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 So hard to believe tomorrow is already August! I’ve just returned from a week in the States and an overnight flight with no sleep has left me pretty tired, so it’s incredibly unlikely I’ll finish anything else today. July was a really busy month for me, but I still managed to fit in some reading – especially last week – and discovered some fantastic new books.
Fiction
- The Last Letter, Kathleen Shoop
- Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
- The Book of Lies, Mary Horlock
- History of a Pleasure Seeker, Richard Mason
- Mine to Possess, Nalini Singh
- Catch Me, Lorelie Brown
- The Crying Tree, Naseem Rakha
- Rules of Civility, Amor Towles
- The American Heiress, Daisy Goodwin
- Ready Player One, Ernest Cline
- The Taming of the Rake, Kasey Michaels
- Dreams of Joy, Lisa See
- A Local Habitation, Seanan McGuire
Non-fiction
- The Band that Played On, Steve Turner
Non-fiction is looking very sad this month. It’s clear that when stress takes over, I start reading fiction. I’ve definitely found myself drawn more towards fantasy and historical romance this month, even though non-fiction remains as compelling as ever in my head.
Best of the Month
 
I just completely adored these books. Ready Player One is the perfect fiction novel for a gamer; I had an incredible time with it and I can’t wait to share it with you towards the middle of this month. You’ve already read about how much I loved Rules of Civility, which was fantastic literary historical fiction, so its appearance here shouldn’t be a surprise at all!
I’m not sure how August will go, how much time I’ll have, or even if I’ll have an internet connection in our new place just yet. It’s very much wait and see, but I’ll keep you all posted. I’m planning on devoting most of the month’s lunch breaks to blogging, so I hope you won’t notice I’ve gone, and will even spot me on your own blog a few times! I’d love to get more involved in the community again, so I’m hoping once the dust has settled, I’ll be around a lot more. I am planning to read:
- Amsterdam, Geert Mak
- In a Treacherous Court, by Michelle Diener
- An Artificial Night and Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
- The Wild Rose, Jennifer Donnelly
- The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle
How was your reading month? What are your plans for August?
 Wearing his very best, Oliver le Beau Blackthorn sets off to propose marriage to his beloved, Madelyn. Since his amorous advances were received favorably, he’s reasonably certain that he has a chance at her hand in marriage, even though he is a bastard. Reasonably certain, anyway, until her brother kicks him out and delivers him the beating of his life, right in front of Madelyn’s little sister Chelsea. Beau begins a lifelong campaign to get revenge on Thomas; what he doesn’t count on is Chelsea dropping right into his lap. Nearly forced to marry the odious and insincere reverand who rules Thomas’s life, Chelsea is determined to get the ultimate revenge by eloping with Beau. The pair soon discover that they’re united in a lot more than dislike for Thomas.
This was a sweet, very readable historical romance that at times even had me laughing. The main couple have that all-important chemistry; in fact, they’re more often found teasing each other than anything else, which made me really feel that they had a particular connection. They are truly adorable together, and their discovery of that makes for a very enchanting read. This is the basis of the appeal of the entire book, and it’s one thing Michaels does very very well.
The plot itself is very simple; the couple set out for Gretna Green and mainly focus on evading Thomas. He is not evil, just misguided, with little affection for either of his sisters; so there isn’t really a villain at all in the story, though it could have very easily slipped into that trope. I personally had envisioned quite a few different scenarios towards the end in the way of the HEA – I didn’t actually expect it to end the way it did. But it was a good ending, and no one really reads romances for the exterior plots anyway.
I suppose my only problem with the book is the title. Beau is not a rake. They make occasional references to his “extensive experience” with women but he’s ridiculously far from the classic image of a rake. Not once does he take advantage of Chelsea – he never even tries. He’s rather the perfect gentleman. I wonder if the book was given that title just to attract attention and trade on the well-known romance stereotype – it’s not at all descriptive of the contents of the book.
