The Florentine Bridge

Exceptional! The Florentine Bridge by Vanessa Carnevale is a beautiful and touching story about young love. I was contacted to review the recent release of the audiobook version of this story and I am so glad I accepted.

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

Going Down in Flames is the first book in the Going Down in Flames series by Chris Cannon. Thank you to YA Reads and Entangled Teen for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own. Check out my review and be sure to enter the tour-wide giveaway!

Maud by Melanie J. Fishbane

“Fourteen-year-old Lucy Maud Montgomery — Maud to her friends — has a dream: to go to college and become a writer, just like her idol, Louisa May Alcott. But living with her grandparents on Prince Edward Island, she worries that this dream will never come true. Her grandfather has strong opinions about a woman’s place in the world, and they do not include spending good money on college. Luckily, she has a teacher to believe in her, and good friends to support her, including Nate, the Baptist minister’s stepson and the smartest boy in the class. If only he weren’t a Baptist; her Presbyterian grandparents would never approve. Then again, Maud isn’t sure she wants to settle down with a boy — her dreams of being a writer are much more important.

But life changes for Maud when she goes out West to live with her father and his new wife and daughter. Her new home offers her another chance at love, as well as attending school, but tensions increase as Maud discovers her stepmother’s plans for her, which threaten Maud’s future — and her happiness forever.” – Goodreads

Anne of Green Gables and LM Montgomery have been a huge influence on my life. I often read one of Montgomery’s books when I’m feeling down and need a guaranteed pick-me-up. In college I even chose to do a year abroad in Nova Scotia for the opportunity to visit P.E.I. When I saw that a book about Maud’s young adult years was due out, there was no question about it, I knew I had to read it.

A Court of Thorns & Roses

“When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.” via Goodreads

These books have been following me everywhere. I see them at the bookstore. I see them poking their spines out when I walk through the library. Even on Instagram they seem to be mocking me. They say “read me, read me,” every time I see it. Finally after helping out at a wedding (where books were the centerpieces, RIGHT?!), I asked the bride if I could borrow A Court of Mist and Fury. She kindly told me “of course! But this is the sequel and though I think it’s better you should probably read the first one beforehand.” I agreed and didn’t take the book. Flash forward a month or so and I finally decided to put A Court of Thorns and Roses on hold at the library.

Gateway to Comics, Vol 1

Last year about this time I was just completing a move to a new city where I didn’t know many people. One way I’ve used in the past to meet people had been a book club, so I turned to that same avenue. When I looked for a book club there wasn’t one that caught my eye right off. After doing a bit more searching I came up with a ladies comic book club. It appeared to be a newer club but sounded new and interesting to me. I figured what the heck. The first meeting we read a graphic novel, Marbles. This book talked about mental health in a way I was unfamiliar with and didn’t know how to absorb. I approached my first meeting tentatively. I didn’t know what to expect since this was my first ever (trip) into comics and graphic novels. The group was welcoming and filled with ladies of all comic levels. They talked about the book in similar terms to a novel, with a few art specifics thrown in. I was hooked.

A Countess Below Stairs

“After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian Countess, has no choice but to flee to England. Penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination.

Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties—not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. To make matters worse, Rupert appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there’s the small matter of Rupert’s beautiful and nasty fiancée.” via Goodreads

When this book came into my view I was in high school. I remember seeing a friend read it and having her recommend it to me. Nothing ever came of it. When it came time to reassess my wishlist for Round 6 of OTSP Secret Sister, this came up as a suggestion. I figured why not add it, I’d like to read it. When I opened my February box, what to my surprise: there’s Countess Below Stairs! This story fits my style of reading. It’s portrayed as a young adult historical romance and it solidly fits that description.

Gateway to Comics: James Bond in Eidolon

“James Bond is trapped in Los Angeles with a MI6 agent under fire and a foreign intelligence service trying to put them both in bags… and possibly more than one foreign intelligence service. And things may not be any safer in Britain, with bodies dropping and ghosts moving in the political mist…” – via Goodreads

The name is Bond. James Bond.

Everyone has a base knowledge of Bond, even if it’s just his catchphrases. My relationship with Bond goes back over 20 years. When I came across the new James Bond run by Dynamic, I was intrigued to see such an iconic character in this medium. With so much blood and action, I wasn’t sure how it would translate to the page.

My Journey with Amy Schumer (& Her New Book)

via Goodreads

Amy Schumer. That’s all I have to say about her. I mean really I have very few words to describe her. Okay.. okay. I might be stretching the truth here a bit. I wasn’t really introduced to Amy until I saw the trailers for her movie Trainwreck. I didn’t know she was a comedian. I didn’t know her story. I barely knew what she looked like but hey it’s alright that I sometimes live under a proverbial rock. Anyways, I finally saw Trainwreck after it was an “on demand” option. And it was hilarious. Irreverent? Yes! Had me in stitches for much of it? YES! Hit a little too close to home? Alright I admit it, I was a bit shocked at the relatability to the whole story. (Even though I don’t live a larger than life existence.)

My Lady Jane

Have you ever read a book because everyone is talking about? Only to discover that it’s completely boring and you’re not really sure why everyone is reading it? This is not that book! My Lady Jane has been floating around the interwebs taunting me with it’s youthful cover and intriguing title. Being a history nerd, I felt it was my duty to give this book a try. Somehow despite all of this I didn’t know much about the book other than it entered around the short lived reign of Jane Grey (or Queen Jane, not sure how to use her title).

The start of this book had me in stitches and it didn’t stop there. From the pop culture references to the liberty the authors took with history My Lady Jane quickly shot to a five star in my book.

Switching between the characters of Jane, Edward and Gifford (or G, as he likes to be called), the reader is transported to a different and more magical time when grand balls were the norm and Eðians roamed. What’s an Eðians you might ask? You’ll just have to read the book to find out.

The narrators of this story were some of my favorite parts. They gave the story a structure and interjected comments about the characters when needed, making for a jovial tale.

I leave you with just a taste of the book.

“Dedication – For everyone who knows there was enough room for Leonardo DiCaprio on that door. And for England. We’re really sorry for what we’re about to do to your history.”

And

“Because he was English and that’s what the English do under stress: they drink tea.”

Now please go out and read this book!

Just do it.

Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet

The world renowned novel, Pride and Prejudice is known to all who have made it through their high school English class. The story of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet bring to mind the conflict between two opposing opinions and people who let their pride and prejudice stand in the way of their own happiness, as well as those around them. This past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing a newly developed interpretation of this classic story – Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet.

Opening with Mr. Collins as the narrator giving his weekly sermon, this interpretation was lively and vivid. Set in a Cabaret, the Bennet sisters are star dancers who intrigue the British tourists Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. Collins reminds us that looks can be deceiving. His reference to The Princess Bride with marriage and a dream within a dream. Throughout the production Mr Collins was the only character who spoke, telling the entire story and filling in the blanks that the dancing left out.

Music took this exceptional production to the next level. The live cabaret singers singing in both French and English, mixed with modern music and classic cabaret set the vibrant vibe for many of the scenes. It allowed the audience to engage with the performance.

The set design was simplistic but conveyed the grand setting of a cabaret with a few cafe tables along the side and strings of bulb lights draped from the ceiling to a center chandelier.

Beautiful sweeping choreography and matching music made this production a wonderful night out.