Being Elizabeth

Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford

What was this book about?

At 25 years old Elizabeth Deveranel becomes the soul heir to a globally recognized company – Deveranel’s. It has been in her family for generations. The last few years have been difficult for Elizabeth with her sister Mary running the company into the ground.

Elizabeth will do whatever it takes to get Deveranel’s back in business and stable. Of course taking over a company like this isn’t easy. There are other’s who want their part of the pie. People who are loyal to her now dead sister Mary.

Elizabeth and her allies must work hard to keep things going their way!

What did you think about the book?

Ok so I was a little slow when I was reading this. It wasn’t what I expected at all. I was definitely at least a few chapters in when I realized that this was the story of Queen Elizabeth I told as if instead of a Queen she was empire of a global company. Still the intrigues and relationships were all there.

I have read a LOT about the times of Henry VIII, Elizabeth, Richard, Mary, etc. I don’t consider myself an expert by any means but the stories there are not really new to me. I think I would have enjoyed this book a little more if when I went to read it – it was what I expected. Instead of getting an intrigue of woman running a company – it was really just retelling a story I already knew from a different twist. And for me the twist wasn’t enough to keep the story going.

I think if you don’t know a lot about the historical years of Elizabeth you will probably really like it. And if you know what you are reading is a slightly different version of that you will probably really enjoy it as well. I think it is all about expectations.

I also have to say I haven’t read a lot of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s books. Maybe if I had it would have been something that I expected instead of something I realized once I was into the book.

What genre would you consider this?

Fiction

Overall:

Bride Needs Groom

Bride Needs Groom by Wendy Markham

What was this book about?

Mia Calogera’s grandpa is going to disown her if she doesn’t get married soon. Which is a big deal considering that he won the lottery and has been supporting her since her teens. Mia isn’t ready to get married but knows she needs that money – and she isn’t ready to fall into her grandpa’s own plans for her getting married.

So Mia goes to vegas – ready to marry a man she met online – Derek. Yet on the plane she meets Dominic Chicakalini. Dominic has always been involved with many women and isn’t ready to settle down yet (or so he thinks). But marriage seems to be everywhere around him – he is even sitting next to a bride on the plane.

But Mia and Dominic can’t deny that there is an attraction there. Can this attraction and possibly love live through the real world?

What did you think about the book?

I liked the book. The impressions I got of Mia and Dominic in the previous book I read about the Chickalini family were wrong. They didn’t just fall into the fortune tellers wisdom and get married but there was a lot more going on.

I definitely also enjoyed the lottery money taking Mia’s family out of a life of drudgery and yet still keeping them grounded in their community and realizing their things were just things. For Mia it was harder but she learned the lesson as well.

What genre would you consider this?

Romance

Overall:

Kissing Coffins

Kissing Coffins by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses Book 2)

What was this book about?

Raven has found out that her goth boyfriend isn’t just a normal boy – but instead he really is a vampire. Alexander is everything Raven wanted in a boyfriend – and he can make her immortal like him. But Alexander disappears and Raven wonders what he is up to. She craves being with him. She tries to look for him but it only gets her into more trouble.

What did you think about the book?

I like the first one, enjoyed the book. I had some wishes for it – like “I wish it was longer”, “I wish I saw more of the characters”, “I wish the story arc was longer and more complicated. But dispite all these things I did enjoy it.

I would recommend this book for a young tween that is maybe not ready to explore the Stephenie Meyer vampire series. Or maybe a young tween that is different then the rest of the kids who wants to know it is ok to be different – and can actually be good.

What genre would you consider this?

Teen

Overall:

Dark Curse

Dark Curse by Christine Feehan (Carpathian Novel)

What was this book about?

Lara Calladine, daughter of Razvan has a history that has forced her to remain quiet about her mage abilities. She was tortured as a small child by her father and grandfather and trusts very few. She also can’t handle the Carpathian part of her that requires her to drink blood. It is all a difficult living for her.

Then she meets Nicolas De La Cruz. He is her lifemate and immediately binds the two of them together. He was an edge – ready to give up his life – because he believed the day would never happen that he would find her. But for Nicolas who is used to being in charge and “manly” it is difficult for him to realize he cannot just claim Lara as his and all will be well. Her history makes that difficult.

It is a difficult time for the Carpathian people. They are dying out, their children are dying, it looks like things may be at a turning point – for the bad. Little do they know that Lara – being of Dragonseeker blood – holds the key to making things better for all of them. Will she help? Will she accept her lifemate?

What did you think about the book?

I love the Carpathian’s. They have everything a romance novel like this should have – people meant to be together, a complete and complex history and past, characters that reoccur so that you don’t lose your old friends. To me it is amazing the world that Christine Feehan has created. It is definitely more then I could have ever imagined.