The Taming of the Rake is a sweet, funny, and enchanting romance, a great choice for other historical romance fans, and definitely recommended by me.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free from Netgalley.
 Maggie Bullock would do just about anything to save her father’s life, so when she has to rob a bank to pay for his medical treatments, she goes and does it. She has no regret; the bank is run by a man she thought was her father’s friend, but who failed to loan him the money for his treatments. Immediately, Maggie flees the small town she grew up in, but hot on her heels is bounty hunter Dean Collier. He’s been offered a chance to make good if he catches her, and he truly longs to be a sheriff again, but he hadn’t counted on Maggie’s bewitching ways. Over the three weeks it takes him to return her for ransom, their resilience will be tested over and over again.
I downloaded this book because of the many rave reviews it was receiving on Twitter. While I don’t think they were entirely undeserved, on first impression this book and I didn’t get along particularly well. In part I think it was because Dean’s attraction was described a little too coarsely – I have no idea what men think but personally, this was a bit more than I had bargained for. It’s hard to describe what exactly put me off him, but his thoughts towards her are far from honorable, probably fairly accurately along the lines of what a man with a captured woman actually thinks. He never takes advantage of her – but the start of the book had me worried.
Regardless, I perservered, and it’s once the couple get to know each other that the book comes into its own and becomes an enjoyable read. Rooting along with Maggie and Dean against the bad guys when the final showdown occurs is as satisfying as you’d expect it to be. Dean is a fairly stereotypical romance novel hero – a guilt complex because he blames himself for deaths he couldn’t have helped – but Maggie is a feisty Western heroine and I couldn’t help but like her. She does her best to see things as they truly are and seize the moment. She had me from the first few virtual pages – that bank robbing scene is very well written and perfectly done to grab the eager reader. She has some hard facts to face over the course of the novel, but she always accepts and follows what she believes in. It’s just a shame Dean isn’t as appealing!
Overall, I’m not sure I’ll be singing Catch Me‘s praises to every romance reader I know. But if you’re looking for a satisfying Western romance and prepared to overlook a hero in favor of a strong heroine, this one could be the book you’re looking for.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free from Netgalley.
Since I wasn’t able to hold a giveaway in honor of my recent blogoversary, I decided to offer one belatedly! I thought I’d giveaway a few of the historical fiction books I’ve reviewed and am about to review over the next few days. It’s a flash giveaway – the prizes are in the US and I’d like to send them on Friday, so the contest is only open until tomorrow (Thursday July 28th) at 12 noon EST. Open only to those with a US address – sorry, I am going to run an international giveaway soon!
I have two prize packs of two books each, so there will be two winners!
One winner will receive:
 
I read The Queen of Last Hopes and really enjoyed it, while In a Treacherous Court is set to release next week and I’ll be reviewing it then! These are both ARCs and gently read.
The second pack consists of:
 
I loved Madame Tussaud and, while Dracula, My Love wasn’t my favorite, many other bloggers read and enjoyed it. The first is an ARC, the second is a finished copy, and neither have been read.
To enter, please just fill in the form below!
Katey Kontent is one secretary of many in 1938 New York City, living with her stylish friend Eve and generally just having fun as a single 25-year-old. She and Eve don’t make much money, but they have their routines set at the boardinghouse and consider one another best friends. Then, while out one night, the girls bump into Tinker Grey, a wealthy young man that Kate immediately pegs as wealthy, privileged, and unattainable. But Tinker goes on to make a huge effect on their lives in a pivotal year for both women. Katey vividly learns the results of her own choices and how she has the power to shape her own destiny.
This was a truly incredible read. It sounded fantastic, but I really didn’t expect to end up loving it quite as much as I did. I read it entirely on public transport, which usually makes for distractions, but not with this book, as I was completely and totally absorbed in my Kindle no matter what happened – to the extent that at times I worried I’d miss my stop and had to put it away!
