Book Review: A March Bride by @RachelHauck

A March Bride (A Year of Weddings #4)

by Rachel Hauck

Published February 25th 2014

Kindle Edition

Zondervan 

For review from Netgallery

Goodreads Synopsis:

Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign that their love is not meant to be.

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, her heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God’s plan for her.

Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own — right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won’t return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

I am a HUGE Nate fan. He is so dreamy and amazing and makes you swoon from here to the moon. In the first book "Once Upon A Prince", you get to know Nate and Susanna and how they came together. Susanna struggled but in the end her love for Nate was stronger than anything that could present itself. In the second book "Princess Ever After" we get to see them again. King Nathaniel shows his compassion and amazing heart every time. Susanna's willingness to help and be there for Reggie makes you love her more. 

I love the honesty in the characters of their faith. As Christian's we go through struggles just like everyone else and our faith is constantly challenged. It is so hard to just let go and allow God to be in control when you want to make the outcome your own. This book and really all the books in this series show the realness of that struggle. The peace one feels after finally letting go is depicted perfectly in this book. 

I became a fan of Rachel Hauck after reading Once Upon A Prince. With each book I love her writing more. Honestly if you haven't read any of her books then you seriously need to go grab Once Upon A Prince. 

Book Review: Deeper We Fall

Deeper We Fall (Fall and Rise #1) 

by Chelsea M. Cameron

Published January 24th 2013

DRC Publishing

Netgallery e-book, 280 pages

(Goodreads synopsis) Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to start forgetting the night that ripped her life apart.

Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again.

Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face.

Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. He loves "To Kill a Mockingbird" as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen.

The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. Now she must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache.

 

Wow, this book was incredible. I normally stir away from books like this because I normally don't do too good with heavy but like I said... WOW! 

Lottie and her twin brother Will go to college but little do they know their worse enemies would be right next door. When they were in high school Lottie's best friend fell for a'hole Zack which led to an accident that Zan was driving and she ended up with brain damage. Lottie's roommate's boyfriend ends up being none other than Zack. When she thinks things couldn't possibly get worse, she runs into Zan as well. Feeling like her would is crumbling around her, Will and Simon keep her close and try to cheer her up.

Zan has been in love with Lottie for like a century. Even after everything he went through and put her through he can't help but he drawn to her. They keep stumbling into each other and Zan does everything possible to show her that he's not a monster. Zan is lost as to how to win her over when they have the accident hovering over their heads. 

Zack unfortunately is like a tornado, destroying everything in his path. Lottie is scared for her roommate but doesn't know how to warn her of the dangers that come along with being near Zack. Zan and Lottie come together to try and keep Katie safe but one night their worst fears happens anyways.

This story broke my heart about a million times but then pieced it all back together. I couldn't help falling for Zan even when you wanted to play the blame game. I mean how can you hate someone who loves so fiercely. Every time he spoke my heart broke a little more for him and I just wanted to wrap him up in a tight hug (extra tight if you know what I mean). I wanted him to get as much if not more love than he gave out. He deserved it. I really loved his character.

Lottie was hilarious. She had no filter and could ramble for days. She was so cute and I loved watching her change and grow. She adopted a family of friends that were completely loyal to her and she mushed them all together too. 

Twindar. That was one of my favorite things. Will and Lottie was so close. They weren't just brother and sister, they were best friends. They knew exactly what they were thinking and feeling and always knew when the other one needed them. I used to have that kind of relationship with my brother (we aren't twins) so it was sweet to remember what it was like.

Over all I really enjoyed this book. I hope you guys love it as much as I did. Oh did I mention Zan constantly has his shirt of? Need I say more? ; ]

Book Review: Jane Austen Goes To Hollywood

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood 

by Abby McDonald

E-arc
Netgallery

Published April 9th 2013 by Candlewick Press 

Goodreads synopsis:
 Abby McDonald gives L.A. the Jane Austen treatment in this contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility.

Hallie and Grace Weston have never exactly seen life eye to eye. So when their father dies and leaves everything to his new wife, forcing the girls to pack up and leave San Francisco for a relative’s house in shiny Beverly Hills, the two sisters take to their changing lot in typically different styles. Shy, responsible Grace manages to make friends with an upbeat, enterprising girl named Palmer but still yearns for her old life — and the maybe-almost-crush she left behind. Meanwhile, drama queen Hallie is throwing herself headlong into life — and love — in L.A., spending every second with gorgeous musician Dakota and warding off the attention of brooding vet Brandon. But is Hallie blinded by the stars in her eyes? And is Grace doomed to forever hug the sidelines?
 

