Title: Blackhearts Author: Nicole Castroman Series:n/a Publisher: Simon Pulse Publication Date: February 9, 2016 Source: from publisher via Edelweiss Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.
Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.
Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?
From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.
I knew next to nothing about Blackbeard when I picked up this novel -- or any other pirates, for that matter -- only what I've picked up in passing and that's pretty much that pirates are bad. :P I did a quick Wikipedia search on Blackbeard, though, and I liked what I found. Neither family issues nor a romance was mentioned in my reading, but it does seem feasible that either or both of these could have been the instigating factor for his life on the high seas. It also seems that the author's depiction of the character is spot-on.
I can't believe I don't remember studying the infamous Blackbeard in school. I mean, we had to have, right, considering he's probably the most notorious pirate in all of history? And the fact that little is known of his story prior to becoming a pirate is all the more intriguing. I love how Castroman has romanticized Blackbeard's origin story in this novel, giving him a father with extremely high expectations and a doomed love story.
Teach, seemingly unlike most of his peers, is honorable and commendable. He is not a lazy layabout who only wishes to experience the finer offerings of high society. His most fervent wish is to live a life on the high seas, away from the responsibilities of a merchant's son and an arranged marriage. That is, until he meets the sharp-tongued and impulsive Anne Barrett.
Anne is the product of an English merchant and a West Indies slave, and although she was raised as the illegitimate daughter of the pair, she was still given most every opportunity her merchant father could afford her. However, with her father's passing, the mother and daughter were cast off and left to fend for themselves, and neither has fared very well. In fact, Anne turns up as a servant in Teach's father's household.
Despite an inauspicious first meeting, there is an obvious connection between Teach and Anne. Anne is unlike the frivolous high society girls Teach is used to, and there is much more to Teach than just being a member of the gentry. But there is much more than just their social stations keeping them apart. Their slow-burn romance appears to be doomed from the start, but it was so lovely to watch as it unfolded.
That ending was…most unwelcome. Things were just getting really good! And there's no hint of a sequel in the works. Trust me, I checked. But with a story this captivating, it's only a matter of time...I hope. o_O I'll be honest, though…I thought this book was going to take place on a ship. Maybe in the next book?
GIF it to me straight:
(I couldn't not use a Hook shipping GIF when we're talking about pirates. C'mon now.)
About the author:
Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend...she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.
At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.
She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.
So, since my end-of-the-week post isn't just about what I got in my mailbox or on my Kindle each week -- though that is a big part of it, I won't lie -- I decided to change up the title and intro a bit. I might tweak the format a bit over the next few weeks, but for the most part, it'll contain the same stuff: stuff I got, stuff I did, and stuff that's coming up on the blog. Plus, I get to use the awesome GIF you see here and blow kisses to all the people who sent me lovely books and bookish things. Oh, and I've started linking up to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews since I'm not using a specific meme title anymore. April's also doing her own Stacking the Shelves posts on Sundays. Stop by and say hi! =)
Why are short weeks always the longest? I mean, I didn't technically have to work on Monday, but I came in anyway to get ahead because first of the year stuff keeps me busy for months. I'm sure I'll be glad I did next week when end-of-the-month stuff hits. :P
So, how has everyone's year started off? Getting a lot of reading done? I know I am. I don't know what happened, but suddenly, I want to read all the things. And re-read. I've been doing so much freaking re-reading lately, but it makes me feel like the money I spend on books is worth it when I revisit a favorite. Plus, lots of sequels of favorites from last year are releasing soon-ish, and I always like to have a refresher before I dive into the next book. I think I re-read something like 70 books last year...thinking I can at least match that this year. I already know I'll be re-reading (via audio) The Raven Boys Cycle, what with The Raven King releasing in mere months.
Okay, okay. On to the books. Here's what I scored this week...
From Publishers:
Devil and the Bluebird - I featured this book as a WoW pick awhile back and I am so freaking excited to read it! I just love "devil-at-the-crossroads" stories!