The first and primary thing I loved about this book was the atmosphere. It is so successful at evoking late 30’s New York. The parties, the restaurants, the high societies, right down to the difficulties of Kate’s initial job at the secretary pool and her various fading living spaces. Tinker’s life is vividly contrasted with Kate’s starting position – and then there is the stereotypical older woman, Anne, who complicates everything Kate thinks she knows over and over again throughout the book. It’s a vivid backdrop that explores the nature of wealth, hard work, and simple luck, and rings true as a very American story.
I adored the perspective of single women trying very hard to make it for themselves. The book is from Kate’s point of view, and she is a strong woman – not afraid to be feminine, but constantly reaching for the stars and refusing to settle for anything less than she truly deserves. She has to make a number of choices over this pivotal year in her life, and she learns very sharply that her decisions make her destiny.
The supporting characters are definitely not without their charms and complete the whole picture that the novel makes. Eve is equally determined to escape her past and her well-meaning parents by living it up somewhere she is completely anonymous; Kate’s love interests display that old-fashioned form of wooing; and best of all, the characters are bookworms. They’re often well read, make comments about what they’re reading, and bring me in with the sort of allusions that only another reader would adore.
Rules of Civility completely won me over and I’d happily recommend it to any other reader; it’s just that good.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free for review from Netgalley.
 Piet Barol has always longed to be more than his humble upbringings. He’s searching for a job in Amsterdam in 1907 that will catapult him into the life he believe he’s always deserved. With a letter of introduction in hand, he hastens to the doorstep of the Vermeulen-Sickerts, whose son, a musical genius, refuses to go outside and follows carefully constructed rituals to keep himself safe. Piet lands the job and almost immediately sets about making himself indispensable and liked in the family. His climb to prosperity is both scandalous and gripping, rich with the opulence of the period and the emotional complexities that rise from Piet’s relationships.
This book is not for the sensitive, because as the title implies, it does get quite scandalous, and Piet doesn’t hesistate to trade on his physical appeal to gain traction with the ladies, going as far as he is allowed. There is a lot of tension between him and several other characters in the book, men and women, as his attractiveness and relentless ambition drives him to sleep with anyone despite his own personal preferences.
That isn’t the part I liked about the book, really, although I thought those relationships were well done. I was interested in two other aspects; Piet’s relationship with the smallest member of the Vermeulen-Sickerts family was one that stuck out to me. The poor boy has such a conflict within himself, and while Piet’s relationship with him only pushes him in the correct direction, I still felt quite a lot of sympathy for him.
The other part that I really enjoyed was the setting. In particular, most of the book is set in Amsterdam, and it’s very glamorous at that. I loved hearing about the parties, the usual contrast between the lives of the servants and the lives of the aristocrats, and all of the little details that Mason fills the book with. Later on in the book, Piet heads off on a steamship, and once again we get that contrast; Piet is not in first class, but his connections with a servant friend get him there. Along with him, we experience the huge difference that a change in station entails, and it’s almost too easy to see why he longs to climb the social ladder so deeply.
It’s obvious at the end of this novel that the series hasn’t quite ended yet, and I do believe Mason intends to follow up with more details of Piet’s life. This isn’t going to be a favorite of mine, but I did enjoy the ride. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for an excellent depiction of Belle Epoque Amsterdam, complex characters, and who doesn’t mind some racy scenes in their books.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free from Amazon Vine.
I’ve heard about the demise of Borders quite often over the past few months, but not normally being in the US hadn’t had a chance to see what was going on for myself yet. Yesterday, though, I arrived, and in I went, because I remember how excited I was when that particular huge Borders opened. It was about as saddening as you’d expect – I felt like a vulture.