 

 I have no clue where to start. I really wanted to at the very least like this book. Hallie and Gracie loose their father. Hallie is completely distraught while Grace is trying to keep it together to keep her mother and sister from loosing it. Unfortunately their mother has set into such a deep depression that they can't to get a coherent sentence out of her. Their evil step mother strips everything away from them and they are forced to leave their home and move to L.A. Before they move Grace meets Theo and slowly falls in love. 
While living in L.A. Hallie falls in love and then gets her heart broken and then falls in love again. I can't stand her character. She is beyond obnoxious. All she ever did was shove her nose where it didn't belong and create drama for everyone else. Every time she tried to interfere with her sisters love life I wanted to kick her in the throat.Grace was stuck on Theo. Even when he showed up and acted all weird she couldn't help but still dream of a happily ever after with him. 
The sister go back to NY on a trip and get invited to a party at their step mothers house. While there, Grace has to endure hearing about Lucy's love story with her Theo. (Crushing I know). After this Grace is devastated and ready to try and move on. While trying to forget Theo Hallie and Grace receive news about Lucy eloping. 
I loved Sense and Sensibility and pretty much all of Jane Austen's books. I am normally a fan of rendition's from the classics but this one just didn't do it for me. I couldn't relate to the characters and just didn't like them. Maybe if the ending would have been drawn out more, it would have helped but I don't know. Hallie just drove me insane. If you feel differently let me know.

Book Review: Touching Melody

Touching Melody (Forever First #1)

by RaShelle Workman

Published: May 14th 2013

Polished Pen Press

e-arc: Netgallery

(Goodreads synopsis) Sometimes life isn't pretty, but you have to close your eyes and let go...

***************

Maddie Martin's first weekend at college is nothing like she's used to. It's wild, like the wilderness on which the University of Bellam Springs sits. Roped into going to a fraternity party, she literally runs into Kyle Hadley. The boy she's loved since she was nine. The boy she promised all of her firsts to. But that was before his father killed her parents.

Determined to stay away from him, she throws herself into her music. Practicing piano eases her heavy heart, calms the sadness, and pushes away images of Kyle's face.

Until it doesn't.

Her music professor asks her to play a duet for their annual Winter Gala. Doing so means she'll be assured another full ride scholarship. It's an opportunity she can't pass up.

But Kyle is the other half of the duet. And that means hours and hours of practicing.

Weeks of seclusion - just the two of them. And it's more than just music. It's passion like Maddie never believed was possible.

The inevitable happens. She falls in love with him all over again.

But, will loving him be enough to erase all the hate in her heart for his father? Can she look at him, and not see the evil in his family tree?

And maybe it's all a set up. Maybe Kyle is only pretending to care so he can finish what his father started, and kill her too.

This book wasn't anything that I suspected. Maddie walked in on seeing her mom and dad dead. She also saw their killers before she went into the house. The man she saw holding the gun was her best friend Kyle's dad. She had spent years taking care of him after his dad beat him. She loved him even after she had to leave him and cut him out of her life. Maddie is completely innocent because her aunt and uncle kept her sheltered. 

Maddie goes back to her hometown for college. She has no clue if she will see Kyle again and is confused on how she feels about it. Her room made is this crazy chick who loves to party, drug and sex it up. You would think that these girls wouldn't get along because they are such opposites but they find their common ground: pain. The first night that the girls get to school they go to a party. Maddie and Kyle of course collide into each other which begins their epic tale. 

Maddie has spent 7 years dwelling and lost in the pain of loosing her parents. Being confronted with an all consuming love for Kyle has her all twisted up. Kyle is overcome with love for the girl he fell in love with all those years ago. He never gave up on her and refuses to loose her again but she keeps slipping through the cracks. There are so many secrets that keep haunting them and ruining their happily ever after.

This book is written in both Maddie's POV and Kyle's (you guys know how much I love that). I hate to cry and when a book can make me cry that means its majorly good. I felt all the emotions throughout this book. When they we good, my heart soared. When they were swallowed in pain, your heart aches right along with them. This story really was heart-wrenching. When you think there is no way it can get any worse, it does. I wanted Maddie and Kyle is have the happy ending. It drove me crazy that something always got in the way. By the end I was so happy (hint hint).

This was not an easy read. Not as in literary difficulty but in the aspect that there was so many horrible things that happened. I loved it and I really think everyone should read it. Right now too soon?

Book Review: The Last Academy

 

The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

Expected publication: April 30th 2013

Point

e-arc Net Gallery

(Goodreads synopsis) What is this prep school preparing them for?

Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam—and readers—stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.