So if you liked the other novels you must read this one. I love how we learn more about Razvan (through his daughter Lara). You learn more about the evil Xavier and the things he has done to exterminate the Carpathian race. I find the fact that he is the reason that Carpathians have had such a hard time bearing children as a great twist in the larger picture. Can you read one of these book on their own? Probably. I wouldn’t suggest it though – you get so much more out of reading them all!

What genre would you consider this?

Paranormal Romance

Overall:

The Summoning

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

What was this book about?

Chloe Saunders can hear/see dead people. Is she crazy? What s going on with her life? When an outburst at school leaves her institutionalized and later sent to a home for troubled teens she doesn’t know what to believe. Is she imagining this whole thing? Is there something wrong with her? Or is it real – can she dead people?

Life at the home isn’t what it seems. It seems as if she may be surrounded by kids like her – kids who believe they can do things that they can’t – can they or are they crazy too?

There is Tori who is out to get her for stealing her boyfriend. Simon the cute boy who seems to want to get to know her better – and his creepy brother Derek – who seems very interested in what Chloe can do for some reason.

Can Chloe trust the right people? And get out of the circumstances that are threatening her?

What did you think about the book?

I have read many of Kelly Armstrong’s Otherworld series for adults. I enjoy it – sometimes it is a little dry and hard for me to get into, but overall I like it. I have to say seeing a teen novel from her I didn’t know what to expect. I found the whole concept to be great! It is a fun read while still giving us the parts we love about Armstrong’s other books. The characters are complex and it almost seems like there could be teens out there like this.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Paranormal

Overall:

Spoilers: Didn’t see her aunt as being one of the bad guys. Nice twist!

Enter and Win!

Vampire Kisses

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses Book 1)

What was this book about?

Raven has lived in this small, boring town her entire life. She wishes things were just a little more. She isn’t the usual teen and has been treated poorly by her fellow classmates her whole life. See Raven has chosen to be a “goth girl”. She wants to be a vampire when she grows up. She is just a little different.

When the old scary house in town is bought and people move in – they fit her every fantasy. They could be vampires. But are they? Is their teenage son what he seems? He looks to be Raven’s ultimate fantasy. A boy who gets her.

What did you think about the book?

For me this book started out kinda slow. I don’t know if it was the cover, the large type, or what but I thought maybe this wasn’t a teen book but more of 10,11 year old book. But I have to say once I got into the book it picked up a bit.

Was it my favorite teen vampire novel ever? No. Is it as intricate and well written as the Twilight series or some of the other books that are out there? No. Does the intended audience seem to be for the 14-17 year old crowd? No. So it seems like I am all negative – but really once I got over my initial impressions of what it would be – I enjoyed it.

I will definitely continue on with the series and see where it takes me. I am not ready to give “Vampire Kisses” up yet.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Paranormal

Overall:

Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Final Book in the
Twilight Series)

What was this book about?

Bella and her vampire boyfriend Edward have graduated. Bella is convinced that she wants to become a vampire before she becomes to old – she doesn’t want to look old to Edward’s forever 17 years old. Edward has made Bella promise to get married to him before making that permanent bond that she will have to live with. And she has agreed. It will be hard for her friends and family to understand but she does it.

Bella also has her relationship with Jacob – a werewolf who has it out for vampires – especially Edward. When Bella’s wedding is finished and she goes off on a honeymoon only to return very – very ill. Everyone has to bond together to make sure that Bella is ok. The results of this will have repercussions to come.

What did you think about the book?

I had heard all sorts of things about this book and set myself up to be disappointed. And you know what – I really wasn’t. Yes, this book has a slightly different feel then the other books. It is more “adult”. I couldn’t imagine getting married and having a family at the age of 18/19. And I would imagine that most teens would identify with that feeling. So the world of “Twilight” left behind the teen world and instead moved on to the rest of Bella’s life.

I almost feel like that would be required. It is difficult to wrap up a series that has gotten so much acclaim. People have started to feel for you characters and each have envisioned where they should go from here. And to write a last book in a series you have to wrap up your own strings as well as try to meet the expectations of so many others. And make them feel like they know what is going to happen after it. And yet I felt satisfied with the conclusion. I knew why I had met who I met in previous books (it was part of a larger plan) and I also knew enough to make my own story of where their lives progressed after it all ends.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Teen Romance

Overall:

Spoilers: Yes – Bella and Edward live happily ever after. And even their daughter gets to live and find a mate. Jacob also finds his way into the family (by bonding with Renesmee). It is a nice happy end to a fun series.

A Bad Bride’s Tale

A Bad Bride’s Tale by Polly Williams

What was this book about?

Stevie Jonson is about to get married. Her younger sister seems to have it all – a husband and two (soon to be three) children. She realizes soon that maybe she jumped into this and that her soon to be husband isn’t what she really wants. This thought is aggravated by the return of her childhood friend and crush into her life.

Stevie doesn’t know if she should take what she can get or keep trying for something better. She fights the battle of knowing she is getting older and wondering if she doesn’t settle down now – will she ever find anyone.

