time, major problems. Just a lot of little – and quite annoying – things. BUT, I loved the imaginative nature of these stories, the characters, and how everything came together enough to forgive the book its imperfections. While annoying, I wouldn’t call them distracting. These issues aside, the book is written well enough that I found myself easily moving past these problem areas.

This particular volume is jam-packed with stuff, as listed above. I loved the “Lost Diaries” and the original Grimms’ stories. Each one is pertinent to some part of the episodes in this book, and being able to read them was really neat. It made the use of the characters from these tales just that much more awesome.

Seriously, I could gush about this book forever. I really could! I’m excited to say that I’ll be reviewing the next volume later on in this blog tour. I cannot wait, as this one was fantastic!

Source: Received an ebook as part of a blog tour hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. (Click the button below for more tour stops.)

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

About the Authors: Ken Brosky received his MFA in fiction writing from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also teaches English at Madison College. This is his first Young Adult series.

Isabella Fontaine owns a farm in Wisconsin and enjoys reading weird books like House of Leaves. This is her first Young Adult series.

Web site | Facebook

Giveaway: 5 Kindle ebook copies of The Grimm Chronicles Volume 1

Ends 3/15/13
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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4 Comments Filed Under: blog tour, Giveaways, Reviews Tagged With: 5 stars, blog tour, fairy tales, giveaway, Grimm Brothers, I Am A Reader Not A Writer, Isabella Fontaine, Ken Brosky, review, The Grimm Chronicles

Review: The Rules for Disappearing

February 22, 2013

Title: The Rules for Disappearing
Author: Ashley Elston
Series: The Rules for Disappearing #1

Summary: She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

My Thoughts: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston is a fantastic read. There’s excitement, paranoia, mystery, surprise, fear, and so much more tucked into its pages. I was hooked from the very beginning, and found it hard to stop reading – it almost kept me up all night. The only thing I don’t like is the cover – bare feet make me squirm. Don’t know why; that’s just the way it is. But, since there’s no need to stare at the cover while reading, I figure there’s no need to let that affect the rating I give the book.

The book is told from Meg’s perspective, and it works quite well. The mystery behind everything really makes this the best way to tell the story. I feel bad for her – she must be so lonely and tired. Plus, her family is falling apart. I love Meg’s determination and her heart. And when she discovers the truth about everything, well, it sends her reeling for a while. She’s mature enough to realize, though, that she needs to get herself together and figure out what comes next.

Speaking of what comes next, there is a sequel already in the works. (I discovered that while looking around Goodreads.) I’m excited about this, because the book is one I didn’t want to end so soon. I’d definitely call the story finished – mostly. There’s one loose end, but the main problem in this story is resolved. Clearly it’s not over yet for Meg, but whatever’s coming (I’m guessing here) likely will have a whole new set of problems.

In all, this was a compelling, addictive, exciting, and touching read. I would highly recommend it.

Source: Received through Around the World Tours for review.

Read It: The Rules for Disappearing is scheduled for release around May 14, 2013. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Find me on Goodreads.com >>
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3 Comments Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 5 stars, ARC, Around the World Tours, Ashley Elston, favorites, mystery, review, The Rules for Disappearing, YA

Review: Into the Darkest Corner

January 30, 2013

Title: Into the Darkest Corner
Author: Elizabeth Haynes
Series: n/a

Summary: When young, pretty Catherine Bailey meets Lee Brightman, she can’t believe her luck. Gorgeous, charismatic, and a bit mysterious, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true.

But what begins as flattering attention and spontaneous, passionate sex transforms into raging jealousy, and Catherine soon discovers that Lee’s dazzling blue eyes and blond good looks hide a dark, violent nature. Disturbed by his increasingly erratic, controlling behavior, she tries to break it off; turning to her friends for support, she’s stunned to find they don’t believe her. Increasingly isolated and driven into the darkest corner of her world, a desperate Catherine plans a meticulous escape.

Four years later, Lee is behind bars and Catherine—now Cathy—is trying to build a new life in a new city. Though her body has healed, the trauma of the past still haunts her. Then Stuart Richardson, her attractive new neighbor, moves in. Encouraging her to confront her fears, he sparks unexpected hope and the possibility of love and a normal life.

Until the day the phone rings . . .

My Thoughts: Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes is intense. Very intense. And just about impossible to put down. I started reading early yesterday and finished sometime around 2:15 a.m. It just grabs you pretty much from the start and won’t let go. Despite the quite heavy subject, it actually is a fast read. I think in part because of the way it holds its reader. This is an emotional – and somewhat graphic – story. I wanted to cry for Cathy at various points. I also wanted to kill Lee at just about those same points. There are some shockers thrown in there, a few of which caught me by surprise. I even seem to remember gasping at one point or another (thankfully no one else was home at the time )!

Cathy is so amazingly strong. Firstly, to live through what she lived through. Secondly, because her transformation – no, not transformation, but rather growth – is astounding. She likely will always have some anxiety and/or OCD thanks to her ordeal, but she’s not going to let it rule her. She’s not going to be defined by it. She’s not going to give in to the fear.

Lee is a character I don’t understand. What the heck is his problem? What happened to make him so incredibly awful? At one point she asks who broke his heart, and he says Naomi. But, knowing the lies he tells – and apparently believes – about his relationship with Catherine, I doubt any of what he told her about Naomi is true. Well, at least any of what he told her about the relationship.