Fierce Reads sent an epic package of highly anticipated summer reads: The Square Root of Summer, The Gilded Cage, A Week of Mondays, How to Game the Walk of Shame, and Dream On. I can't wait to dive into every single one of these! And PenguinTeen sent a paperback of The Conspiracy of Us. I am dying for the sequel and can't wait to get my re-read of this mystery/thriller on!
Traded:
Thanks to Melanie for an awesome #booksfortrade! I love when I'm *this* close to completing a collection! =)
And I got The Love That Split the World from the lovely Fallon & Morgan via #booksfortrade.
Gifted:
The ever-fabulous Jessica surprised me with this book this week. Like, totally didn't even tell me she was mailing it. Best. Surprise. Ever. Especially since she knows I collect Victoria Schwab books and knew I was seriously coveting this one in particular. =D I just love that girl! And I am forever indebted to her. (Yes, like a fantasy novel, Jess. :D)
Purchased:
My pre-ordered signed copy of Passenger by Alexandra Bracken arrived this week. And it is absolutely gorgeous! Kind of makes me want to re-read it, lol.
Finally, finally the third part in Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher's mystery novel was released earlier this week. Was it worth the wait? Check out my review (linked below) to find out. And I had an excess of credits on Audible because of my increased use of the library, and I had no idea what to listen to next, so I used a credit on Wolf by Wolf. Hope the hype isn't just that.
So, that's my haul. =) What fabulous bookmail did you get this week?
I've been dying to start The Skylighter since it landed on my Kindle a few months ago, and I'm tired of waiting. But before I do, I wanted a refresher, so I'm re-reading The Storyspinner. I forgot just how much I enjoyed this story!
Currently Listening:
So, I wasn't all that interested in this book when it came out last year and everyone was talking about it. Which is weird because I always liked studying and reading about World War II. But people keep talking about this book, and now there's a novella releasing and a sequel, and I figured, why the hell not? I've got 7 Audible credits to use up. :P
Upcoming Reviews:
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Welcome to my stop on The Dark Days Club Blog Tour. I've got a review and giveaway for you, but be sure to check out the rest of the stops (schedule at the end of the post) for more awesome content, including interviews and guest posts from the author!
Title: The Dark Days Club Author: Alison Goodman Series: Lady Helen, book #1 Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers Publication Date: January 26, 2016 Source: ARC received from publisher Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman’s eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!
London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?
Did you enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Do you like Regency era fiction? Then hold on to your bonnets because you are going to loooove this book! It really is an incredible cross between the two, with Lady Helen battling demons in her petticoats, while also trying to maintain her reputation as a well-bred lady.
There's also a Chosen One vibe coming from Lady Helen, but this is only the first book, so we shall see. :) Also like Buffy, Helen is steadfast and fiercely loyal, two qualities that make her a very good person to have on your side. But she's also clever and sneaky and stronger than she appears, so you don't want to cross her if you can help it.
I rather enjoyed reading as Helen attempted to preserve a certain sense of propriety, even in her dealings with The Dark Days Clubs and the demons they fought. She has only just begun her Season in London and it would ruin all of her aunt's plans if Helen's reputation were besmirched before she'd even had an offer of marriage. And yet Helen cannot resist the pull to do something about the demons that plague her world.
There's also the magnetic pull of the enigmatic ne'er-do-well who brings her into the folds of The Dark Days Club. This slow-burn romance -- the best kind, if you ask me -- was just lovely. The antagonism, the dark looks, the half smiles. It's amazing -- and a demonstration of the writer's abilities -- how sensual those encounters could be without the characters ever touching. Lord Carlston might not be the villain everyone claims he is, after all. Yet for every answer he provides, a million more questions present themselves to Lady Helen. Of course, her very life is in danger just by being associated with The Dark Days Club, and if she were smart, she'd simply walk away from that world.
