The Eclectic Reader: Read in 2013

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Romance
Series: Starbound #1
Publication Date: 10th December 2013 (1st published Nov 2013)

Pages: 384

Book Source: Disney Hyperion & NetGalley

Synopsis: It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

My Thoughts:

These Broken Stars holds appeal across genre's, the writing is gorgeously lyrical but spare and I read it in one entertaining sitting.

I found the world-building convincing and satisfying (for YA Sci-Fi ... not that I'm saying YA should be 'light' or watered down but the adult Sci-Fi I enjoy is extremely detailed) but I would have liked more time aboard the Icarus before it was pulled from hyperspace, crashing on a virtually unknown planet.

Tarver and Lilac are alternating narrators with distinct voices (I wonder if Amie Kaufman, and Meagan Spooner wrote one each?) From disparate social classes, they're endearing characters ... Tarver for his loyalty, strength and confidence and just being a being a genuinely decent guy and Lilac, I didn't think I'd like spoilt, bitchy Lilac but she had a certain depth, revealed as the story progressed and a backbone of steel.

These Broken Stars is a lovely combination ... survival story with a unique, slightly paranormal twist and slow budding romance. Not to mention secrets, power play and the corruption that goes hand-in-hand ... hopefully this will be explored further in future installments.

Even though we start again with a new pair of star crossed lovers I can't wait for This Shattered World in 2014.

Recommend: for sure! in spite of my 'hype' wariness, avoidance ... ok paranoia, These Broken Stars really came through :)

Cover: Striking

Connect with Amie Kaufman

Connect with Meagan Spooner

Dangers Untold and Hardships Unnumbered

Friday, December 13, 2013

Short & Sweet Review ~ Blood Phantom by Rhiannon Hart

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Lharmell #0.5
Format: eBook short story
Publication Date: 9th December 2013
Pages: 15
Book Source: from author for review

Synopsis: Life in tatters and far from home, Rodden Lothskorn struggles to cope with the harming menace and his own harming nature. When an offer of marriage reaches his friend, Prince Amis, Rodden discovers that the bride’s inhospitable homeland might contain one part of the harming poison he would dearly like to get his hands on. But if summoned northwards, will Princess Lilith bring something – or someone – he dreads most with her? Locked in a years-long struggle with the Lharmellins, Rodden senses the battle is only now about to begin.

My Thoughts:

Blood Phantom is the short story prequel to the first book in the Lharmell series, Blood Song. I kid you not this is one highly addictive series and after Blood Storm and that ending I had serious withdrawals so Blood Phantom was a short, sweet 'fix' of Lharmell ... just enough to have me salivating for the final installment, Blood Queen.

It was great to get inside the enigmatic Rodden's head, get a glimpse of things from his perspective and I just love his dry sense of humour. I enjoyed the interaction between Prince Amis and Rodden too, Amis doesn't get a lot of page time in the series, he's not really a major character but it was nice to see the bond between these two.

At only 15 pages it's something of a teaser, I might have even stamped my feet coming to the end ... wahhh where's the rest?

*Squeee!* Blood Queen April 15th 2014 ... bring it on Rhiannon Hart (she's the author with the Lharmellin size evil streak)

Recommend: hell yeah, this series is a favourite.

Cover: haunting ... love it!

Connect with Rhiannon Hart

Purchase Blood Phantom

@Amazon

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Daughters of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Cleopatra's Daughter #3
Publication Date: 3rd December 2013
Pages: 576
Book Source: Berkley Trade & NetGalley

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Cleopatra’s daughter…

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty.

With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind.

Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?

My Thoughts:

Over the course of this trilogy Stephanie Dray has laid out the life of Cleopatra Selene from captive of Caesar Augustus to wife of Juba II and Queen of Mauretania, daughter of Isis and mother, for readers to appreciate the heart and soul, strength and frailties of this amazing woman and I've loved every minute. Daughters of the Nile is an epic conclusion, fitting for one such as Cleopatra Selene.

I was moved to tears quite a few times, that's no mean feat for an author, after all it's history, being aware of the how and why sometimes lessens the emotional impact. Not so with Daughters of the Nile, as Ms Dray mentions in her author's note, not a lot has been documented of Cleopatra Selene but with meticulous research of the time period, raw emotion and fictional flare she's brought Selene to life with poignant intimacy .

The Roman Empire political machinations continue, as does Augustus' manipulation of Selene (despite her independent stand) and the playing off of key players as they climb and fall from favour. But the focus is really on Selene's relationships and her growing self awareness.

So much to love ... I loved the exploration of Selene's relationships, it took this installment to new heights, the bond between Selene and her mage, Euphronius, Greek freedwoman Chryssa, Berber attendant, Tala and her relationship with daughter, Isadora, Julia (Augustus' daughter) and Octavia (Augustus' sister) to name just a few.

Selene is a doting and protective mother, I loved that the love and safety of her children and niece came first, above all, even deep-seated ambitions. I loved that Selene finally opened her heart to love with Juba, with so much tragedy and heartache in her life, it was heartwarming to read she found a safe harbour in Juba's arms. I adored the mysticism and dark magic, I guess it sounds like I'm mentioning it in passing but it's deftly woven into the story with both intricacy and a delicate touch.

