Here Lies Bridget

Paige Harbison

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

My Take:

I love reading about good juicy villains.  You know, the ones you looooooove to hate, whether they be the school's horrid yet mesmerizing queen bee such as Regina George from Mean Girls, or the freakin crazy anarchist out to destroy just for fun a la Heath Ledger's The Joker.  Then of course you have your Heathcliffs (yes, I consider him a villain, get over it :), your Voldemorts, your Prince Humperdinks, the list goes on.  Unfortunately, Bridget is not one who, in my opinion, can be counted among the ranks of the delicious juicy villains.  She's just a big old beeyotch that you can barely stomach!  I didn't blame her friends for hating her or her boyfriend for leaving her even a tiny bit.  Yes Bridget, you are sad inside.  Yes Bridget, you have problems, your dad isn't around as much as he should be, you feel abandoned, blah blah blah.  I just wanted to take the character by the shoulders shake her and tell her to get over herself, we all have problems!!! **pants from overdoing the rant**  Anyway, despite the fact that I hated the main character (which you were supposed to, to a certain extent) I actually enjoyed the book overall.  I enjoyed the modern day Scroogey feel, and by the end, I found Bridget to be a character I no longer wanted to smack right in the face.  This book is definitely worth a read, just don't expect to enjoy Bridget until she's had a few dozen servings of humble pie shoved quite forcefully down her throat!  I really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters, as they felt a bit more realistic, and I REALLY felt for Bridget's not so wicked step mother. I think I'm going to give Here Lies Bridget a middle of the road rating, solid, but not overly impressive: 3, Find a Used Book Store

Tell me what you think!  Who is your favorite juicy villain?  Have you read Here Lies Bridget?  If so, what did you think of it, and specifically of Bridget?  Hit the comments!

If Here Lies Bridget was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some material not suited for young ones (underage drinking etc)

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Here Lies Bridget, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

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Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Mary Connealy

After a disastrous marriage, widow Mandy McClellen Gray is doing just fine in her remote mountain home.  She's got her three children to keep her company and gold in the bank to keep her solvent.  The last thing she needs right now is a cantankerous cowboy encroaching on her life.

Rancher Tom Linscott is as tough and cranky as his unruly stallion.  When he finds outlaws have trapped Mandy on her mountain, he's determined to rescue her, whether she wants to be saved or not.  Only problems is, Mandy's trouble follows her.  When he brings her to his home--against her will--outlaws trail then right to his door.

When  the feuding family expands their vengeful plans to include Tom, his need to protect his woman puts him right in the line of fire.

My Take:

Growing up I did a lot of stuff to be like my dad.  As a kid, I thought blue cheese dressing was quite possibly the nastiest thing on planet earth, but I ate it all the time because that's what my dad ate.  I read Lord of the Rings in elementary school because they were my dad's favorite books, though I had to take it one line at a time and consult a dictionary constantly.  I ate sushi with a smile concealing a gag reflex. I watched James Bond movies completely confused by the Cold War intrigue (I was 2 when the Berlin Wall came down, so I didn't grow up in the height of it). Whodathunk that eating and doing these things as a kid would make them my favorite things as an adult.  I can't get enough blue cheese and sushi (though not at the same time-gross!), I am an avid Lord of the Rings fan, and I go to the midnight release of every James Bond movie and actually understand the plots (mm'mm Daniel Craig, be still my beating heart).  

Well, in all of the things I did to be like my dad, one thing stands out as the thing I most love: reading amazing Westerns a la Louis L'Amour.  I don't read as many as I used to, because I've read everything by my beloved Louis, and other westerns just can't stand up in comparison.  So in my oh so verbose and "I digress" sort of way, I'm trying to point out that westerns were a very important part of my childhood and I'm picky about them and I really enjoyed Sharpshooter in Petticoats.  The author really seemed to know what she was talking about.  As I've mentioned before on my blog, I grew up in rural Nevada, where they pronounce "creek" as "crick" etc. so I have a healthy appreciation for all things outdoorsy including hunting fishing and firearms.  I cringe a bit in most books when firearms are brought up, because most of the time, I can see write through the author attempting to sound knowledgeable and it really bugs me.  This is especially key to westerns, because whether you are pro or anti gun, there is no denying that they were an integral part of the old west, and an authentic knowledge is essential.  Sharpshooter in Petticoats is, I believe, the third book in the the Sophie's Daughters series, but it was the first one I read.  I absolutely enjoyed it and never felt lost or that I'd missed out because I hadn't read the previous books.  I did get very interested in the other character's stories and I can't wait to read the other books.  If you enjoy a good western, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.  The characters are rough, gruff and often down right mean, the action is good, the scenery is beautiful and the romance was practical yet sweet. Now, I'm nothing if but honest on this blog, so I do have to say that Sharpshooter in Petticoats was no Louis L'Amour, but it was a great book nonetheless and I rate it a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

Tell me what you think!  Do you enjoy westerns?  Have you ever read Louis L'Amour?  Have you read any of the books in this series?  Which is your favorite?  Hit the comments!