I knew before I even started reading The Dark Days Club that I was going to love it because it's from the mind of the incomparable Alison Goodman, but I didn't realize just how much I was going to enjoy this story. It's made me want to re-read Eon/Eona to revisit another world that she makes truly breathtaking.
This book was plain fabulous! So well-researched and just perfect...everything I'd hoped it would be and then some. I have theories about the direct inheritor and the Grand Deceiver, and I can't wait to see how things play out in the next installment. It will be well worth the wait.
GIF it to me straight:
About the author:
Alison is the author of the upcoming Lady Helen series, a trilogy of historical supernatural adventures set in the Regency. The first book–The Dark Days Club–is due for release in January 2016. Alison is best known for her New York Times bestselling fantasy duololgy EON and EONA, and her ability to dance a mean English contra-dance. She also writes award winning science fiction and crime fiction, and lives with her lovely husband and their machiavellian Jack Russell Terrier in Melbourne, Australia.
Title: What Was Mine Author: Helen Klein Ross Series: Standalone Publisher: Gallery Books Publication Date: January 5th, 2016 Source: Received for review from publisher via NetGalley Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Simply told but deeply affecting, in the bestselling tradition of Alice McDermott and Tom Perrotta, this urgent novel unravels the heartrending yet unsentimental tale of a woman who kidnaps a baby in a superstore—and gets away with it for twenty-one years.
Lucy Wakefield is a seemingly ordinary woman who does something extraordinary in a desperate moment: she takes a baby girl from a shopping cart and raises her as her own. It’s a secret she manages to keep for over two decades—from her daughter, the babysitter who helped raise her, family, coworkers, and friends.
When Lucy’s now-grown daughter Mia discovers the devastating truth of her origins, she is overwhelmed by confusion and anger and determines not to speak again to the mother who raised her. She reaches out to her birth mother for a tearful reunion, and Lucy is forced to flee to China to avoid prosecution. What follows is a ripple effect that alters the lives of many and challenges our understanding of the very meaning of motherhood.
Author Helen Klein Ross, whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, weaves a powerful story of upheaval and resilience told from the alternating perspectives of Lucy, Mia, Mia’s birth mother, and others intimately involved in the kidnapping. What Was Mine is a compelling tale of motherhood and loss, of grief and hope, and the life-shattering effects of a single, irrevocable moment.
This book was awesome. Sometimes I like to break away from the YA and read something different. What was mine certainly did the trick. I saw this on Netgalley and the description grabbed me. It ended up being so much more than I expected. I'm not even sure where to start, but I'm gonna try.
Lucy Wakefield has always wanted a baby. Clearly, because she up and stole one. I won't get into details but she cannot have one on her own, otherwise this story would not have come to fruition. Does that excuse a woman from stealing another persons baby? No... not at all. This was a constant struggle for me and other readers I'm sure. She loves this baby, She raises this baby, and while I loathed her for what she did, I felt bad for her when she was finally caught.
My favorite thing about this story is how it's told. It's almost like everyone is being interviewed, or not so much interviewed, but telling their story. In the present tense. After she's been caught. Lucy talks to us and gives us her life story pretty much. We get snippets from her family members, ex family members, and other people tied up in the web of Lucy's lies.
The most heart breaking point of view we get, is the birth mother. Oh my gosh, some of those passages had my eyes filling with tears. And eventually we even get to hear from Mia herself. Through every detail of her finding out the truth. I was glued to my kindle. I could not put that shit down if I wanted to. Wow. Such an emotional story .
The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the ending. It's not a bad ending by any means, it just a personal preference. I would have liked a little more closure, and well.. something else, but I'm not sure what, if that makes any sense at all. lol. I would read this a thousand times over though, even knowing the conclusion. So glad I picked this one up. :)
About the author:
Helen's poetry, essays, and fiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York
Times, literary journals and in anthologies, including SHORT, published in 2014 by Persea Books. Her first novel, Making It: A Novel of Madison Avenue, was published as an e-book in 2013 by Gallery/Simon and Schuster. Her debut novel What Was Mine, will be published in January 2016.