Recommend: Highly ... Stephanie Dray's writing is richly atmospheric, exquisitely detailed and emotionally wrenching. Big and lush, it's a story to savour.

See my reviews of the first two books in the series LILY OF THE NILE & SONG OF THE NILE.

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Short & Sweet Review: The Kissing Season by Rachael Johns

Genre: Contemporary Romance (novella)
Publication Date: 1st December 2013
Pages: 100
Book Source: Harlequin Enterprises & NetGalley

Synopsis: From the author of Man Drought and Jilted comes a funny and romantic Christmas story set in rural Australia.

Every family has a black sheep...and Hannah Elliot is it.

It’s no surprise to anyone when Hannah Elliot makes the spontaneous decision to marry a stranger in Las Vegas. But when she finds herself pregnant and her new husband files for an annulment, she dreads having to tell her family.

Returning to her Australian hometown of Wildwood Point, Hannah is determined to become a devoted mum and put her baby’s needs ahead of her own. She’s also set to prove to her family shecan actually be responsible. This means putting her wild past behind her and accepting a job back in the family business...while keeping her pregnancy a secret!

Except, when gorgeous Italian Matteo Della-Bosca walks through the shop door, Hannah finds her resolve slipping fast...

My Thoughts:

My first Christmassy read for the holiday season! After enjoying Man Drought & Outback Dreams, I'm totally on board as a Rachael Johns' fan. The Kissing Season is a sweet romance with a lovely splash of Australian family Christmas tradition.

No question about it Hannah & Matteo are hot together, I wasn't a fan of their first meeting; (I'm not a prude, at all, but my first thought was ... ewww who does that??) I felt like it was included to push the plot forward when it really didn't need a shove.

Besides that minor detail, the progression in Hannah and Matt's relationship from that point on was sweet and sexy. I loved the importance of family to them both and I loved the Australian flavour of Christmas in a small community ... the Christmas movie in the town hall, Santa, carols and stalls at the Christmas Tree Party ... nostalgic memories of Christmas spent with my Nana & Pop in a small rural town.

Recommend: Nostalgic escapism and a quick romance fix

Connect with Rachael Johns

Purchase The Kissing Season

@Harlequin Australia

@Amazon Kindle

Friday, December 06, 2013

Pawn by Aimee Carter

Genre: YA Dystopia
Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion #1
Publication Date: 1st December 2013 (1st published Nov 2013)

Pages: 346

Book Source: Harlequin Teen Aust & NetGalley

Synopsis: YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

My Thoughts:

I was introduced to Aimee Carter's writing with The Goddess Test which I liked but obviously not quite enough, as I didn't continue on with the series lol but I love Dystopia and the synopsis of Pawn had me intrigued so I jumped at the chance.

And in that, it didn't disappoint, Pawn has a great premise, okay it won't win 'most original' dystopia but I liked the world building (more of it would have been good) it's pacy and entertaining ... controlled population, caste system, resources awarded according to worth, treachery and political corruption ... what's not to like?

Normally I wouldn't have much positive to say about a story where some of the main characters are dare I say it ... insipid. Don't get me wrong Kitty's likable enough, just flat, I never really established a connection with her, and Benjy ... Benjy who? Knox and Greyson had a bit more depth but once again not enough for me to feel a connection.

Where Aimee Carter does excel is with Prime Minister Daxton, the most vile, repugnant character I've read in YA this year, ughh what an evil piece of excrement! What I wouldn't give to see him strung up by his you know whats and I could probably be convinced to partake in a game of whack the pinata (with a baseball bat) ... *cough* gee where did that come from haha. and Kitty why, oh why??

Then towards the end the wheels fell off the bus and the story became a big messy ... mess. Maybe it was just me, let me know what you thought? I am a bit shocked I enjoyed this as much as I did, until the end, and I will read the next installment, yes I will!

Connect with Aimee Carter

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Genre: YA Contemporary
Series: Pushing the Limits #3
Publication Date: 1st December 2013
Pages: 464
Book Source: Harlequin Teen & NetGalley

Synopsis: The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

My Thoughts:

I don't think I have a clear favourite out of the three books in the series but if I had to choose, maybe by a smidgen, book 2, Dare You To. I've enjoyed them all, each one had that special something that pulled at my heart strings but there were still things in each that annoyed me. What is consistent across the series is Katie McGarry's tenderness towards her characters; she cares ... it shows ... you care.

Isaiah, I have a soft spot for, there's nothing more endearing than a badass exterior shielding vulnerability and a heart of gold, he's intensely protective and fiercely loyal. Rachel took a little longer to warm to, I didn't think of her as weak, more smothered by expectation. They make a sweet couple, despite their vastly different backgrounds, their intuitiveness and shared passion for fast cars makes their connection believable.

Rachel's brothers (and parents if I'm being honest) are quite insufferable, protective when it suited them, manipulative, selfish, arrogant and like Rachel all sorts of messed up. Privileged circumstances don't offer immunity from tragedy but some of that 'privilege' should have been channeled into therapy ... for the entire family!