If Sharpshooter in Petticoats was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some mild violence and mildly suggestive material (references to "wifely thoughts" or "being a wife in every way")

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing the Sharpshooter in Petticoats, or any of the books from the Sophie's Daughters Series, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

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Beauty and the Beast

Arnold Arluke and Robert Bogdan

From fairy tales to photography, nowhere is the complexity of human-
animal relationships more apparent than in the creative arts. Art illuminates the nature and significance of animals in modern, Western thought, capturing the complicated union that has long existed between the animal kingdom and us. In Beauty and the Beast, authors Arluke and Bogdan explore this relationship through the unique lens of photo postcards. This visual medium offers an enormous and relatively untapped archive to document their subject compellingly.
 

The importance of photo postcards goes beyond their abundance. Recognized as the people s photography, photo postcards were typically taken by photographers who were part of the community they were photographing. Their intimacy with the people and places they captured resulted in a vernacular record of the life and times of the period unavailable in other kinds of photography. Arluke and Bogdan use these postcards to tell the story of human-animal relations in the United States from approximately 1905 to 1935. During these years, Americans experienced profound changes that altered their connection with animals and influenced perceptions and treatment of them today. Wide-ranging in scope, Beauty and the Beast looks at the variety of roles animals played in society, from pets and laborers to symbols and prey. The authors discuss the contradictions, dualisms, and paradoxes of our relationship to animals, illustrating how animals were distanced and embraced, commoditized and anthropomorphized. With over 350 illustrations, this book presents a vivid chronicle of the deep cultural ambivalence that characterized human-animal relations in the early twentieth century and that continues today.

My Take:

Describe Beauty and the Beast in one word you ask?  Thorough.  Well, maybe you didn't ask, but too bad, I told you anyway.  I was very surprised by this book, I was expecting some cool pictures with a tad bit of social commentary and bam!  Done.  Well, no, it was much more...well...thorough, than that.  The authors chose a specific period of time (1905-1935) in which to study photographs of human/animal relations in specific categories such as pets, mascots, workers, food, vermin, and symbols.  The writing, though very involved, was very interesting.  It is not what one would consider light reading, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  While I did enjoy the written analysis of the photos, the photos themselves were my favorite part.  They displayed a wonderful cross section of animal interaction, some beautiful, some funny, some sad.  This book is very straightforward, which makes it very easy to asses a person's interest.  If you enjoy old photographs, are interested in the subject matter, and aren't afraid of some heavy reading, you'll enjoy this book.  I know I did.  2, Borders with a Coupon

I want to know what you think: Does this sound like a book you'd enjoy?  Are you interested in historic photographs and art?  If so, what is your favorite time period and why?  Hit the comments!

The images in this book are rated PG.  There is a picture of breeding horses and gutted animals hanging up in  slaughterhouses

***FTC Disclosure:  This e-book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Beauty and the Beast, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Vespertine

Saundra Mitchell

The summer of 1889 is the one between childhood and womanhood for Amelia van den Broek-and thankfully, she’s not spending it at home in rural Maine. She’s been sent to Baltimore to stay with her stylish cousin, Zora, who will show her all the pleasures of city life and help her find a suitable man to marry.

Archery in the park, dazzling balls and hints of forbidden romance-Victorian Baltimore is more exciting than Amelia imagined. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset-visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. Newly dubbed “Maine’s Own Mystic”, Amelia is suddenly quite in demand.

However, her attraction to Nathaniel, an artist who is decidedly outside of Zora’s circle, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own- still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. And while she has no trouble seeing the futures of others, she cannot predict whether Nathaniel will remain in hers.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

My Take:

I was really excited to read this "Victorian Gothic" novel, but found myself disappointed upon completion of something quite silly and, to me, unappealing.  The story had some great elements I find interesting: historical setting, romance, creepy undertones and a bit of paranormal mixed in.  However, put together in this particular combo didn't float my boat.  Half the book felt like a regular historical fiction, then all of a sudden it got very paranormal and creepy culminating in the absolutely silly ending.  Just because a book is paranormal or fantasy doesn't mean you can suspend reality completely.  The characters' emotions and reactions should be anchored in realism and logic, but alas, it was not to be.  I hate to use this word, because I think it is pretentiously overused in the world of critique, but in this case, I think it is warranted.  The word is: contrived.  The plot didn't feel like an authentic turn of events and I found myself giggling (not a good giggle) as I finished it. The writing in general however was not without merit.  I think the author is a good writer, but maybe not so strong at the story spinning aspect of writing a book.  With a better plot, I believe the author would put out a good book.  While it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, I also wasn't able to get into it  and therefore must assign it a rating of  4, Borrow from a Friend. But hey, just because the book didn't work for me doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, if it looks interesting to you, check it out!