What was worse? All of the people saying – loudly – that 10% off wasn’t really a deal, the books were still cheaper on Amazon, and basically complaining about the fact that even while going out of business Borders couldn’t match up. In hearing of employees – who are all losing their jobs. It was awful and brought home to me just how important it is to actually buy books in bookstores, because it seems no one else is going to. I can’t do anything here, but I can at least put my money where my mouth is at home in the UK. I’m also glad that I’ve been doing it.
I have arrived safely at my parents’ house to a number of review copies (although significantly less as I’ve been cutting back), so I’ll be spending the rest of the week and probably most of August trying to catch up. Since I have a whole, glorious week off, I’m also going to try and catch up on writing, with the aim of having a couple of weeks of posts scheduled to try and make up for my next week of 4 hours of commuting and the following week of moving. But we’ll see what happens. I also want to catch up on blog reading – it has been a shamefully long time since I commented on some of your blogs and I have been missing what has been going on!
What are you up to this Sunday?
 The faerie world has never been comfortable for October Daye. Half-human, half-fae, she formerly ran investigations until her magical heritage lost her fourteen years of her life and the people she loved. Even though she’s decided that she’s finished with that half of her life, serving as a grocery store clerk until her need to avoid dawn gets her fired, the fae aren’t finished with her. She is drawn back into the world against her will, but with no power to resist her latest investigation into a friend’s death.
Ana of the Book Smugglers recommended this to me as her favorite recent urban fantasy series, and since you all know how much I love urban fantasy, there was simply no way I could say no. While this hasn’t displaced my current favorites, it’s fantastic to discover a new one.
This is proper urban fantasy, set right in the midst of San Francisco, where the fae blend neatly in the human world whenever possible. There are only a few times where they are vulnerable, such as at dawn, when October (Toby) must hide herself from detection. She has lost everything and mainly wishes to hide in the midst of the urban jungle. But she’s left no choice in the matter and must delve up old memories as she searches for a killer, and we’re right along with her on her journey.
This made it really easy to be immersed in the world as Toby’s investigation carries her around different sections of the fae, reacquainting her with old allies, enemies, and even lovers. There are quite a few places for McGuire to go with future installments in the series even as the current mystery begins to wrap up. This is a very eerie world; I’ve never been to San Francisco but I got a feel for the grimness of this version of the city, with its constant danger and quirky, often threatening inhabitants.
I really enjoyed the character of Toby in this book. I loved her casual banter, her struggles with other characters, and the fact that she feels like a human even though she’s actually half fae. It makes her very easy to sympathize with, especially because her concerns are actually very human in nature, particularly in the beginning of the book. She just wants to survive, to see her child, to be with the people she loves. I think it would be a challenge not to feel for her.
I did very much enjoy this particular urban fantasy and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series. There are three more, with another book coming out in October. In fact, now that I’ve written this review, I’m a bit tempted to go buy them now! Rosemary and Rue would be an excellent choice for anyone else who is craving a little bit more urban fantasy.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I bought this book.
 Cathy Rozier opens her narrative by informing us that she’s actually killed her best friend Nic. But before we find out how, we must go back and discover why; how two friends who spent so much time together could end up so opposed that their relationship ends in death. Intertwined with Cathy’s difficult story of angst-ridden teenagers is the story of Guernsey throughout World War II, when her father, uncle, and grandparents struggled through the German occupation, narrated through documents and letters in a variety of different voices. Put together, it’s the tale of an island then and now, the secrets held by so many people and the damage they can wreak on other lives.
At first, I found it difficult to get into this book. Cathy’s voice is acerbic, cynical, and self-deprecating; she’s a character I don’t think I could ever like. At the same time, her teenage attitude is incredibly appropriate for the kind of book this is, and it isn’t always necessary to like a character in order to gain appreciation for a book. And in the end I love the twisted storylines, particularly the historical letters and details from Charlie’s side of the story (surprise surprise).