What did you think about the book?

I really felt for Stevie. I can’t imagine going into a wedding with those kinda doubts. You are almost forced to continue. You have spent all this money (or your parents have), you have all these expectations placed on you. And it just isn’t right for you. But it almost is as if it has movement of its own and it will come barreling forward no matter what.

I have friends in their 30’s that definitely have gotten the single girl is getting old urge. Where they feel rushed into settling down, finding someone, having children. Everyone else is doing it. And you are told (from your mid-20s) that you better have children soon. Your eggs are drying up. Yes you can get all those scientific procedures to have a child but it won’t be that easy (or that cheap).

So for me this book kinda covers all these issues while still dealing with the main story line.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance/Women

Overall:

The Summerhouse

The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

What was this book about?

Three women meet as if by fate when they are 21 years old. They are young and beautiful, and have their whole lives in the palms of their hands. Now on their 40th birthday they meet again and tell each other what happened in their lives. Now instead of being happy, they have been beaten down by the lives that they have lived.

On this vacation to the Summerhouse they meet a mysterious woman – Madam Zoya, who tells them she will send them back in time. They get to pick the time – they live there for 3 weeks (with the knowledge of what happened to them). Then they will return to this time. They can choose whether to keep the life they had, or the life that they have made for themselves by going back.

What did you think about the book?

The first half was depressing – I started to wonder what the book was about because there just didn’t seem to be any way that it could get better for these characters. Then we meet Madame Zoya and it all becomes clear. I predicted a bit who would chose what but it was an interesting story and you were glad to see things work out for three people who were genuinely good people even if their life didn’t turn out that way.

What genre would you consider this?
Summer Read

Overall:

Death Angel

Death Angel by Linda Howard

What was this book about?

Drea Rousseau is girlfriend and confidant to mobster Rafael Salinas. She knows that she must keep her beauty the center of his feelings for her. If he ever realizes there is a brain in that little pretty head of hers, she will be dead.

When Rafael finally pushes Drea to far she steals a few million dollars and goes on her way. She knows that he will be after her, and this time he will be out for blood. And it doesn’t take long for him to send his assassin after her.

Drea is left for dead, but miraculously she comes out alive. The assassin can’t help but be intrigued by Drea and leaves her alive, not telling Rafael. Can Drea come back from all of this and find true love? And stay alive?

What did you think about the book?

At first I really enjoyed the book. It was a bad girl who was really a good girl – just life took her the wrong path and a really bad boy. They were both more then just their labels “assassin” or “mobster girlfriend”.

But about halfway through it took a really odd twist and began to focus on heaven and angels. And it became more about the characters finding redemption so that they could go to an afterlife – then about being good people. And when you have people that were so complex in some ways I felt it simplified them.

So while I usually like Linda Howard I wouldn’t say this was my favorite.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

The Frog Prince

The Frog Prince by Jane Porter

What was this book about?

Holly comes fresh off a divorce to a new job in a new city. She is a small town girl who thought she had it all in her French husband. Instead she found out that he didn’t want her.

Facing the fact that her life hasn’t followed the path that she wanted it to she is forced to move on in her life. A job that seemed to be fairy tale, maybe isn’t what she thought it was. People who were her friends, really aren’t.

What did you think about the book?

I enjoyed it. A breakup is not an easy thing to do and living with your own baggage is even harder. Everyone has been affected by the relationships in their lives – especially their parents relationships. It is hard to move past that, grow up and realize that maybe you do want to be like your mother or father. Or that you definitely don’t.

In "The Frog Prince", Holly must figure out what she wants out of life. That her dreams sometimes just don’t compare to reality. That falling off a pedestal to realize life isn’t like a story book can be difficult.

What genre would you consider this?
Women

Overall:

The Smart One and the Pretty One

The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik

What was this book about?

Lauren and Ava Nickerson are sisters who have lived states away. When Lauren returns to LA, Ava can’t help but feel that they are falling into their old roles. Lauren is the undependable one. She makes plans and forgets them. Has trouble with money and can’t stop shopping. Meanwhile Ava is dependable, smart, and has a great job. But she feels like her sister outshines her. Lauren attracts people like bees to honey, and yet Ava has a hard time even getting a date.

When Lauren finds papers that her parents signed years ago – betrothing Ava to a neighbor boy things start to change. Lauren realizes that flitting from thing to thing may not be all that satisfying. And Ava realizes that she can be the pretty one too.

What did you think about the book?

How fun – the relationship between sisters is an emotional rollercoaster. It is amazing how siblings get typecasted. Not just in the good ways but the bad as well. It is hard to move outside your roll in the family – whether it is the pretty one or the smart one.

This book is smart in how it deals with it. Something everyone who feels like they are the smart one or the pretty one should read. Life is not perfect on other side of the fence no matter who you are. And that changing a little can reap rewards that you will never expect.

What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics

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