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

If The Vespertine was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence disturbing imagery.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Vespertine, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Solid

Shelley Workinger

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

My Take:

I enjoy YA books, I enjoy paranormal/fantasy books, I enjoy YA paranormal/fantasy books.  But sometimes in the sea of vampires, werewolves, angels, faeries and demons a person can feel like they are drowning.  It was nice to get a life preserver thrown to me in the form of Solid.  The concept was different, it almost had an X-Men vibe to it with the genetic mutation and super abilities aspect.  The idea that a rogue government scientist was secretly treating pregnant women to cause their unborn children to have said super abilities just added a nice extra little layer of spice and intrigue.    I really enjoyed the pacing of the first half of the book.  It was setting up the storyline very nicely, but unfortunately, the second half felt very rushed and the conclusion was quite abrupt.  So while the ending didn't really float my boat, I am still looking forward to the next books in the series.  I like the characters a lot and I am invested emotionally in their relationships.  Solid was a quick and entertaining read and I'd recommend it to YA fans.  Its not going to change your life, but its a great way to kill some free time.  I think I'll give it a rating of a 3, Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Solid was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence and references to sexual content, but no actual content beyond "making out"

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Solid, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!  Below you will find a link to both the paperback and the Kindle Edition:

Letters from Wheatfield

Patrick Shannon

What do you do for fun if you live in a small rural town, dauntingly far from the nearest city's plentiful amusements?  Upon what resources do you draw to spice up your existence?  Letters from Wheatfield provides the answer-and it isn't always pretty.

The fictitious town of Wheatfield is a tiny island in a vast sea of wheat fields and cattle ranges.  Its nearest neighboring towns, similarly small, are well over the horizon.  But its isolation has no effect on its inhabitants.  Theirs is a society of mirthful, blithe, spritely wags-a condition abetted by the presence of not a few eccentric individuals.

In Letters from Wheatfield, two transplants from Manhattan write to a cousin back home about the remarkable community that has assimilated and transmuted them-much to their amazement and great pleasure.

My Take:

If you come from a small town, you probably look back on said town in one of two ways: 1.) Complete and utter happy nostalgia.  To you, nothing compares to a small town where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand.  There is no road rage and the pace of life is happily slower than the big cities. You believe this simple and innocent environment is the perfect place to raise a child.  You don't mind your towns folk's eccentricities, in fact, you enjoy them. OR!!!!! 2.) You hate the fact that everyone knows everyone because it means people can't mind their own dang business.  The small town rumor mill is always running in overdrive.  There is nothing to do and that is why 60% of the girls in your graduating class matriculated with a bun in the oven.  Now, if your thoughts tend to run with the first option, you'll probably enjoy this book a lot more than the second option.  See I come from a small town, but I moved away when I was about 13, keeping my disdain over my town at bay.  However, hearing stories from my older sisters and remembering seeing my mom so upset over how spiteful that particular towns gossips were definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  So my thoughts, while not as strong, tend to run with the second option.  Unfortunately the enjoyment I got from reading Letters from Wheatfield was diminished because the whole time I was thinking about a certain rotten Nevada mining town (in all fairness to the town, I've heard its gotten better in the decade I've been gone).  

Anyway...I did get more than a few chuckles out of the book despite myself.  The writing itself was fabulous-it was subtle and extremely funny.  The pacing was great and the characters were very eccentric yet very real.  The book was a very quick read and overall, I found I did enjoy it quite a bit.  So many of the silly and arbitrary important, nay--essential rules such as the art of the proper wave when passing a car (do you wave with 2 fingers with the heel of your hand of the wheel or a full on  lift your hand completely off the wheel and wave?) are brought to life which made me sigh a knowing sigh and shake my head.  If you are looking for a quick and funny read, and small towns don't leave a very bitter taste in your mouth, definitely take a look at Letters from Wheatfield.  If you do have distaste for that small town you grew up in, maybe read this book when you are at a standstill for 2 hours in rush hour gridlock, it might at least make you fondly remember small town traffic :) 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Letters from Wheatfield was a movie, it would likely be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Letters from Wheatfield, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

I, Emma Freke

Elizabeth Atkinson

"I, Emma Freke, am not a freak.  Or maybe I am.  I just don't know."