Helen is also the creator and editor of a poetry anthology, The Traveler's Vade Mecum, forthcoming next year from Red Hen Press. Over 80 poets-- including Frank Bidart, David Lehman and Billy Collins-- wrote to titles from an 1853 compendium that provides a glimpse into habits and social aspects of nineteenth-century America.
Helen lives in New York City and Salisbury, Connecticut where she is on the board of a haven for book lovers: Scoville Memorial Library.
I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
My Heart Will Remain as Black as My Soul Until I Get a Sequel to BLACKHEARTS
Author: Nicole Castroman
Series: n/a
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
I knew next to nothing about Blackbeard when I picked up this novel -- or any other pirates, for that matter -- only what I've picked up in passing and that's pretty much that pirates are bad. :P I did a quick Wikipedia search on Blackbeard, though, and I liked what I found. Neither family issues nor a romance was mentioned in my reading, but it does seem feasible that either or both of these could have been the instigating factor for his life on the high seas. It also seems that the author's depiction of the character is spot-on.
I can't believe I don't remember studying the infamous Blackbeard in school. I mean, we had to have, right, considering he's probably the most notorious pirate in all of history? And the fact that little is known of his story prior to becoming a pirate is all the more intriguing. I love how Castroman has romanticized Blackbeard's origin story in this novel, giving him a father with extremely high expectations and a doomed love story.
Teach, seemingly unlike most of his peers, is honorable and commendable. He is not a lazy layabout who only wishes to experience the finer offerings of high society. His most fervent wish is to live a life on the high seas, away from the responsibilities of a merchant's son and an arranged marriage. That is, until he meets the sharp-tongued and impulsive Anne Barrett.
Anne is the product of an English merchant and a West Indies slave, and although she was raised as the illegitimate daughter of the pair, she was still given most every opportunity her merchant father could afford her. However, with her father's passing, the mother and daughter were cast off and left to fend for themselves, and neither has fared very well. In fact, Anne turns up as a servant in Teach's father's household.
Despite an inauspicious first meeting, there is an obvious connection between Teach and Anne. Anne is unlike the frivolous high society girls Teach is used to, and there is much more to Teach than just being a member of the gentry. But there is much more than just their social stations keeping them apart. Their slow-burn romance appears to be doomed from the start, but it was so lovely to watch as it unfolded.
That ending was…most unwelcome. Things were just getting really good! And there's no hint of a sequel in the works. Trust me, I checked. But with a story this captivating, it's only a matter of time...I hope. o_O I'll be honest, though…I thought this book was going to take place on a ship. Maybe in the next book?
Saturday, January 23, 2016
{The Weekend Update} 1.23.16 - The One Where I Might Finally Be Out of My Rut
So, how has everyone's year started off? Getting a lot of reading done? I know I am. I don't know what happened, but suddenly, I want to read all the things. And re-read. I've been doing so much freaking re-reading lately, but it makes me feel like the money I spend on books is worth it when I revisit a favorite. Plus, lots of sequels of favorites from last year are releasing soon-ish, and I always like to have a refresher before I dive into the next book. I think I re-read something like 70 books last year...thinking I can at least match that this year. I already know I'll be re-reading (via audio) The Raven Boys Cycle, what with The Raven King releasing in mere months.
Okay, okay. On to the books. Here's what I scored this week...
From Publishers:
Devil and the Bluebird - I featured this book as a WoW pick awhile back and I am so freaking excited to read it! I just love "devil-at-the-crossroads" stories!