There are quite a few bits and pieces in this novel about the occupation that are skipped out or found no place elsewhere, such as the burying of the prisoners’ bodies, that helped flesh out what I’d read before and add true atmosphere to this novel. Knowing precisely what happened in the past adds layers to Cathy’s story that simply wouldn’t exist in an ordinary contemporary novel with a mystery. Cathy has revelations to make about her family that can deeply impact her, but throughout she acts as a teenager would and I was completely convinced by her character.
Once engrossed, the novel is easy to race through, as we are keen to figure out just what happens next and how Cathy will handle everything that is happening around her. Perhaps not surprising given the subject matter, this is a dark book, with a setting that feels particularly grim. We can sense Cathy’s dissatisfaction with Guernsey and the little it offers to a modern day teenager even as the richness of its past has strong impacts on precisely the present that is so hum drum.
This is a book that, off-putting to start, turns out to be an addicting read. I had quite a time with it and feel I’ve been left with a lot to think about now that I’ve finished. I would definitely recommend The Book of Lies to those who are also interested in probing the past, about the difficulties of teenage years, or even just looking for a good story.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free for review from Netgalley.
This week has been a big one for me. Friday, in particular, actually. I feel like each of these deserve a post of their own, but they all happened on the same day, and thus deserve to be mentioned together.
Most relevant to this blog, Friday was my four year blogiversary; I initially started blogging about books before I knew any book bloggers, so it was slow going until summer 2009, when I started to meet other book bloggers through LibraryThing (it’s hard to believe just how many ways LT has enhanced my reading life) and get really into the community. It’s so much easier to get motivated when you know you have people out there looking for you! I love book blogging and while these days it may be a challenge to write a review for every book I read, especially with so much other craziness happening in my life, I am grateful to have my little outlet and a community I can always rely on for a lot more than just book recommendations. In the last four years, I have attained my BA, my MA, my first real job, moved countries, moved around three (soon to be four) times, got married, and experienced countless other smaller achievements and setbacks.
Then, yesterday, we went to see the final Harry Potter film. I’ve been in on the craziness for nearly 12 years and, for me like many others, Harry Potter has been an epic journey that I just didn’t really want to end. I still remember reading the first book for the first time; back then, I was 13 and it was eighth grade, and before the TBR pile I had nothing else new in the house to read for a school assignment. I had already seen other kids reading Harry Potter but I wasn’t particularly interested, and in fact my mom had bought the book because she’d seen it on TV. It was her paperback copy that I proceeded to nearly destroy (we have a hardcover now) as I read it not once, but numerous times over the years as I kept coming back to the series. I remember the excitement of reading it all for the first time and the immediate need I had to keep reading; my parents got me the next two for Christmas and I gobbled them up quickly, too.
Like many others, I went to midnight releases for the next books, notably in the UK for Order of the Phoenix and spectacularly in New York City with two of my close friends for The Deathly Hallows. That was an amazing night, full of other Harry Potter fans in an experience none of us will really have again.
 Kindly ignore my red eyes - I promise they're blue in real life. I proceeded to read the entire book the next day; I’d already reread the previous books in anticipation.
The Harry Potter phenomenon has been such an experience, and while there are aspects of the final film that I wish they hadn’t changed, seeing it on the big screen gives it a new feel for me, and I thought it worked well as a film. I am so glad I took that first step and read the first Harry Potter book all those years ago. Though I’ve been slightly older than Harry and his friends as they grew up, in a sense I experienced many difficult years alongside them. I’m far from the same person I was twelve years ago, and I could never have imagined the directions my life has taken, but Harry and his friends have been right there throughout everything. Now, all I want to do is read the books again. There won’t be any more, but that doesn’t mean I can’t savor the seven that I have, as many times as I wish.
Finally, I left my first job on Friday, and I begin my second on Monday. That first job has offered me so many opportunities and I have grown vastly over my time there, taking on tasks I didn’t even know existed before I started. I’m looking forward to new challenges ahead, moving back to York (yay!), and continuing to see where life takes me.
Thanks for coming along on the ride.
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