There are five thing Emma Freke does know.

1. Her mother didn't bother to say her name out loud before she signed the birth certificate.

2. That might not be such a big problem if she weren't almost 6 feet tall at age 12,

3. And if her mother would take a break from being a New Age weirdo and give her a straight answer about who her father is,

4. And if she didn't find it impossible to talk to someone her own age.

5. There has to be a place somewhere where she fits in...doesn't there?

When a mysterious letter comes inviting Emma to The Freke Family Reunion, to be held at a campground in the wilds of Wisconsin, Emma thinks she may just find out why she is the way she is.  But once she meets her fellow Frekes, things aren't at all what she expected.  Maybe it's better to be her own freak than someone else's Freke.

My Take:

This book is absolutely wonderful!  There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, so I'll get started with my favorite: Emma.  Feeling completely out of place in the world and not fitting in with anyone in her life, including herself, she feels lost and frustrated.  Being abruptly thrust from her New Age free spirit mom's guidance into her Stepford-esque family reunion allows her to carve her own existence in between the two.  She is a very strong girl who doesn't realize how brave she is until she has someone to stand up for, because she never stood up for herself.  After asserting herself, she learns to become comfortable in her own skin, which isn't an easy feat for a 6 foot tall 12 year old girl.  This is a great book for any girl who feels like she is too adult to relate to the kids her age, but not quite adult enough to relate to grownups (that was me!) The plot moves well, and is predicable, but the book isn't so much about the events but about Emma's character evolution.  I, Emma Freke is really a timeless book for anyone to enjoy who was ever less than confident during the preteen and teen years.  Aside from the great characters in this book, I loved the writing.  It was funny, simple, subtle, quirky and fully engaging.  It's all told from Emma's point of view, and the author does a great job of sucking the reader right in and feeling what Emma is feeling.  I can't wait to read more from this author!  This book was easy to rate: 1Pay Full Price.  Everyone can relate to this book, because we all have a bit of a Freke in us.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If I, Emma Freke was a movie, it would be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing I, Emma Freke, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Don't Die, Dragonfly

Linda Joy Singleton

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco. Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

My Take:  

Describe this book in one word, you ask?  Lackluster.  Nothing particularly special or memorable about this book, but nothing absolutely horrible either.  Pretty much all the characters were flat, except for one, Dominic, a boy the main character is none too fond of.  I found him interesting, but his character was completely unexplored.  I was really annoyed with all the typos (this was not an ARC, when I get an advanced copy I don't mention typos, but this was a final version on Amazon) and overall I just couldn't get into the book.  The book had a ton of questions and potentially interesting plot lines to follow, but the conclusion of the book was abrupt and only gave closure to what seemed to me to be the most boring subplot.  There were about half a billion questions left unanswered at the end of the book.  There is a very fine line an author must tread to achieve the perfect balance of answered/unanswered questions at the end of the first book in a series.  You have to give the reader a little so they feel fulfilled but leave them wanting more.  This book left me unfulfilled and not interested in reading the other books, just annoyed.  Because I hate being a negative Debbie Downer, I will say that the book had some interesting ideas, the cover is great (I'm a sucker for purple) and the pacing wasn't bad but overall I've got to give it a rating of 4 Borrow from a Friend

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Don't Die, Dragonfly was a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some mild language and some violence

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Always the Baker Never the Bride

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Sandra D. Bricker

When diabetic Emma Rae Travis wins the prestigious Passionate Palate Award for her innovative crème brûlée wedding cake, she is thrilled to be offered the position of pastry chef by the new proprietors of the Tanglewood Inn, an Atlanta institution being renovated into a five-star wedding-destination hotel. She is also attracted to its CEO. But Jackson Drake is still mourning his beloved wife’s untimely passing and is unable to reconcile his burgeoning feelings for Emma Rae with his loyalty to Desirée’s memory. Although both consider themselves blessed with supportive family and friends, Emma Rae and Jackson would rather be spared the well-meaning efforts at convincing them to return to their childhood faith. And when Emma Rae’s unappreciative former boss and her ex-boyfriend—the cad and his fiancée are about to become the Tanglewood’s first wedding clients—both suddenly want her back, Bricker’s contemporary inspirational romance really heats up! Topical recipes, menus, and how-to tips entice the reader with an insider’s perspective on the lucrative business surrounding all things bridal.