Now Isaiah's friend Abby, she's quite a character, I hope she gets her own book because I'd love to know more about her. Can't say I was excited to hear the next book is West's (one of Rachel's brothers) ... he needs a smack up the head.

Entwined in all the toughness, angst and heartache is ultimately, a sense of hope ... that's an aspect I find appealing but heading to book 4 the same formula will be wearing thin, I hope Katie McGarry is up to the task of changing things up.

Connect with Katie McGarry

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio

Genre: Historical/General Fiction
Publication Date: 26th November 2013
Pages: 304
Book Source: Penguin Group & NetGalley

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Sarah Jio imagines life on Boat Street, a floating community on Seattle’s Lake Union—home to people of artistic spirit who for decades protect the dark secret of one startling night in 1959

Fleeing an East Coast life marred by tragedy, Ada Santorini takes up residence on houseboat number seven on Boat Street. She discovers a trunk left behind by Penny Wentworth, a young newlywed who lived on the boat half a century earlier. Ada longs to know her predecessor’s fate, but little suspects that Penny’s mysterious past and her own clouded future are destined to converge.

My Thoughts:

I fell in love with Sarah Jio's beautiful writing style while reading The Bungalow. Morning Glory has that same languid, atmospheric feel, part love story, part mystery and I just adored feeling part of the houseboat community on Lake Union's Boat Street, Seattle.

Dark clouds are rolling in all around, and the rain's intensity increases as we paddle back across the lake, which looks like wrinkled gray velvet. By the time we reach my dock, we're soaked, but somehow, I don't mind.

The dual story line and time frame of Ada Santorini (present day) and Penny Wentworth (1959) is connected by houseboat number 7; seamlessly executed and equally captivating. One of my many favourite parts was the heartwarming role Penny's unassuming recipe book played in the story, both for a reader sharing Penny's passion for baking and for Ada. There's a couple of recipe's included that I'd love to try; Cinnamon Rolls is top of my list.

Cinnamon Rolls (Dex's Favourite)

makes 1 dozen

Ingredients:

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, softened

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup white sugar

1 package yeast

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1/4 cup water

For Filling:

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 tblsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, softened

Preparation:

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from stove. Mix in butter, stir until melted. Let cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt; mix well. Add egg, water and the milk/butter mixture. Beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Knead dough until smooth. About 5 mins.

Let dough rise for about an hour or more. Meanwhile in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter for filling.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees . Punch down dough, then roll out into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread filling mixture on dough. Roll up and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal-size pieces and place in greased 9x12 glass dish. Cover and let rise until doubled, about an hour.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool, then drizzle with royal icing if desired.

You don't get a traditional, neatly-tied-up-with-a-bow ending with Sarah Jio's stories but it's a fitting ending ... bittersweet, sure to bring a tear to the eye and a smile to your face.

I know I may always ache for the past, for the two greatest loves of my life, but I want to be a bird now. I want to flap my wings through the rainstorms. I want to start my day with the earnestness of the morning glory, the way it blossoms open with the sunrise, ready to shine no matter what.

Another story enticingly revealed a piece at a time until you realise it's all so beautifully and deftly intertwined.

Connect with Sarah Jio

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Short & Sweet Review ~ Kiss the Night Goodbye by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Nikki & Michael #4
Publication Date: 29th October 2013 (1st published March 2004)
Pages: 352
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: The Price Of Love

Nikki James is just an ordinary, risk-taking, psychically inclined private eye until she hooks up with Michael Kelly. Now she is something more: one of the few, the chosen, the magic-wielding undercover operatives of the Damask Circle, an organization protecting humanity from a rising tide of evil. She wants nothing more than to pass the Circle’s strict entry exams so she can get on with the business of planning her wedding to Michael. But she quickly realizes that buying a wedding dress is the least of her worries.

One hundred years ago, Michael Kelly hunted down and killed the sorcerer responsible for murdering his lover. Now the brother of that man is out for revenge, and he intends to destroy all that Michael holds dear in the process. When Michael is kidnapped, the trail leads Nikki to a dusty ghost town surrounded by a potent magical barrier, leaving her to battle a madman alone with only her wits, strength, and the one psychic gift she cannot fully control. And to make matters even worse, Michael no longer seems to remember who she is.

My Thoughts:

Fourth and final book in the Nikki & Michael series and Keri Arthur kicks it up a notch. There's just more ... action, suspense, magic, fierceness, chemistry and the good vs evil battle kept my heart in my mouth.

Nikki finally joins Michael as an operative of the Damask Circle, Michael kidnapped, Nikki wiped from his memories, clock ticking ...

Kudos to Keri Arthur for getting evil down pat, Kiss the Night Goodbye had the baddie with the biggest ick factor ... seriously made my skin crawl.

In previous books Nikki & Michael's relationship has been weighed down with angst and frustration, not to mention eye-rolling and annoyance on my part. But in Kiss the Night Goodbye ... no eye rolling at all ;)

Connect with Keri Arthur