(Sigh). This book had so much potential! I'm so frustrated because I really didn't like it. In the beginning my only complaint was how immature Camden was at times and her best friend was a jerk but that ending was just a big WTF. Camden is sent to boarding school for high school. She doesn't really understand why because she remember having a loving home. On her first day she needs Jessie and Nora. They become close friends quickly. Cam's roommate is a complete witch who find joy in torturing her. On the plane she meets creeper Barnaby Charon. He creates fear and curiosity to the girls.

Anyone who knows me knows I don't like anything that has to do with witches or anything that goes along with that, so that added to me not liking this book. Some of the girls use a Ouija board and have a seance. Jessie tries to connect to her brother and ends up completely loosing her marbles. This leads to disappearances.

Throughout all the mayhem the girls still find love. The school has a rule when it comes to dating students, its practically forbidden so everyone does it in secret. On the first day there is an assembly at which Camden sees Mark Elliot. She falls for him instantly and seeks him out everywhere she goes. She has a habit of blurting things out but it comes to her advantage when it comes to him. Nora has a thing with Thatch. Unlike Camden and Mark, they hide their relationship-not really relationship.

To sum it up, I gave this book a 2 star because it wasn't horrible but I personally did not like it.

 

Let me know if you think differently.

In My Mailbox # 4

IMM started @ The Story Siren and its to show you guys what we have gotten throughout the week from publishers or contests or even just books we bought.

Gift 

 

 My best friend got us these awesome books

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

The Chance by Karen Kingsbury

Bought

What did you get this week? Leave a comment below.

Book Review: Once Upon a Prince (Royal Wedding Series #1)

Once Upon a Prince (Royal Wedding Series #1)
by Rachel Hauck 

Expected publication: May 7th 2013
Zondervan
e-arc from Netgallery

(Goodreads synopsis) Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by bestselling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale.

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation.

~My Review~

It isn't very often that I come across a book and get completely sucked into with the first few pages. Not only did it draw me in but I felt every emotion that was portrayed in each page. That takes skill.

This story was about 29 year old Suzanna who waited 12 years for her high school sweetheart, soldier to propose to her. Instead, he dumps her with a heartbreaking line and everything else you never want to hear when getting dumped. With her life turning to shambles and turns to God and surrenders to His will.

Nathaniel (sigh), is the knight in shinning armor that every girl dreams to one day meet. While on "holiday", the last thing this crown prince expects to find is a lovely southern peach. With a dying father and the pressure of his country on his shoulders, he decides to have to fun and enjoy this beauty.

Nate and Suzy spend a few weeks working at Suzy's parents restaurant falling in love without realizing it when Nate is swept off to Brighton. Suzy thinks this chapter is over when she receives an invitation to the coronation. With the pressure of everyone around for Nate to marry someone he doesn't and breaking the law, Nathaniel is only left to surrender to God for wisdom and guidance.

This story was beautiful and enchanting. You can't help but fall in love with Nathaniel and cheer on Suzanna. Every character had such a strong role and played the perfect part. I'm usually very skeptical with Christian fiction because more often than not Jesus is barely involved for its just a corny story. This book really showed the importance of trusting in God and surrendering to His will. It was real; it showed the true struggle that we face in doing this and the consequences when we trust in ourselves instead.

I recommend this book to everyone.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Review: A Corner of White

A Corner of White (The Colors of Madeleine #1) by Jaclyn Moriarty

Netgallery
Published April 1st 2013 
Arthur A. Levine Books

(Goodreads synopsis) The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...

**SPOILER ALERT**

I really tried to get through this book. I got to 22% before I gave up. Every review I've seen people have been raving about it but I don't get it. People said you just have to get through the beginning that is slow and confusing but come on at 22% you should be able to gather where this is going. The character's are completely ridiculous. I am a random person, anyone who knows me knows you will catch random stuff but this is just out there.

So this book is between two worlds, England and Kingdom of Cello. The "speaker" never stays the same. Madeleine and Elliot are the main characters but other people take over randomly. Madeleine and Elliot are both fatherless. They are both in a search for their fathers but making no progress in finding them. Your never get a feel of the characters.

Bella is a complete idiot. She has her glimpses of intellect but then she ruins it with the way it comes out. Jack is just weird with his course hair and wart on his finger. Its cool that they have this different way of being home-schooled but that seemed to be the only cool thing it had going for it. I hate all this horoscopes and auras and anything in the witchcraft category so this was another turn off. It never went into detail about any of it but Belle and Jack's obsession with it was just annoying.

Elliot's friends on the other hand were really involved but and when they were Elliot goes and just kisses some girl. He has a sweet side with his family that was cute though.

I don't want to talk a whole mess of crap about this book but I really just did not like it. I really wanted to. The synopsis sounded like my type of book. Its unfortunate.

My rating: 1 of 5 stars