My Take:

Sometimes I am in the mood for a dinky little romance to escape into, and Always the Baker Never the Bride fit the bill. Was the book extraordinary?  Not really, but it was a sweet little page turner that got me through a stressful couple of days.  The characters were typical, but sweet and endearing.  I enjoyed the male love interest, because I am a sucker for widowers that have a hard time letting their wives go.  I always find them tragic and so dang lovable!  I think one of my favorite aspects of the book was that it appealed to the foodie in me.  The main character's love of baking really shined through the pages, and a time or two my stomach started growling for want of the food I found described within the pages.  This leads me to distribute a warning to the reader:  DO NOT READ WHILE HUNGRY!  This book will give you a sweet tooth, so beware :)  There are quite a few yummy recipes littered throughout the book, and I actually tried a few to find they were  quite scrumptious.  If you a hopeless romantic foodie, you will definitely enjoy this book, but it won't necessarily change your life.  With this in mind, I'm going to rate this book a 3, Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Always the Baker, Never the Bride was a movie, it would likely be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own.  Also, post  sponsorships have no bearing on the content of the posts they sponsor***

If you are interested in purchasing Always the Baker, Never the Bride, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Free Men and Dreamers Volume II: Twilight's Last Gleaming

L.C. Lewis

While cannons roar and rockets ignite American skies, disease ravages the upper Connecticut Valley. Few notice the sufferings of the families . . . Of a single child . . . A remarkable lad named Joseph. Attentions are forced elsewhere on the Chesapeake, which guards the entrance to the infant nation's threatened capital. It is the height of the War of 1812. As the beleaguered American forces begin to rally, Britain's military is divided between battlefronts on two continents. Until Napoleon can be toppled and all of the crow's resources can be diverted to the American campaign, Britain needs a tactical diversion. They attack the Chesapeake Bay.

Lieutenant Jed Pearson heads to war, leaving his beloved Willows estate in the care of powerless freed slaves. But soon circumstances will blur the line between adversary and friend, family and foe, British and American. In this second volume of the epic historical series Free Men and Dreamers, witness the saga of five families caught in the tumult of the oft-forgotten war that cemented American Liberty and set the stage for the great work of the Restoration.

My Take: 

This book is the 2nd book in the Free Men and Dreamers series chronicling fictional families during the little thought about, yet important, War of 1812.  I have to say that L.C. Lewis really found her footing on this book.  The first book, Dark Sky at Dawn, was an awesome book, but there were a few kinks, which I think were all smoothed out in Twilight's Last Gleaming.  There were so many things I loved about this book, I'm not quite sure what I want to talk about first.  Hmmm, let's see...how about we discuss the characters first?  I really hate when historical fiction books that take place during wartime make one side the absolute bad guys and the other side the absolute good guys, which thankfully this book does not do.  The author really shines by creating complex and real characters.  The good guys have flaws, and even some of the bad guys have a redeeming quality or two, which of course makes every character more relatable and enjoyable.  The next thing I really enjoyed were all the romances going on.  There were quite a few, some of them come to heartwarming fruition, some were left hanging for future books, and some, be prepared, end in heartbreak.  The pacing of the romances were a bit off in the first book, but were perfect in this one.  The politics behind the war (though some of the reasons behind the war are fictionalized to go with the backgrounds of some of the characters) are not discussed too much, because the book series is really more about the characters than the events, but just enough to be informative.  After reading this series so far, I have really gained a new found appreciation for this particular generation of Americans.  But don't worry, if you aren't American, I think you'd still enjoy this book immensely.  I can't think of how many War of the Roses books I've read and loved and I'm born and bred American :)  All in all I'd say this book was absolutely wonderful and proudly give it a rating of 1, Pay Full Price. 

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Twilight's Last Gleaming was a movie, it would be rated PG, for some violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Twilight's Last Gleaming, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Remarkable Creatures

Tracy Chevalier

From the moment she's struck by lightening as a baby, it is clear Mary Anning is different.  Though poor and uneducated, she learns on the windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast that she has a unique gift: "the eye" to spot fossils no one else can see.  When she uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious community on edge, the townspeople to gossip--and the scientific world alight with both admiration and controversy.  Prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster and also a fossil hunter, becomes Mary Anning's unlikely champion and friend, and together they forge a path to some of the most important discoveries of the nineteenth century.