The book is well-written. While at first I was a little concerned about whether I’d be able to keep things straight in my head (it alternates through most of the book between “then” and “now”), but looking back found I had no trouble at all. I’m sure her going by Catherine then and by Cathy now helps tremendously. Plus, she’s such a different person, it’s very easy to know exactly who you’re with at any given point.

If you’re a sensitive reader, beware. There’s (obviously) a lot of violence, plus very strong words. Very strong. And rape, of course. After all, he owns her, so he can do what he wants … anyway, just be aware that those things are in there. If you can’t stomach such things, then it’s likely not a good book for you. But, if you can, then I highly recommend it. Highly.

Source: Received as part of a blog tour promotion on TLC Book Tours.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

About the Author: ELIZABETH HAYNES is a police intelligence analyst. She started writing fiction in 2006 with the annual challenge of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the encouragement of the creative writing courses at West Dean College. She lives in a village near Maidstone, Kent, with her husband and son.

You can visit her at elizabeth-haynes.com, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Tour Info: For the main page for this blog tour, including more reviews of this book on other blogs, visit TLC’s post.
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12 Comments Filed Under: blog tour, Reviews Tagged With: 5 stars, blog tour, Elizabeth Haynes, psychological thrillers, review, suspense, TLC Book Tours

Review: Vanity Fare

January 17, 2013

Title: Vanity Fare
Author: Megan Caldwell
Series: n/a

Summary: Molly Hagan is overwhelmed.

Her husband left her for a younger, blonder woman; her six-year-old son is questioning her authority, and now so is she. In order to pay her Brooklyn rent and keep her son supplied with Pokémon and Legos, not to mention food and clothing, she has to get a job—fast.

So when an old friend offers Molly a freelance position copywriting for a new bakery, finding romance is just about the last thing on her mind. But the sexy British pastry chef who’s heading up the bakery has other thoughts. And then so does Molly, when she meets the chef’s intimidating business partner—who also happens to have a secret that might prevent Molly from getting her own happily ever after.

My Thoughts: After finishing Vanity Fare by Megan Caldwell, my only thought was, “loved it!” Yup. That was it. But, I suppose, that’s not sufficient for a review, now, is it? I mean, why did I love it? What is so great about this book? Why do I think you should definitely read this?

Well … let me think for a minute.

Still thinking …

OK, now I’m just playing with ya!

During the course of reading, I couldn’t help but liken this book to just about anything by Jane Austen – especially Pride and Prejudice. We have Simon, the Britt, and Nick, the intimidating one. I couldn’t help but think of the two men our heroine in P&P was drawn to, one of which was a good man and the other not. Oh, and Vanity Fare has animosity between the two men, too. I’m not sure if the (what to me was obvious) parallels (there are more, but I’m not telling what they are) to P&P was on purpose, but fellow P&P loves likely won’t mind. Plus, really, the whole book doesn’t reek of Austen. (And, I suppose, “reek” might not be a good choice of words, as I happen to like Austen. But I digress.) It’s actually quite original. And a lot of fun.

I loved Molly. She cracked me up. She has great wit and is a lot of fun. And she grows. A lot. Her transformation is gradual, impressive, and believable. She has a heart. Despite her issues with her mother, she’s able to put those aside when needed.

Nick is amazing. He sounds hot. His personality is awesome. And he loves kids! As a mom, a man who loves kids is extra-hot! He’s definitely a contender for this year’s Top Boyfriends list! Swoon …

Let’s not forget the food. The descriptions (and names) are clever and enticing. There are a few recipes in the back, too! And they sound, good.

Suffice it to say that I really, really enjoyed this (even though it made me hungry). It’s fun, cute, sweet, and engaging.

Favorite Quotes: There were several that cracked me up, struck a chord, or otherwise were notable. (Caldwell is a fantastic writer.) Here are a couple:

What was it about dedicating your life to another person that made you give up so thoroughly on yourself? Did having a child mean you lost what made you your own person in the first place? ~ page 40

I feel pretty confident saying that most mothers likely can relate to these questions. Lord knows I’ve asked myself something along these lines at least once some point after each of my three children entered the picture. I wouldn’t trade them for the world – or my own identity/person – though.

There I was, Molly Hagan, having dinner with possibly the most beautiful man I’d ever seen outside of a movie screen and I was annoyed. With him. With me for being with him. With him for knowing her, no matter how he’d known her. With the other him for being with her now.

Gah, it was enough to make me wish I were better at geometry, there were so many triangles flying around ~ page 174

I just thought that was a nice example of Molly’s wit. It’s not the best example, but still a good one.

Source: Received as part of a blog tour promotion on TLC Book Tours.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

About the Author: Megan Caldwell grew up in a remote town in New Hampshire where she devoured every book of fiction in her well-read parents’ library. An English literature major at Barnard College with double minors in political science and religion, Megan wrote and edited reviews for a music industry magazine for fifteen years. Eventually, she became editor-in-chief and went on to develop conference programs for the industry. Now she is the community manager for Heroes and Heartbreakers, a romance novel website, where she blogs daily as Megan Frampton about the fiction she reads. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.