Fierce Reads sent an epic package of highly anticipated summer reads: The Square Root of Summer, The Gilded Cage, A Week of Mondays, How to Game the Walk of Shame, and Dream On. I can't wait to dive into every single one of these! And PenguinTeen sent a paperback of The Conspiracy of Us. I am dying for the sequel and can't wait to get my re-read of this mystery/thriller on!
Traded:
Thanks to Melanie for an awesome #booksfortrade! I love when I'm *this* close to completing a collection! =)
And I got The Love That Split the World from the lovely Fallon & Morgan via #booksfortrade.
Gifted:
The ever-fabulous Jessica surprised me with this book this week. Like, totally didn't even tell me she was mailing it. Best. Surprise. Ever. Especially since she knows I collect Victoria Schwab books and knew I was seriously coveting this one in particular. =D I just love that girl! And I am forever indebted to her. (Yes, like a fantasy novel, Jess. :D)
Purchased:
My pre-ordered signed copy of Passenger by Alexandra Bracken arrived this week. And it is absolutely gorgeous! Kind of makes me want to re-read it, lol.
Finally, finally the third part in Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher's mystery novel was released earlier this week. Was it worth the wait? Check out my review (linked below) to find out. And I had an excess of credits on Audible because of my increased use of the library, and I had no idea what to listen to next, so I used a credit on Wolf by Wolf. Hope the hype isn't just that.
So, that's my haul. =) What fabulous bookmail did you get this week?
The Week in Review:
Reviews:
Some of these were posted on Goodreads...
Promotional/Discussion Posts:
Currently Listening:
Upcoming Reviews:
Friday, January 22, 2016
{Blog Tour} THE DARK DAYS CLUB by Alison Goodman: Review & Giveaway
Welcome to my stop on The Dark Days Club Blog Tour. I've got a review and giveaway for you, but be sure to check out the rest of the stops (schedule at the end of the post) for more awesome content, including interviews and guest posts from the author!
Author: Alison Goodman
Series: Lady Helen, book #1
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Did you enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Do you like Regency era fiction? Then hold on to your bonnets because you are going to loooove this book! It really is an incredible cross between the two, with Lady Helen battling demons in her petticoats, while also trying to maintain her reputation as a well-bred lady.
There's also a Chosen One vibe coming from Lady Helen, but this is only the first book, so we shall see. :) Also like Buffy, Helen is steadfast and fiercely loyal, two qualities that make her a very good person to have on your side. But she's also clever and sneaky and stronger than she appears, so you don't want to cross her if you can help it.
I rather enjoyed reading as Helen attempted to preserve a certain sense of propriety, even in her dealings with The Dark Days Clubs and the demons they fought. She has only just begun her Season in London and it would ruin all of her aunt's plans if Helen's reputation were besmirched before she'd even had an offer of marriage. And yet Helen cannot resist the pull to do something about the demons that plague her world.
There's also the magnetic pull of the enigmatic ne'er-do-well who brings her into the folds of The Dark Days Club. This slow-burn romance -- the best kind, if you ask me -- was just lovely. The antagonism, the dark looks, the half smiles. It's amazing -- and a demonstration of the writer's abilities -- how sensual those encounters could be without the characters ever touching. Lord Carlston might not be the villain everyone claims he is, after all. Yet for every answer he provides, a million more questions present themselves to Lady Helen. Of course, her very life is in danger just by being associated with The Dark Days Club, and if she were smart, she'd simply walk away from that world.
I knew before I even started reading The Dark Days Club that I was going to love it because it's from the mind of the incomparable Alison Goodman, but I didn't realize just how much I was going to enjoy this story. It's made me want to re-read Eon/Eona to revisit another world that she makes truly breathtaking.
This book was plain fabulous! So well-researched and just perfect...everything I'd hoped it would be and then some. I have theories about the direct inheritor and the Grand Deceiver, and I can't wait to see how things play out in the next installment. It will be well worth the wait.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Review: What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross
Author: Helen Klein Ross
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Source: Received for review from publisher via NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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