My Take:

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl, Erin Moran's Nefertiti.  Now I'm sure you are on the absolute edge of your seats waiting with bated breath to find out what all these books have in common.  Well...each one of these books was my introduction to their respective author and caused me to fall head over heels for said author, and run out to the book store and buy up every other book the author has written.  We've all got these authors.  Sometimes they are guilty pleasures we may look over our shoulders to make sure no one is witnessing our purchase (I did this with Twilight) and sometimes they're ones we are quite proud to genuinely enjoy (Austen is my proud favorite :)  Anyway, Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures is one book I think I'll be adding to the list.  I can't wait to read more as I absolutely loved her writing style.  The book is a period story set in the 19th century which explores many different ideas such as geology, 19th century class and gender expectations and unlikely friendship.  It is set at a pace which mirrors the speed of life in that point in history.  The perfect "when life was simpler and moved a little slower" pace creates a wonderfully authentic vibe.  But please, don't confuse a tame and mellow pace with a boring one.  The book is absolutely fascinating as fact and fiction are interwoven seamlessly to form a beautifully told, character driven story.  This is a perfect book for a person looking to relax, take their time, and just enjoy a great story.  1, Pay Full Price.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tel me how you feel!

If Remarkable Creatures was a movie, it would be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

 
I enjoyed this book trailer, so I've included it below:

If you are interested in purchasing Remarkable Creatures, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Halo

Alexandra Adornetto

An Angel is sent to earth on a mission.  But falling in love is not part of the plan.

Three angels--Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human--are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness.  They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them.  Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel's mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening.  Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

My Take:

After I finished Halo, I knew it would be a polarizing book.  Many people are calling it a Twilight ripoff, but I am not one who believes that Twilight is the end all be all of YA paranormal, so I have to say I don't agree with that specific criticism.  I really enjoyed the book, but I would like to give a slight warning to some people.  I know a lot of YA paranormal fans really like the darker books that are super edgy and have the bad boy as the love interest.  Be ye therefore warned that the main character is an angel (figuratively and literally) and her love interest is a non-brooding good boy and the bad boy of the story is actually the bad guy.  If you are looking for edgy, you are in the wrong place.  I do like to read edgier books, but since in real life I like the good boys (bad boys always just seem like too much work for me) this book appealed to me.  It was a refreshing breath of air to read about a non-brooder and take a step back from the vampire/werewolf stuff.  Xavier was a character I really liked.  He was a popular jock (which I don't usually like), but his popularity came not just from his good looks, but his kind heart.  He also had a great sense of humor, something I can't resist.  I was very impressed by the writing in this book, especially since it was written by a teenager.  It was very descriptive, but not as much as say Tolkien, who can take a chapter to describe a tree (don't get me wrong, Tolkien is one of my all time favorite authors, I'm just saying few authors can pull it off, so its good that most don't try)  The book itself is a bit long and was a tad slow in parts, but I think it serves as a good setup book, as it is the first in a trilogy.  Some of the characters were a bit flat, such as the main character's stoic angel brother and sister, but I have a feeling their characters will be explored later on and given a bit more depth.  I am excited to read the next books in the series, and I look forward to more from this author.  She has undeniable talent and has some really great ideas.  2, Borders with a Coupon

Do you agree with my review, do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Halo were a movie it would likely be rated PG for some sexual discussion and mild language

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Halo, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

The Lipstick Laws

Amy Holder

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life as easily as snapping her perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.

For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. With zero friends and nothing close to a boyfriend, April is so unpopular, kids don't know she exists. That is, until Britney notices her. One lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.

But Britney's friendship comes with a price tag.

How much is April willing to pay?

My Take: 

Have you ever seen (one of my favorite movies) Mean Girls?  You know, before Lindsay Lohan was a total wreck?  Or maybe you've read the book the movie was based on, Queen Bees and Wannabes?  Well, if you are familiar with that plot line, you will also be familiar with The Lipstick Laws:  Popular girls with arbitrary yet strict rules take the new girl  under their wing and slowly get her to move away from her true friend.  True friend of new girl is the bitter ex-best friend of the Queen Bee and reasons for the fallout are mysterious.  New girl becomes just as bad as the popular girls, humiliation and boyfriend stealing ensues.  The Lipstick Laws is a much tamer  version, which is neither good nor bad, but the book was good in its own right regardless of the fact that the storyline has been done to death.  I thought the book was actually cute and enjoyable.  As with most books written for this age group, the main character learns the classic lessons: popularity isn't everything, finding true friendship, treat others as you would have them treat you, etc.  I enjoyed the main character and her self proclaimed "addiction" to stuffing her bra, which is fodder for most of the comedy in the book.  This book was fun, but I couldn't help comparing it to other versions with more accurate and biting commentary and insight into the jungle that is high school.  This is definitely a book a young teen would enjoy, but as they get older, they would probably not want to read it again because it has a lot of fluff and not enough substance.  Though it may not be a book you'd want to read over and over, it is a sweet feel good story and it is absolutely entertaining and worth that initial read.  3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Lipstick Laws was a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some adult references

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Lipstick Laws, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Prisoners in the Palace

Michaela MacColl

How Princess Victoria Became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter and a Scoundrel...

London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?

My Take: 

I absolutely loved this book!  The beginning felt a smidge slow to me, but in all honesty, it was probably due to the fact that I had an enormous headache at the time and I was having difficulty reading at all :)  Prisoners in the Palace is had absolutely everything I look for in a great historical romance in spades.  I feel like this book had everything: great authentic writing and dialogue, royal intrigue and scandal, just the right pinch of romance and really great character development.  I also really liked that the book wasn't too heavy.  I love historical fiction, but sometimes, the sad events can just way the reader down way too much.  The pacing was good and I loved the fictional main character, Liza.  She was proud, brave and smart and I loved seeing her evolve and become a better human being.  Young Queen Victoria was also a great character.  Throughout much of the book, she is quite immature and self centered, but after reading about the environment in which she grew up, as masterfully told by the author, you as the reader understand her shortcomings and enjoy watching her grow out of them.  I thought this book was absolutely wonderful, it was a real page turner (I blew through it in 2 sittings) and highly recommend it to not only lovers of historical fiction, but to anyone who enjoys a character driven book that is a little on the lighter side. This is a book I will be keeping in my permanent library and I will be sure to read it again.  I also loved that this book really is suitable for younger audiences, but is still an awesome book for adults as well.  1, Pay Full Price Guilt Free

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Prisoners in the Palace was a movie it would likely be rated PG due to some violence and adult situations.  There were references "ruined maids" turning to prostitution but that is as offensive as the language got.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

Now a few words with the author, Michaela MacColl:

The Book Buff: When and why did you begin writing?



Michaela MacColl: I worked as a technical writer for several years. Once I spent a week writing a manual for a software product that didn’t exist yet. I finally decided I wanted to write something that people actually wanted to read. I began writing about six years ago.

TBB: What inspired you to write your first book?



MM: My first book has yet to be published – but it’s dear to my heart. I was traveling with my young kids in Italy. I’m a big guidebook fan and I found the guides frustrating because they don’t tell you the stories that would interest children. I started to think about Michelangelo and wrote a novel about how he gets his first job. 

TBB: Do you have a specific writing style?



MM: I like formal language so I am comfortable writing about the past. My grasp of teenage language of today is shaky at best!

TBB: How did you come up with the title, Prisoners in the Palace?



MM: Originally the book was called The Princess’s Maid – but it’s hard to say and easy to misspell. Chronicle Books wanted something else so I asked everyone who had read the manuscript for suggestions. My 12 year old really really wanted Victoria’s Secrets, but we nixed that for obvious reasons. Eventually we settled on Prisoners in the Palace. I like how it is ambiguous and plural.

TBB: I LOVE the cover of this book, I think it is one of my favorite covers of all time :)  Who designed the covers?



MM: Chronicle Books designs their covers in house. The editor and the designer work together to create three separate concepts which they bring to the editorial, sales and marketing teams. They all have to agree. With Prisoners in the Palace, they came up with something reminiscent of Pop Art, traditional portraits of Queens and BLING! The cover is also printed on foil so it’s a shiny pretty package. 

TBB: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?



 

MM: My heroine starts out with completely understandable goals which are completely selfish Through the course of the novel she begins to believe in something bigger than herself. I like that message.

TBB: Do you have something you are working on at the moment that you’d like to share with Book Buff readers?



MM: I’m working on a story about Beryl Markham, the aviator who wrote West Into the Night. She grew up in colonial Africa on a remote farm in the highlands above Nairobi. Raised by the native tribe who worked for her father, she hunted warthogs and leopards, was mauled by a lion and led a revolt from her boarding school. As an adult she was one of the first female commercial pilots in the world and flew many dangerous missions over uncharted Africa. In 1936 she was the first to fly from England to North America. She crashed but lived to tell the tale.  Chronicle is publishing it in Fall 2011.

TBB: Where can Book Buff readers find out more about your books?

MM: www.michaelamaccoll.com Thanks so much, Kate!

If you are interested in purchasing Prisoners in the Palace, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!















OR!!!  If you would like to purchase the book through Chronicle Book's website, they have generously offered Book Buffs a special promotion code: PRISONER.  This code will get you 25% off your order and free shipping, can't beat it!

Facelift

Leanna Ellis

Kaye Redmond stages houses for resale, so masking trouble spots with strategic decor comes naturally.  She does it in her personal life as well--her can-do attitude and ready smile disguising the emotional wear-and-tear of a failed marriage and raising a teenage daughter alone.  But when her former mother-in-law comes back around, desperate for a place to stay while recovering from a botched facelift, Kaye begins to realize that there's a much more authentic way to brighten one's countenance: look to God and His plan for her life.

My Take:

If you are familiar with my review style, you will probably know that I am a big believer in appreciating a book for what it is intended to be.  Facelift is intended to be a sweet, inspiring little story, and it is, its not a life changer, just an enjoyable little page turner.  It is predictable, but the ending is fulfilling nonetheless.  The reader is privileged to meet a strong, woman who is someone you can look up to and relate to, even though she is in complete denial about her awful ex husband.  I really enjoyed her character, as she navigated her way through the trials of learning to feel good about herself, despite the wear and tear years and stress have forced her to endure.  I think this is a book women of all ages can really enjoy, but I definitely see it appealing to more middle aged women, because they will be able to relate all the more.  I felt as though the other characters in the book were well fleshed out, although some of the antagonists were a bit one dimensional, it didn't really matter, because the story wasn't about them or their (lack of) personal growth.   The writing was sharp and funny, with a lot of now pop culture references to make you laugh. (hopefully those references won't make the book feel dated in a decade or so)  Lastly, I felt that the Christian references were sincere and natural.  When questions arose about death and the meaning of life, the author gave us more than just the standard cookie cutter answers, which I think can sometimes trivialize or invalidate the asker's feelings.  I really think this book is a standout for its genre, but I'd have to say that I wouldn't want to pay full price on it either, with this in mind, I think I'll give it a rating of a 2 Borders with a Coupon.  However if Christian chic-lit is not your thing, skip it.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated  PG, for some sexual references, i.e. a man running off with another women, parents discussing abstinence and the appearance of a compromising situation (which turns out isn't what it seemed to be anyway)

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Facelift, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Bloodmaiden

Christine E. Schulze

Zale. Gauthier. Varden. These three dynasties...they all sound like something out of an ancient, oriental myth or fairy tale. The concept of humans and dragons helping and living in harmony with one another, without fear. To me, that's exactly what they are. A distant dream only read of, whispered secretly, quietly yearned for. For, you see, I am the new Quelda of Tynan.

Along with her new husband, Chalom, Crislin must choose to embrace cruel tradition, run from it, or stand against it. The young couple's only hope is to rally the help of the three peaceful dragon dynasties of Sulaimon-but tradition is not on their side.

 Together, they must convince the dragon emperors to allow them access to the shrines which house the sacred Aria - protective strands of music which may be able to disperse the evil from Tynan and unite the four dynasties of Sulaimon as a whole once again. Their only aid stems from a sprite whose moods are as unstable as her magic, a young minstrel, and a mysterious fox. Despite the odds, such plans are daring, dangerous, unprecedented, but fully possible - if they can escape the Wall first.

My Take:

I was absolutely HOOKED at the beginning of this book!  The author had a beautiful way of revealing the terrible situation in which the main character, Crisilin, found herself just a little at a time so that the reader is completely enveloped in Crisilin's fears and inner strength.  You are right there with her, you don't totally know what is going on, but that helps you feel more in the moment.  Speaking of Crisilin, I just love her.  She is so sweetly innocent, and unabashedly so.  She is self aware, she knows she's naive in many things, and that's how she likes it.  I loved the evolution of her character from quietly brave and innocent young victim, to brave, strong and still innocent heroine.  The romance at the center of the plot was so sweet.  I know I've already used the word innocent so many times in this review, but I just can't help it, it is the best word to describe their relationship.  Crisilin and her husband are so endearing and quietly passionate.  The cast of supporting characters was great, they were diverse and entertaining.  Another aspect of the book I really loved was the emphasis put on the magical properties of music.  The story really went with the whole "music tames the wild beast" theme, and it really worked well with the other elements of the plot.  There were a few brief moments here of there where the "music as the bringer of peace" crossed the line from beautiful and magical to cheesy, but it never lasted long.  I really loved this book, and feel it is a very special story.  It is a must read for fantasy lovers and also lover of sweet romances.  2, Use a Coupon at Borders

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG for some brief violence and innocent sexual references (a young married couple nervous for their "first time")

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Bloodmaiden, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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